1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT
In this digital age, your website is how your church makes it’s first impression. Gone are the days where the first interaction is with a greeter at the front door. These days, people look online to learn more about your church before they ever set foot on your property.
According to a research study by Grey Matters, 46% of church attendees stated that a church’s website was an important factor in choosing a church to visit. 33% stated that the internet was the first place they learned about their church. For a younger demographic, these percentages are even higher. Pew Research reports that 59% of adults under the age of 30 incorporated online searches when looking for a new congregation.
2. PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING, BUT CAN THEY FIND YOU?
At least 17 million people who aren’t regular church attendees visit church websites each year. Out of these visits, 43% looked for service times. 29% looked for activities offered. 29% looked at location information. 26% streamed audio or video media. These statistics, comprised of people who don’t consider themselves regular church attendees, let us know in today’s digital age, people are searching for what church has to offer, and they’re doing it online.
3. AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF COMMUNICATION
80% of Non-Profit Organizations who have websites say it is their primary communication channel.
Utilizing a website allows you to communicate to both a potential visitor and your current congregation. Having a website allows you to provide information tailored to both. Whether it’s location and service time info for a visitor or resources and online giving for your church members, you’re able to communicate information and provide tools quickly and effectively via your website.
Diving even deeper into church website statistics, 22% of website visits were looking for the church’s religious beliefs, 18% requested prayer, 15% downloaded a podcast, 15% looked for denomination information, 12% sent a message to a pastor or leader. These statistics show us that website visitors are also interested in resources and tools.
4. MODERN DESIGN AND RELEVANCY MATTERS
With 46% of people saying that website design is their number one criterion for determining the credibility of an organization and 94% of people citing poor web design as the reason they mistrust or reject a website, it would be tragic to ignore the reality that website design, technology, usability, and mobile responsiveness matters. This is why it’s important to be sure your website is designed with these things in mind.
The bottom line is, your church website matters tremendously. In the past, the first impression people experienced was when they actually visited a church. However, this is no longer the case. These days, your website is the first impression. This is why it’s so vital to not only have a website but to have a relevant website – one that communicates the culture and beliefs of your church.
OUR MISSION AT GROWTH PARTNERS
At GrowthPartners International, our mission is to help churches grow. That’s why we’re excited to now offer church website development services. Whether you’re just starting out online, or you’re looking for an updated look and feel, our services will provide the relevancy, authenticity, and technology to help you capture the attention of those searching in your community.
We’re excited to now be able to provide affordable ways for churches to build their online presence in an effective way.
The tools and technologies we use leave room for growth, so as your church grows, so can your website and online presence.
