The best church website builders know that providing a path for visitors to plan their visit is essential for connecting more people to their physical church. Guests want answers to basic questions about your church answered before ever attending in person.

Church website trends reveal that many churches have a page specifically for visitors where questions are addressed about the experience your potential guests can expect to have. It's possible to create an informative and easy to navigate visitors' page. Here are 7 Secrets to a useful "I'm New Here" Section on your website:

The necessity of technology in church management has led to the dilemma of how to handle IT services. It is now easier for churches to manage donations, schedule meetings, manage their member database, transcribe messages and make travel arrangements. However, the dilemma remains whether to outsource or keep your IT management in-house. 

Knowing your God-given abilities will help you understand what to outsource and what to keep in-house. It is tempting to want to do everything yourself, but for your church to have a significant impact, you need help with the things you cannot do. The key is to balance what you keep in-house and what you outsource.  This article outlines five factors to keep in mind as you solve your dilemma.

Cybercrime is a reality for everyone who uses the internet and who stores vital data online. Hackers are continually looking for secret information they can leverage for money or other gain from data owners. You may have thought your church does not have data to attract cybercriminals; however, it does! The cybersecurity of your church is paramount and deserves your attention.

On average website visitors will spend between 7 seconds to 15 seconds before deciding to dig deeper or leave your page. For individuals seeking a church these times may fluctuate slightly; yet, capturing the attention of someone exploring your church online is critically important. “Reducing your website’s friction can lead to more quality interactions without complications.” says Paul Andrew in his article How to Reduce Friction in Web Design. Paul defines friction as “...anything that prevents your users from accomplishing their goals.”  As a church leader you want visitors to engage in the story and message of your church. This is accomplished by designing elements that create interest and providing intuitive ways for visitors to explore your website. According to the State of the Online Church an ebook created in 2018 by Vanderbloemen and Jay Kranda states that “59% of the churches (of the 176 surveyed) have seen physical growth since launching their online ministry”. Therefore, future-minded church leaders must be willing to consistently examine their own website and consider ways to reduce friction and make a great first impression, that transition online visitors into in-person attendance. For the purposes of this article we will identify five common areas that cause the most friction.

• HBO’s smash hit show Chernobyl received 19 Emmy Awards, and due to the hit show  NBC News reports tourism has dramatically increased in the once Soviet small ghost town of Pripyat. The remains of the homes and businesses of the over 50,000 individuals serves as an eerily reminder of the nuclear meltdown that drove nearly all the residents away in less than 36 hours. National Geographic report “Ruin gazing” is nothing new—for millennia, people have been drawn to broken cities and toppled monuments, places of quiet contemplation that remind us of our own hubris and of the power of time.”, but what causes a ghost town and what are the potential similarities between it and your church website? 

With the popularity of social media, email communication is looking outdated and ineffective in sending messages to members and visitors of your church. But is this the case? No. Churches should still use email to reach its members. Email is still relevant and still works quite effectively.

Here are a few reasons why churches can and should take advantage of this form of communication and use email to send information to members and visitors: