Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

4 common website mistakes (with simple fixes)

  • September 8, 2022
  • Mark MacDonald
  • Church Life, Latest News
person touching and pointing MacBook Pro
(Unsplash photo)

4 common website mistakes (with simple fixes)

Sadly, common mistakes abound on church websites, but we’re called to better! Let’s correct these online errors so our audience will find solutions and discover what they need on our websites.

Today, many people prefer getting information from a website. They don’t want to carry around a printed bulletin, or they don’t remember where they put it. They want to find information and details when they’re ready for it. They want a trusted source to find “everything” conveniently.

Your church website should be that place.

Let’s fix these common website mistakes, so the congregation and community will love your website:

Common website mistake 1: No location or service times on your homepage. People visiting your website need to quickly know where you’re located! Google also wants to associate your website with searches for churches in your city. When your community decides to visit, they will need “main” service times. SIMPLE FIX: Add this information as high up on your homepage as possible. Make the location a link to get directions and the service time can also be a link to get more details that a visitor needs to know.

Common website mistake 2: No email address or pictures on a team page. Members wonder who’s in charge of ministries when they need to contact them with a concern or request. Your community also loves this team page to see if they’ll fit into your church from the pictures. They look to see people similar to them (gender, diversity, age, etc.). SIMPLE FIX: Add a team (or staff) page under the “About” menu. Ensure each person has a similarly-cropped picture (friendly, head/shoulders), dressed like you’d expect a visitor to wear. Be clear what everyone is in charge of and have an easy way to contact them (phone or email).

Common website mistake 3: Improper headline tags on each page. Google wants to deliver search results to your internal pages but often doesn’t know what the page is about from your headline. SIMPLE FIX: Write page headlines appropriate to the page content and ensure it’s what would be googled to find the information. For example: use “Kid’s Activities” instead of a branded name like “Awana.” PRO TIP: Place your keyword-rich headline at the top of your page (with keystroke characters and not just a graphic) and tag it as an H1 headline (usually the largest headline styling) in your content management area. Ensure it’s the only H1 tag on the page and then use those exact headline words in the first sentence of the first paragraph too. Continue to use those same words 2 or 3 times on the page. Google will love your content!

Common website mistake 4: Not enough links on every page. When someone gets to your page for information they subconsciously ask “now what?” but often have to figure next steps for themselves. It’s frustrating. SIMPLE FIX: Provide 2 or 3 links throughout each page that connect to other information on your website. Near the bottom, think about their next probable step and suggest a link to it. For example: if someone’s on the “Kid’s Activities” page they probably will want a link to the “Kid’s Safety Procedures” page. Bonus: Having a link allows access to the information without taking up space on the page.


EDITOR’S NOTE — Mark MacDonald is communication pastor, speaker, consultant, bestselling author, church branding strategist for BeKnownforSomething.com and Executive Director of Center for Church Communication. His book, Be Known for Something, is available at BeKnownBook.com.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Church in Indonesia continues to worship despite threats to disperse
    Church in Indonesia continues to worship despite threats to disperse
    March 25, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Edith Mitchell continues to serve the Lord at age 101
    Edith Mitchell continues to serve the Lord at age 101
    March 25, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • SWBTS Old Testament research professor dies at 79
    SWBTS Old Testament research professor dies at 79
    March 24, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Church in Indonesia continues to worship despite threats to disperse

A church in West Java Province, Indonesia refused to yield to Muslim intruders’ attempts to stop their worship service on Sunday (March 19), Morning Star

Edith Mitchell continues to serve the Lord at age 101

 At 101 years old, Edith Mitchell has always had a passion for music and serving the Lord.   Mitchell, who resides in Mountain Home, Arkansas, started

SWBTS Old Testament research professor dies at 79

Helmuth Pehlke, senior research professor of Old Testament at Bibelseminar Bonn, the German-based partnering seminary of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, died March 22. He was

Churches, don’t miss the ministry of first impressions

I visit a lot of churches in my work. A few weeks ago, during a visit to Shepherd Church in the Los Angeles area, led

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel