7 Biggest Mistakes Churches Make That Hurt Their Online Presence
Quick fixes that can help you reflect jesus well Start reading!Full 7 step guide
There’s a world out there that needs to see Jesus
Are you portraying Jesus well with how people interact with your church online? Many churches face the painful reality of an outdated website, confusing branding, and low engagement that leaves them invisible in a crowded digital landscape, ultimately missing out on opportunities to impact the world for the Kingdom of God. If you’re frustrated with your online presence and feel that your digital outreach isn’t reflecting your mission, you’re not alone.
The good news is that you can start turning things around today with a few targeted actions. Whether you’re looking to improve your church web design or build a church website from scratch, here are seven simple steps to help you end the struggle and rescue your church’s online impact and your digital reflection of Jesus to the world.
1 Corinthians 1:24
"but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the Wisdom of God"
Ephesians 3:10
"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold Wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms"
Are you portraying Jesus well with how people interact with your church online? Many churches face the painful reality of an outdated website, confusing branding, and low engagement that leaves them invisible in a crowded digital landscape, ultimately missing out on opportunities to impact the world for the Kingdom of God. If you’re frustrated with your online presence and feel that your digital outreach isn’t reflecting your mission, you’re not alone.
The good news is that you can start turning things around today with a few targeted actions. Whether you’re looking to improve your church web design or build a church website from scratch, here are seven simple steps to help you end the struggle and rescue your church’s online impact and your digital reflection of Jesus to the world.
Build Your Church Website
1. Outdated Website
If you have a website, does it look like it’s still living in the 90’s? Instead of struggling with an outdated website, consider switching to a modern, mobile-responsive template. Platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix offer professional designs that ensure your site looks great on any device.
Quick Fix: Upgrade to a modern, mobile-friendly template on WordPress (with Divi), Squarespace, or Wix. Choose one with clean navigation, readable fonts, and a welcoming homepage highlighting key details. Preview on desktop and mobile before launching.
Church Mobile Web Design
2. Not Mobile Friendly
In January 2025, 62.71% of internet traffic came from mobile devices. Even if your site is responsive, small issues—like tiny fonts or poor navigation—can frustrate mobile visitors. Run Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to identify and fix usability problems, ensuring a seamless experience for all users.
Quick Fix: Improve readability by adjusting your font sizes. Fonts should be 12-16pt on a mobile screen, 15-19pt on a tablet, and 16-20pt on a desktop computer screen. Also, adjust navigation, and fix layout issues to keep mobile visitors engaged.
If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit speak with one voice, shouldn’t your Church’s Brand do the same? Inconsistent branding can confuse and alienate your audience. If your website, social media, and digital materials don’t speak with one clear voice, potential members may not feel confident in your message. Create a simple brand style guide detailing your logo, colors, fonts, and tone to ensure a unified presentation across all platforms.
Quick Fix: Use your style guide to update any inconsistent digital content quickly, reinforcing your church’s identity. Need to develop a style guide for your brand? Contact us for a Free Consultation!
Reach Your Community
4. No Social Media Engagement
A neglected social media presence can leave your community disconnected and new visitors unaware of your mission. SEO is no longer Search Engine Optimization (Yahoo, Bing, Google). It’s Search Every Optimization (Google, Facebook, Youtube, X, etc), and your social media is a powerful tool for our mission (Mk 16:15). Identify the one or two platforms where your audience is most active and revitalize your profiles with consistent, engaging content—ranging from inspirational messages to event updates.
Quick Fix: Create a week’s worth of posts in advance using scheduling tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to ensure steady communication.
Seek, and They Should Find… you
5. Unfindable Online
Speaking of SEO, SEO is your organic unpaid ability to be found online by your target audience. If people can’t find your church online, opportunities are being missed. Poor SEO practices could be burying your church website in search results. Optimize your site’s meta titles, descriptions, and headings with relevant keywords like church web design and build church website to improve search rankings. Also, claim your Google My Business listing to enhance your local search presence.
Quick Fix: Tackle SEO basics immediately to boost your visibility and ensure your church shows up when people search for spiritual resources in your area.
Be That Light On A Hill
6. Stagnant Website
A stagnant website can give the impression of inactivity. As the church, this is the last thing we want. We are to let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in Heaven. Regular updates with sermons, blog posts, outreach, and event details show that your church is active, welcoming, and about the mission. A well-maintained church web design keeps visitors coming back and encourages engagement.
Quick Fix: Add a blog or news section and update it consistently with fresh content.
God Created Fun
7. Not Interactive
Jesus isn’t boring. Neither should your church website design be. It should encourage interaction. Features like an online prayer request form, contact form, or live-streaming services help visitors feel connected before they even step through your doors. Spice it up with an animation or two. Just don’t go overboard. If you want to build a church website that fosters deeper engagement, incorporating interactive tools is essential.
Quick Fix: Implement at least one interactive feature to foster engagement and encourage connections.
You’ve Been Given Knowledge. You’re Online Presence Will Not Perish
By implementing these quick tips, your church can build a welcoming digital space that truly represents your mission and values. A well-crafted church web design not only improves outreach but also strengthens your community. Whether you need to build a church website from scratch or make improvements to your existing church web design, investing in your online presence will help your church thrive in today’s digital world.
If you need some help getting started contact us today for a free consultation!
Until next time, we hope this blesses you and empowers you to represent Jesus well.
~Living Development
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