Your to-do list is probably a mile long, so you may not really want to see something else added to it. However, this one is important. Today, it’s time to update your church website.

Today’s To-Do List: Update Your Church Website

60% of church websites are functionally dead, because they are updated once a month or less. That’s not often enough. A lot of churches have the problem of a church websites that is sitting dormant—not gaining the linkbacks, traffic, visibility, and accurate information that a church website should provide. It’s not because the church staff is lazy (usually). Instead, it’s due to several other problems:

  • The website was designed by an outside firm, and only they can update it. Calling them and having them change information is just too complicated and time-consuming.
  • The volunteer who designed the website moved to a different state.
  • Nobody in the office knows the HTML required to update the church website.
  • There is only one username and password, and no one knows where it is.

Obviously, those are some daunting obstacles to overcome. The problem isn’t just that churches aren’t updating their website. The problem is much deeper. By and large, church websites aren’t being done right from the very start. The church website industry has major problems. Websites with outdated information are a symptom of the larger problems.

What are those larger problems?

  • Expensive church websites. Even companies who advertise “affordable” church websites have prices starting at $1,000, with $25/month hosting fees. For most church budgets, that’s way out of reach.
  • Outside church websites. Because “web” is a word connoting a complex tangle of technology, most church personnel are more comfortable with having the professionals do their website for them. Granted, that’s probably a good idea. But if an outside firm creates the website, that probably means that the outside firm is the one who updates the website. That’s probably not a good idea.
  • Complicated church websites. Only a small slice of the general population knows CSS and Java. If the church website is too complicated to update, it’s not going to get updated. Nobody can touch it.

Sharefaith has introduced a powerful solution that reverses the tragedy of defunct church websites. This is not a place to sing the benefits of Sharefaith websites. You can look at them for yourself. Instead, I encourage you to ask yourself four questions as you update your church website today:

  • With my current church website, is it even possible for me to update it?
  • With my current church website, is it easy to update it? Maybe even something as simple as posting next week’s sermon title on the homepage?
  • With my current church website, can I add an announcement to the “news” page in less than five minutes?
  • With my current church website, are we spending less than $10/month to have it hosted?

If you answered “no” to any of those questions, I would suggest it’s time to think about revamping the church website. Now, take those two hours that it would have taken you to update your church website, and instead get a whole new website. Yep, in less than two-hours.

It will be one of the best things you’ve ever added to your to-do list.

Start your new church website now. 

About The Author

Daniel Threlfall has been writing church ministry articles for more than 10 years. With his background and training (M.A., M.Div.), Daniel is passionate about inspiring pastors and volunteers in their service to the King. Daniel is devoted to his family, nerdy about SEO, and drinks coffee with no cream or sugar. Learn more about Daniel at his blog and twitter.

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