Just like a moving sermon, a sign of a successful church website is one where people take action. By providing valuable information that people need and adding a clear call to action, we can create strategic pathways that help people grow in their faith and connect with your church. Here are 3 must-have church website pathways…
1. Pathway for People Who Don’t Know Jesus
Did you know there are people in your area actively searching for answers about God? According to Google, there are an estimated 33,100 average monthly searches for ‘Is God real?’ and 12,100 average monthly searches for ‘Who is Jesus?’ in the US alone. You have an incredible opportunity to reach these people by answering these kinds of questions on your church website. Create a page with clear, approachable language about faith that explains the basics about Jesus and Christianity. Invite them to learn more through a single call-to-action like ‘Speak with a pastor,’ ‘Join our Alpha course,’ or ‘Make a decision for Jesus.’ Most churches overlook this key pathway, only focusing on the next two.
2. Pathway for People Seeking a Church Home
There are tons of people looking for churches. Google estimates there are 1,500,000 average monthly searches for ‘church near me’ in the US. In fact, most of the users on your website are likely to be visiting for the first time. It’s vital you provide key information on your church website, like your location and service times, along with a link in the navigation to a page with more about you. A key call-to-action you may want to include on your homepage could be ‘Get Directions,’ ‘Plan a Visit,’ or ‘Watch Online,’ providing the next step for people if they like what they see.
3. Pathway for People Who Are Members
Foster a sense of belonging and ownership and encourage your members not only to attend on Sundays but be active in your church community. Create pages for each of the ministries, groups, events, or teams they can be a part of and include a single call to action on each page. For example, on your Groups page, you may have a button that says ‘Join a Group,’ or on an event page, you may have a button that says ‘Register Now.’ Too many churches have informational pages with no call to action, and they’re missing out on people getting involved.
Final thoughts
Remember, a successful church website is one that not only informs but also inspires action. As you refine these pathways, you’ll encourage people both new and old to take meaningful steps in their faith journey.