… and a quick reminder on numbers two, three, and four. Take a look at these pictures. These are screenshots of the main front pages for two random church websites I took a look at.

Notice anything? It’s more than an elephant in the room… it’s the elephant in the picture. The big, beautiful picture of the church building that overshadows, dwarfs, or displaces the church – and when I say “the church” I mean the PEOPLE, not the bricks and mortar.

The biggest and most common blunder that we find on church websites is that the church worships idolizes loves appreciates their building so much that they plaster their home page with it. The problem is that most prospective visitors aren’t really interested in a church’s building (unless they’re looking for a wedding chapel, in which case they’re not looking for a church at all).

Most prospective visitors aren’t really interested in a church’s building

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Prospective visitors browse your website to find out if they’ll “fit” in with the church [the people]. A website that features a church’s construction prowess leaves prospective guests guessing. So, once you’ve finished reading this post, make your next stop your church’s home page. If you’re greeted with a portrait of your church building, get with your web design people and swap out those pictures with images that show your church … your people … loving on one another, loving their neighbors, worshipping God, and living life with joy. That’s what prospective visitors are looking for.

Here are a few other blunders:

#2: A church’s website that doesn’t have the church address prominently displayed “above the fold/scroll” for all to see.

#3: A church’s website that doesn’t have the church’s worship times prominently displayed “above the fold/scroll” for all to see.

#4: A church website that has outdated info. Take a quick search for church websites and you’ll find ones that are still inviting you to last Easter, last year’s Christmas Eve service, and last week’s message. A church website that isn’t up to date screams “We’re not relevant to you, either” to anyone who unfortunately finds the site.

Guests want to know three things:

1. Will they fit in?
2. What time is worship?
3. Where is the worship center/church building located?

Be sure to provide them with everything they need to show up.

Don’t be guilty…

Question: What are some other blunders you’ve noticed on church websites? What are some church websites you’ve seen done really well? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments section below.