10 Deadly Church Web Design Mistakes
In the mist of Covid-19 (Corona Virus), we at JDS WebDesign are hoping everyone is safe, washing your hands frequently, sneezing and coughing in your elbow, and practicing social distancing. Over the next several weeks, we are planning on blogging about how to make your website more business friendly. We will have some tutorials on our favorite plugins and features, which will make your site more efficient.
As a faith based organization WordPress designer, I am often asked about what is the top mistakes of diy (do it yourself) designer. My answer typically invoices content, direction, and analysis of the project. Non professional web designer do not understand the importance of good content and images. Content is King. Target audience can be confusing for some church leaders. Yes. Your website should reach out to all, especially individuals seeking a new church. But your target audience analysis should dig a little deeper. Who is looking for some faith inspiration? Are you keeping your church in front of them on a constant basis? Lastly are you reviewing the analysis? How many visitors are coming to your site? Where are they coming from? Is your site engaging them? Do they hit your donation button? Are they review your image gallery? Do they click “new here page”?
Let take a look at some of the basis mistakes, which exist on some faith based organization websites…
Target Audience Confusion
Not understanding your target audience. Just because you are a church, does not mean that, you are trying to reach everyone on the internet. Many visitors on the internet are happy with their church and church website.
What type of church environment are you creating? Are you showcasing your ministries? Faces within your church family? What you do in the community. There is a lot to understanding your target audience…
Bad Design
Bad design does not only mean poor color choices. Placing relevant information in hard to find locations or places. Making visitors hit your search button to find your location and time of services. No or lack of donation solution on your website, it has been reported that 60% of church goer would love to tithe on line.
Faith based organization without a calendar or events page. You are just telling your potential flock, that nothing occurs at your church.
Use of Motion Graphics
News flash…FLASH is dead. If your website has flash, then take it down. Most browser do not support it, and why have it. Remember that you want your site to be responsive, which I will discuss later, and you need for your site to look similar on any device.
So just do not use motion graphics…period.
Bad Coding
Your church site has error message at the top of it…and you expect someone to click on it. Your church site has been hacked and directs visitors to an adult site. Coding issues are not just the white screen of death, when you pull up a site and all you get is a white screen. Coding issues are not have https (secured socket layer or SSL)…it is the little padlock, next to your domain name.
Neglecting Homepage
Your church home page is the most important page. In most instances, it will be the only page that a visitors will visit. Not have an action plan on how to engage visitors, mistake #1. Having valuable information below the fold, mistake #2. Forcing visitors to search for location, service times, upcoming events, mistake #3.
Neglecting your church home page is probably the reason for a redesign.
Not Responsive
Having a responsive design, is not an option. Visitors will check out your church website on their phones, tablets, and desktops. You need to make sure your website is responsive and having a responsive plan of action is necessary.
Poor Images and Content
Your church secretary has done an outstanding job. However, you will need to hire a specialist to create your content. Someone, who writes content on a daily basis…understands target audience, keywords, and the ability to make sure your found on search engines.
Content is king. So stop using the same content from 5 years ago. You will need to update your content, and present it from a totally different point of view.
Ignoring Search Engine Optimizations
Content is king, but having search engine optimization on your website is critical. You want to be recognized by Google. We exist in a world, where someone is googling “churches near me”…and driving right by your church. They are looking for somewhere to rediscovery their faith…they are looking for a spiritual leader. But unfortunately, they can not find you or your church.
Another news flash…the days of referrals or recommendations are over. Politics and Faith are no no to most. Folks do not ask, “what religion are you?” or “where do you attend church?”. In some organization, these types of questions can get you in trouble (or at least sent to human resources).
Ignoring Analytics
Not knowing how many visitors come to your site? Or how they came to your site? What pages are they landing on? Does this data match what you are trying to accomplish? Analytics is huge. One of the major differences from a non professional and professional web designer, is the process of creating a website that works for you and your organization.
No Call to Action
A simple response…whatever your strategy for the website, create a call to action (CTA) to help. CTA are great for engaging your target audience.
Image is courtesy of Ben White
JDS WebDesign is a Web Design and Brand Marketing Agency located in Marietta, Georgia. We create AWESOME on line presence for Start-ups and Influential People/Organizations. To learn more about us or how we can help you and your organization, you can contact us or schedule a meeting.
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