Parish Website Basics
Whether your parish website is your online presence or your online ministry, there are a few basic features that reveal how serious you are in presenting the Good News to today’s audiences effectively.
Effective websites today are responsive.
Responsive websites adjust their appearance according to the device the visitor is using. This is the norm today. More than 50% of visitors to your parish website will be using mobile devices, phones or tablets. They will know right away when your site isn’t responsive and may suspect that you could be “behind the times” in other ways as well.
Effective websites today are visual.
Quality websites today use quality images to draw visitors in and to quickly tell the story of the parish. Images are a must, but not just any images. My own preference is to use images of the parishioners wherever it is appropriate—because I think the model of “people of God” is how most parishes can be described. Parishes often call themselves communities of faith. Images of the people who make up those communities are very appealing. Smiling parishioners being together, doing God’s work communicates the joy of Gospel living very effectively.
Eye catching graphics can be used to attract attention when an image isn’t available or appropriate.
Of course, quality images do not appear out of thin air. Someone has to take them and prepare them for posting. As someone who has been taking parish photos for many years, I can tell you that it requires showing up to events and activities with my camera all throughout the year and taking good pictures. So often, wonderful activities take place at parishes and there are no photos for history or to share on social media and the website. I never take anyone’s photo who doesn’t want it taken, but I can tell you that most people are happy or at least willing to be photographed. And I never post a photo that is not flattering to everyone in the photo.
In addition to the people photos, I also take photos of the sanctuary decorated for the various liturgical seasons, the confessionals, statues of Mary and Joseph and the patron saint if they have one, a few stations of the cross, the baptismal font and any other significant item that could be useful in promoting activities or services during the year. I always have these to pull out when needed to enhance an article or promote an event.
For Effective Websites: the Home Page is the Entry Point for Information
Hyperlinks are your go to tool on the Home Page. Most content on the Home Page is best presented with an image or graphic placed in a specially designed area with a label or a simple introduction hyperlinked to an internal page or document. The hyperlink to an interior page or document is the best way to present fliers that various groups want “on the website.” The added benefit is that when you hyperlink to a PDF flyer, people can download it very easily.
The hyperlink is also a good way to handle other lengthy content such as the pastor’s weekly letter or homily. It is normally not a good idea to have lengthy text on the Home Page. People who are not interested in it get tired of scrolling through it to get to what they want or need.
One caution: an effective design and arrangement of the content on the Home Page is attractive, has variety and makes sense. A Home Page with 10-15 graphic blocks with labels with no apparent organization is a turn off.
Please do not require visitors to click a hyperlink for the Mass and Confession Schedules or the full address, phone number and office email. They should see these in their entirety on the Home Page. Place hyperlinks to the bulletin, calendar and donation app and other essential content in a prominent place on the website for easy access.
In Summary
A well-designed effective parish website is responsive to all devices and the home page has more visuals than text. With a few exceptions, most of the information being sought from the website is reached through hyperlinks.
These are my opinions, based on my experience with parish websites. What are your thoughts? Please share them below.
