Update: Based on feedback, I’m expanding this list. See the updated Checklist for Church Website Content.

Do you frequently run across websites where it’s all you can do to find the most basic information? I do. More days than not, I have to go on Easter egg hunts through a wide variety of sites, including congregational ones.

Of course, I’m much better at spotting missing information on sites that I have no responsibility for. It’s all too easy for a webmaster like me to get caught up in the razzle-dazzle of design, headlines, standards, Google rankings, etc., and lose sight of what ultimately matters most: the content.

Elizabeth’s Little Blog just zeroed in on this issue – Things a Church Website Should Make Very Easy To Find – and she’s a user. Such feedback is a treasure to an insider like me. To her list, I would add items like a phone number and an address. Here’s my checklist.

Critical Church Website Content: A Checklist

For Potential Visitors and Newcomers
  • Contact information. This includes an address with the city and zip, a phone number and an email address.
  • A summary of your beliefs. If you belong to a denomination or similar umbrella organization, is that clear?
  • A staff directory.
  • A map and directions.
  • A brief biography of the minister.
  • The size of the congregation.
  • What newcomers can expect when they visit.
  • Service times.
  • Childcare. When is it?
  • Religious education for adults. Include at least a brief description.
  • Religious education for children. Include at least a brief description.
  • Other activities. Do you have committees? What kind of social justice work are you involved in? Include at least a brief description.
  • What makes your congregation special?
For Regular Members
  • All of the above, plus….
  • A calendar. This can be surprisingly hard to pull off. If you can’t manage a regularly updated one, at least post a list of the broad patterns and major events.
  • Policies and procedures.
  • An online donation form. If people want to give money, don’t let the webmaster stand in the way.
  • Paths to more information. For example, if your denomination has a site, be sure to at least link to it.

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