Making your church website reach more non-Christians
Thursday, 27 May 2010 10:16
Many churches have still not grasped the fact that websites can be a great evangelistic tool - but those who have, and that are the most successful, are the ones who have good content written for the non-Christian web surfer.
According to a recent poll conducted by Christian technology company Endis, which provides the ChurchInsight church web platform, when churches deliberately focus their websites on attracting outsiders they see a corresponding rise in the number of non-Christian visitors. But many focus on the internal life of the church too much, and their effectiveness is reduced.
Among the survey's key findings were that most websites were not written with the unchurched in mind. Only half have an outline of the Gospel, and only a quarter have testimonies.
Endis spokesman Geoff Knott said there were clear differences in the effectiveness of different websites: "When we looked at the successful sites, we found that they had the Gospel on their site, and that people were able to book into events like Alpha courses. Interactivity is important... The other thing that was very successful was stories."
He stressed that good content and ease of use was far more important than a sophisticated image or a multiplicity of functions.
The survey was welcomed by Tony Whittaker, co-ordinator of Internet Evangelism Day UK. Most church websites fall short of what they could be for various reasons, he said. He also criticised the habit of using Christian jargon: "Sites that are actually effective for outsiders have looked at themselves through an outsider's eyes - or better, actually asked non-yet-believers to give an honest opinion of the site - and built everything around that understanding."
Note the points I've highlighted: good content written for the non-Christian; outline of the Gospel; testimonies/stories; reducing Christian jargon... how is your site doing on these scores? If you would like me to review your website's potential to reach outsiders and help you produce content that is more effective at attracting non-Christians, get in touch. These are all areas I can help with.