Does Your Church Website Pass This Homepage Test?

Not seeing many guests come to check out your church? 

It could be the homepage of your website. 

Gone are the days when you can simply plaster your service times and music style on your website and expect droves of people to show up. 

Today, potential visitors start forming an idea of what your church is like long before they step foot inside. It all starts online when they look your church up. Even with a personal invite, people will still visit your website to get a feel for your church. 

So, when a potential guest looks at your church website, it needs to: 

• Capture their attention
• Create curiosity
• Communicate your culture
• Call them to action. 

Without those elements, your homepage can actually work against you. And when your website works against you, something needs to change.

After helping churches from 0 to 3,000+ strategically refocus ministry, reshape communications, and reignite purpose, we’ve seen where strengthening your homepage can make a big impact. 

Does your church’s homepage pass the test? Bring up your own church home page as you take a look at those 4 areas more closely below.

Capture Attention

Clarity keeps. Confusion disengages.

• Are there at least 5-10 images showing your people?
• Does it avoid using sliders for primary messaging?
• Does the header include an image (or video) of your people?
• Does the primary headline state how you help people and say it in a way a 10-year-old could understand?
• Is the content “scannable”? (Does it effectively use layout, bold headlines, short phrases, and bullet point lists to get the gist across and avoid long paragraphs and unstructured text?)

Create Curiosity

Inspire, don’t overshare.

• Does it list benefits or transformation people will experience?
• Is there a testimonial of transformation or a story of support?
• Is there a short welcome video from a leader? 

Communicate Culture

Your language, your values, and your passion.

• Does it illustrate empathy and understanding of the primary challenges the reader may be experiencing?
• Does it communicate a simple plan you have to help them overcome those challenges and experience transformation?
• Is there a signature ministry highlighted?
• Does it avoid using churchy or insider language?

Call To Action

Every button, link, or invite is a call to action.

• Is there a primary call to action?
• Is your primary call to action repeated multiple times on the homepage?
• Does it avoid promoting event sign-ups or the church app?

Does Your Homepage Need A Refresh?

If you answered NO to more than 5 of these, it’s time for a website refresh. 

And if that website refresh process from start to finish feels too overwhelming even to get started – you don’t have to go it alone.

Talk with someone who knows how to get you there.

Our team has helped churches of all sizes – from plants to megachurches –  and we can help yours, too. We’ve seen that when you’re very clear about who you’re best equipped to reach and how you can serve them, people are more likely to become first-time guests and then second-time guests, and then long-time members.

No matter where you are in the process, get a free 1-hour consultation to move forward. Schedule your meeting here.

For more church website tips and insights, check out these other posts.