Answering this question involves three things:
A church needs a new website if its current digital presence is not an effective and efficient communication tool for its target audience. This decision hinges on understanding contemporary web usage, such as the fact that over 50 percent of North American adults use smartphones, and ensuring the website aligns with the church's mission and purpose. Five More Talents suggests that if the existing site fails to engage its audience or is difficult to manage, it's time for an upgrade.
- Understanding the people to whom you are ministering .
- Reflecting on your mission and purpose.
- Diagnosing whether you have the right tools for the job.
Step 1: Understand how people in your church and community use the web today
To communicate efficiently and effectively to the people of your church and the people of your community, you must “go where the people are.” More and more people experience the web through social media and mobile devices.
How do people use social media for information?
People today primarily access 'digital streams of information' rather than 'surfing the web,' with social media platforms like Facebook, email, YouTube, Google Search, text messages, and Twitter being key channels. Understanding your target audience's preferred information streams is crucial for creating an intentional digital outreach strategy within a social media context.
Learn about Social Media Best Practices for Churches.
How does the multi-device web impact church communication?
The web is now a “multi-device” environment. In addition to smartphones, people are also using iPads, Kindles, and other tablet devices. Over 50 percent of North American adults have smartphones. Is your website helping you communicate effectively and efficiently with your members and visitors?
Step 2: Before you spend money, answer fundamental questions
In his book Ministry in the Digital Age, Dr. David Bourgeois describes a 13-step process for crafting a digital communication strategy. The following questions are adapted from the first three steps of his process:
What is your church's mission and its alignment?
- To define your church's mission, consider: What is the mission statement of our church? Does our mission statement align with God’s mission statement for the church as revealed in Holy Scripture? Furthermore, does our church possess a healthy, Biblical understanding of the importance of evangelism, outreach, and obedience to the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) and Cultural Mandate (Genesis 1:26-28)?
What is the purpose and objective of your church website?
- To define the purpose of your church website, consider: What is the purpose and objective of our church website? Does this purpose align with the mission statement of our church?
Who is the intended audience of your church website?
- To identify your church website's audience, consider: Who is the intended audience of our church website? Do we have evidence that our church website is effectively reaching its intended audience?
What are your target audience's web usage habits?
- To understand your target audience's web usage, consider: How do members of our target audience use the web? What are their specific web usage habits? Where do they typically spend their time on the web?
Is your existing church website effective and efficient for your target audience?
Is your existing church website an effective and efficient communication tool for our target audience? This is the decisive question. If the answer is yes, keep doing what you are doing for now, and re-assess next year. If the answer is no, you need to get a new church website. If you do need a new church website, and you are a church plant, then you should consider these five questions.
Please note three things about this decisive question:
- Focusing on your audience is primary. What do they need? Your needs and preferences are secondary.
- Is your church website an effective communication tool? Does it make an impact? Does it connect with your audience? Is it a website they love to promote to others?
- Is your church website an efficient communication tool? Is it easy for you to update it? Is it easy for you to add new pictures, sermons, and events?
Frequently Asked Questions
- 1 How can our church determine if we need a new website?
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To determine if your church needs a new website, the article suggests a three-step process. This involves understanding how your church and community use the web today, reflecting on your church's mission and purpose, and diagnosing if your current website is an effective communication tool.
- 2 What strategic questions should our church answer before developing a new website?
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Before spending money, the page advises answering fundamental questions about your church's mission, the specific purpose and objectives of your website, and who your intended audience is. You should also understand your audience's web usage habits to ensure the website is relevant.
- 3 How do modern web usage habits affect a church's online communication?
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Modern web usage is characterized by people accessing "digital streams of information" through social media and using multiple devices like smartphones and tablets. Churches must understand these habits to create an intentional digital outreach strategy and ensure their website effectively reaches members and visitors.
