What Most Guests Look For on Your Church Website (That You Might Be Missing)

Most  communications folks already know the standard church website must-haves:

• Service times
• Physical address (with a map link)
• A way to contact someone
• Staff bios and photos
• A prominent giving button

And if you’ve got all those covered—great! You’re ahead of a lot of churches. But here’s the thing: just having the basics might not be enough to help a guest feel ready to visit.

People new to your church—and maybe new to church altogether—aren’t just looking for information. They’re looking for confidence.

They’re trying to answer the question: “What will happen if I show up?”

Here are a few easy-to-overlook website features that help answer that question—features that help people move from interested to in the room.‍

A “New Here?” or “Start Here” Page

This is one of the most important pages a church can have—but many churches skip it entirely.

The goal is simple: Give first-time guests a central place to land—a page that’s just for them. Think of it as your digital welcome center.

A good “New Here” page should answer:

• What time should I arrive?
• Where do I park?
• What’s the kids’ check-in process like?
• What should I wear?
• How long is the service?

You can even embed a short video from your pastor or welcome team, walking people through what to expect.

Pro tip: Put this page in your main navigation—and use clear wording like “New Here?” or “Plan a Visit.” Avoid insider terms like “Connections” or “Pathway.”

A Clear Photo of the Main Entrance

This seems small, but it helps remove a significant mental barrier. Especially if you meet in a non-traditional space (like a school, theater, or YMCA), a photo of your main entrance helps guests know exactly where to go.

You can even caption it: “This is what you’ll see when you arrive.”

It’s a little thing, but it lowers anxiety. And for a guest, that can be the difference between pulling in or driving past.

A Digital “Connect Card” or Guest Form

Many churches do this in person, but fewer have it available online. Give people a way to raise their hand before they visit or if they’re watching online and want to learn more.

Keep it simple. Name, email, maybe one or two optional questions like “What would you like to know more about?”

Even better—offer a low-pressure incentive like: “We’ll make a $5 donation to a local nonprofit when you fill this out.”

A Clear Path for Families with Kids

If you have a kids’ ministry, don’t just say, “We have childcare.” Give details:

• What age groups are included?
• Is it during the whole service or just the message?
• Is there a check-in process?
• Who will be with my child?

Photos of the space and leaders go a long way here. Parents want to see that it’s clean, safe, and age-appropriate. If you’ve got a safe environment for kids, don’t bury it—highlight it.‍

Upcoming Events That Make Sense to Newcomers

Church calendars often make sense to members, but can be confusing to guests. If your homepage or events page lists things like “Roots Gathering,” “Youth Crew,” or “Kingdom Builders Lunch,” it’s hard for a newcomer to know what any of that means.

Think about tagging 1–2 upcoming events that would be good on-ramps for new folks and labeling them clearly:

• “Great for First-Time Guests”
• “Open to All”
• “Family-Friendly Community Event”

And if you can avoid insider language in your event titles and descriptions, that would be even better.

An Actual Welcome Message

This could be as simple as a few sentences on your homepage or a short video near the top of your New Here page.

It doesn’t need to be a slick production—just warm and real. Something like:

“We know visiting a new church can feel intimidating. We hope you feel welcomed, seen, and encouraged from the moment you arrive.”

It’s a small thing that helps people feel welcomed.

A Way to Ask Questions Before Attending

You don’t need to staff a 24/7 live chat, but you do want to make it easy for people to get in touch. A simple “Got questions? Reach out!” section with an email or text number is enough.

Some churches even use a “Text Your Question” number that goes to someone on staff or the connections team.

Remember: If guests don’t know who to ask, they often don’t ask.

Quick Recap: Here’s what most guests want (and many church websites miss):

• A central “New Here” page
• A photo of what to look for when arriving
• Clear kid’s ministry info
• A way to ask questions or pre-connect
• A warm welcome message
• Upcoming events that aren’t insider-focused

Final Thought

Your church website doesn’t need to be fancy. But it does need to be clear, welcoming, and helpful. The goal isn’t to impress—it’s to remove barriers.

When someone clicks through your site, they’re probably already feeling a little unsure. What they need is not just information, but reassurance. With a few thoughtful tweaks, your website can help them take that next step with confidence.

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