Dave Hakes is a software engineer who seeks to “demystify and make practical the many tools the internet offers so that you and your church can better reach people.” Recently he shared 7 elements of an effective church website:
- Focus on those who are not yet a part of your congregation
- Emphasize pictures of people not buildings
- Remove clutter
- Ensure key information is in plain sight (no scrolling required)
- Create compelling and relevant content
- Include a welcome message
- Tell your story
So What?
Typically change occurs more slowly within the walls of a church than in the community surrounding its campus. Websites, especially since the birth of Web 2.o, must continue to grow and change. Rather than becoming a series of billboards (pages), church websites must be engaging, up to date, and easy to navigate.
Take a few minutes to grade your congregations’ website using Hakes’ seven elements of effective church websites.
- What letter grade would you give the site (e.g. B)?
- Which element do you feel needs the greatest attention?
- Will you share your constructive criticism with the appropriate church leader(s)?