Building a new website is exciting. It’s the chance to create something fresh, functional and tailored to your church's goals. But before you dive in, it’s worth hitting pause for a moment.
A successful site doesn’t just happen on its own. It starts with smart planning. From clarifying who’s building the site, to choosing the right technology, to thinking about long-term upkeep ... there are key questions every church communications team should ask up front.
Here are three things to consider ... before starting your website project ... so you know you're setting your team (and your church) up for success.
First things first, think through who is building your website!
Who are you going to partner with? Do you have someone in mind that already is a part of your church family? Do you already have a relationship with a company that does other communications work or design tasks?
It's important to find a partner who has the skills to accomplish what you want, to be able to discern what you are asking for and to decide what is realistic. You need someone who not only knows how to build what you’re asking for but also can help you approach the design and build in a strategic way.
Just because an idea sounds cool (like turning your cursor into a flashing cross!) doesn’t mean it’s the right move for your website.
Who you partner with matters. And, the right partner will be honest with you, suggest alternative to ideas and make sure the end result fits your mission while still giving visitors a great experience.
You might be asking yourself, "What technology are we going to use?" Honestly, there are so many options out there that it’s nearly impossible to cover them all.
At Fishhook, we typically work with one of two platforms for our church clients ... Ekklesia360 and RockRMS.
Each one has its own strengths and challenges, and depending on your needs, one may be a better fit than the other. (We’ll save the deep dive on pros and cons for another day! Or you can read this quick article about choosing the right CMS platform for your church.)
Keep in mind that it’s not just about picking a platform. It's about a tech platform and the tools being used to actually build your website on that platform.
Technology changes fast. The frameworks that are often used to build sites evolve quickly. And the impact of these two things combined will determine how easy or hard it is to make updates years after you launch your site.
Who’s going to keep your website operating smoothly once it’s up and running? If you had a church member build your site, if they no longer attend your church, will others know how to keep it going. Are you considering multiple people who know how to help?
You might already have a content plan within your church staff, which is a great place to be in. But what about the behind-the-scenes stuff? Things like:
Even when an important page accidentally gets deleted (because it happens to the best of us!), who is your go-to when you need to rebuild it?
A good partner may not know all the answers right away, but they will be able to figure out the best course of action for your specific situation. This is when you'll be grateful to have a partner who knows how to dig in and find the right solution so you don’t have to stress about it.
Launching a new website is about far more than just design and content. It’s about setting a strong foundation that will serve your church for years to come.
The right partner, the right technology and the right plan for ongoing maintenance all play a big role in whether your church website becomes a thriving tool for ministry or a constant source of headaches.
Taking the time to think through these questions now will save you stress later on. Considering these three things when approaching your new website project will help ensure your website truly supports your church's mission and connects with your congregation and community.
Let us know if you want to talk about updating your church's website. We love helping churches tackle their digital strategy. Send us a message.