Myths about design in the Episcopal Church
Myth 1: Our church website is a place for visitors to learn more about the qualifications of the staff.
Reality: while the credentials of your staff and qualifications as a parish can be included they should never be the main focus of your website they may seem like defining characteristics. Most visitors don't make a decision to come to your church based on the qualifications of your staff. The website is a place for visitors to feel seen and heard offering real experience and insight into what they can expect from your worshipping community.
Myth 2: After our church website is built, we can forget about it.
Reality: This is unfortunately a huge problem in churches of all sizes. Having a website is like having a relationship of any kind. It takes nurturing, attention, and energy to maintain.
Myth 3: My website is a great place to show off my Instagram and Facebook feed.
Reality: Using your Instagram or Facebook feed as a prominent and featured part of your website directs traffic away from the website that you may have just worked so hard on. This is not good. The website of your Parish should be the endpoint. When somebody comes to your website you want them to reach out and make contact if they are ready to do that. If they aren’t ready, you want them to have a memorable experience.
Let's be very clear: while your social media accounts as a parish are important for making connections and having conversations, your website is the only digital property that you own as a parish.
Myth 4: Your website will turn every visitor into a pledging parishioner. You should try to appeal to anyone and everyone.
Reality: This is certainly false. You cannot (or at least should not) boil the ocean. Your parish will not be for certain people. This can feel really difficult to own, especially when we talk about inclusivity and love as a church. You can love your neighbor, and it’s also ok that they don’t attend your parish and give money to support the work you do.
Myth 5: Website design doesn’t really matter.
Reality: Would you say the same about the design and architecture of your worship space? Your digital home is no different. A website has the power to create an atmosphere and send a message your Parish wants to send. 94% of visitors cite web design as the reason they don’t trust a website. Imagine the parallel of the building in which you worship. How many people cite something about the building or people in it as a reason they do or don’t feel moved by your worship experience?
Myth 6: SEO will solve all of my problems
Reality: Imagine that you could move your Church to the street in your town with the most foot traffic. Having lots of foot traffic doesn’t mean that people will stay and become part of your community.
Even after exerting all the energy in the world moving it, doesn't mean that people are going to come in. Increasing your traffic is very noble and important. It’s not a substitute for real human connection. What do you need to do to learn how to connect with the people you care about?
