How to Refresh Your Church Website (Without Doing a Full Redesign)

As a busy church leader, the idea of trying to find the time to redesign your church website probably feels daunting. Luckily, there are actionable steps you can take today – with just a few hours of time – to give your website a major refresh! 

Website Redesign vs. Website Refresh: What’s Right for Your Church? 

A website redesign is often a complex process in which site function is taken into account. This may include switching up the site navigation, changing site codes, or even switching platforms (e.g., from WordPress to Squarespace). A website redesign deals with the guts of your site, and it often takes hours of brainstorming around whiteboards and boardroom tables before even getting to updates. 

A website refresh, on the other hand, involves small changes that affect your church website’s appearance and usability without making major changes to the structure (think content, fonts, images, etc.) A refresh is far more cost-effective and time-effective, and it can still positively impact your website’s approachability with small, incremental changes. 

If you don’t have the bandwidth for a complete website redesign but want to refresh your site to be current, compelling, and easy to navigate, check out the tips below!

Six Tips for Improving Your Website (Without Doing a Full Redesign) 

#1 Clean Up Your Content

To get started with your website refresh, start with some website spring cleaning! (And you can tackle this anytime, not just in the spring.) Take time to scan over your website as if you are a first-time site visitor. Do you notice any communication gaps? Does your site have too little information – or too much? Do you notice any outdated information, incorrect dates, misspellings, or broken links? To stay organized, maintain a detailed list of the changes that need to be made, or make updates directly as you come across them.

The time required for this process will vary depending on the size of your church website. Some websites can be refreshed in as little as 20 minutes, while larger sites may take longer. Regardless of the timeframe, it's crucial not to skip this step. Even if your website has a visually appealing design, outdated or unclear information will significantly impact its effectiveness. By initiating a thorough cleanup of your website, you're taking the vital first step towards refreshing it and ensuring that it provides relevant and valuable content for both your congregants and potential new visitors to your church. 

#2 Make Your Homepage Count

Your homepage serves as the virtual front door to your church. Just like a physical front door, people don’t typically linger for very long before choosing to enter or leave! According to recent studies, it only takes 50 milliseconds for users to develop an opinion about your website – and how long they are going to spend navigating it. 

If you only have time to refresh one page of your website, start by making your homepage count! Showcase your mission and values prominently to help visitors understand your church's unique identity. Feature key information, such as service times and upcoming events, to provide immediate value and encourage further engagement. Lastly, make sure users know what to do next! Feature a clear CTA (call-to-action) button that encourages users to do something – whether it's to catch up on recent sermons, sign up for a newsletter, learn about upcoming events, or participate in something unique to your congregation. 

#3 Make Your Site Pop with Stock Images and Videos

When it comes to your church website, featuring images of the people in your unique congregation is always the best way to go. If you don’t have the time or resources to capture these photos just yet, however, you can use free stock footage to help refresh your website’s appearance in just a few minutes!

There are thousands of high-quality, professional-looking images available for free online. One highly recommended website is pexels.com, which offers a wide selection of both photos and videos conveniently organized into categories. This makes it easy for you to find multiple images with the same people, providing visual continuity for your website. Unsplash is also a fan favorite when it comes to free stock images. 

When choosing new images for your website, be mindful of stock images that you have come across repeatedly online. If you notice a certain image is widely used, consider opting for a more unique and distinctive option. The objective is to create a website that stands out and avoids the generic look!

#4 Create a More Modern Look

Is your church website stuck in the 90s? The typography on your site has a huge impact on the user’s experience. It says a lot about the look, tone, and feel of your church. Because of this, one simple way to upgrade your website’s aesthetic is to switch out your font!

If you have a church brand guide that outlines specific fonts, it is highly recommended to adhere to those guidelines. However, if you are seeking an appealing and contemporary font for your website, consider incorporating a sans-serif font. While serif fonts like Times New Roman, Georgia, and *even* Comic Sans have their place in design, opting for modern fonts can help achieve a minimalist and clean look. Some popular sans-serif fonts include Arial, Helvetica, and Futura, among others.

#5 Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

Are you reading this article on a laptop, a tablet, or a phone? According to recent statistics, roughly half of all internet traffic comes from mobile phones. This means that now is a great time to ensure that your church website is easy to read on mobile. 

In some cases, making your website mobile-friendly may require a full website redesign. However, if you are utilizing responsive site builders such as Wix or Squarespace, you have the advantage of seamlessly switching between mobile and desktop views during the editing process. This allows you to ensure that your site looks exceptional and functions smoothly across different devices. Not sure if your church website is mobile-friendly? Check out Google’s free mobile-friendly test to find out! 

#6 Add Social Media Platforms to Your Church Website

One of the best ways to help your website visitors stay connected with your church after leaving your website is by directing them toward your social media accounts. If you haven’t done so yet, take a few minutes to add social media buttons or widgets that link to your church’s Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube accounts. Access to these links on your website helps visitors stay updated on the latest news, events, and sermons. Consider adding these links to the footer of your website, allowing easy access that can be edited or removed effortlessly whenever needed.

Why Stop There?

And there you have it! Improving your church website doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing process. With a few small enhancements, you can elevate your website's aesthetics and user-friendliness, enabling users to stay connected to the vibrant life of your church.

But why stop there? If your church management systems are also due for a refresh, we've got you covered. Click here to explore Breeze's easy and effective ChMS (Church Management System) that streamlines your tasks and reduces your workload, making your life as a church leader much easier.