Why Church Center should not be your Church's Website
“Can we use Church Center as our church’s website?”
I get this question all the time.
The technical answer is “Yes,” but should you? Absolutely not!
Let’s discuss why churches ask this question and what we should do about it.
First off, we get a ton of feedback from churches about the complexities of owning and maintaining a website. People are concerned about monthly expenses, upkeep, the challenges of keeping up with modern design trends, etc. Websites are hard. They require intentional love and care to remain an effective tool for your church's ministry and outreach.
I want to take a second and paint a different picture. Having a website to host guests is like owning a building to host congregants. It is the digital representation of your church’s building, the place where people first connect with your church community, often long before they attend in person. Most churches don’t question the need for a building in which to run services, but many question the need for a website. Why is this? I think it comes down to a lack of understanding of the need for and purpose of a website.
Let’s take a step back for a minute and ask ourselves, “what is the purpose of our church's website?” Many of us see our church's website as a place to help support the needs of our congregation: watching the latest sermon, finding upcoming events, joining a group, etc. These are all super important things to include on your site, but I might suggest your church's website is more important than just those things. It’s the first impression your church gives when new people come looking. That first impression determines if people want to make an effort to come to visit your church for the first time, or if they see your church as a place where they can get help for their physical and spiritual needs. If we pivot the perspective we have about the site from the position of congregants to the position of guests, the priorities change. People who are already actively involved in your church are less likely to be deterred by the limitations of your website, while a new guest might find those limitations to be a reason not to get involved. So, let’s talk about what it might take to make this more of a signpost for new participants versus a destination for current congregants.
There are over 350,000 churches in America alone. As I drive around my city, I see churches all around me. There are so many options to choose from. People choose the church they attend for varying reasons, but when they are looking for a new church, they head to Google in droves. Collectively, people are searching for ‘churches near me’ over 500,000 times per month. So, if people are searching for the church, can we be found?
The first and most important aspect of your church's website is discoverability. We want our church to be found when people come looking. There are only a few places that people tend to go to find a church, such as Google and social media. Both of these channels, under the hood, use SEO (search engine optimization) to help present you with relevant information.
Limited SEO Optimization
Understanding the pivotal role of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial in ensuring your church's website garners the visibility it deserves. SEO is the backbone of digital discoverability, directly influencing how prominently your church appears in search engine results, thus attracting new guests and community members. However, the Church Center platform falls short in this crucial aspect. Unlike a traditional website platform, Church Center lacks essential SEO optimization features, meaning you cannot influence your ability to be found on Google.
One of the most critical limitations is the nature of the Church Center URL. It's not just about limited SEO tools; the URL itself is not crawlable by search engines. This massive shortfall means that, regardless of the quality and relevance of your content, your church's online presence is virtually invisible to someone searching through a search engine.
In contrast, platforms like Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, The Church Co, WordPress, and most website builders present a stark difference. Low and no-code website builders offer a rich suite of SEO tools and customizable options, allowing for fine-tuning of content, metadata, and site structure. These features are vital for improving your church's search visibility. Through tailored SEO strategies, such as optimizing keywords relevant to your church and community, enhancing your website's mobile responsiveness, and regularly updating with fresh, engaging content, you can significantly boost your online presence.
The choice of using Church Center as the face of your church online can have far-reaching implications. It's not just about missing out on advanced features; it's about hindering your church's ability to connect with individuals actively searching for spiritual guidance or community involvement. In the digital era, where online searchability often dictates visibility and reach, this limitation cannot be overlooked.
Design Limitations
When it comes to portraying the unique identity of your church, the design of your website plays a pivotal role. It's more than just a digital space; it's an extension of your church's brand. This is where Church Center's design limitations become evident. Its standardized templates, while user-friendly, offer limited opportunities for customization. This one-size-fits-all approach can stifle your church's individuality, failing to capture the essence of your unique community and values.
The flexibility available in most website platforms stands in stark contrast. These platforms empower you with the tools to create a website that truly reflects the look and feel of your church. With a semi-custom site (a website built on a template), every aspect – from color schemes and fonts to layout and imagery – can be tailored to resonate with your church's style and feel. This customized approach enables you to craft a digital environment where potential visitors can instantly get a sense of what your church stands for and, more importantly, if they can see themselves becoming a part of your community.
Moreover, the significance of design goes beyond aesthetics. It's about creating a user experience that is engaging, intuitive, and reflective of your church's mission. Well-designed websites facilitate smoother navigation and more effective content presentation, which are essential in capturing and retaining the interest of your visitors. This is especially crucial in a world where digital impressions are often the first touchpoint for new members.
In essence, the design of your website is a crucial factor in helping people determine whether they wish to participate in your church in person. Good design, coupled with seamless searchability and engaging content, not only tells the story of your church but also invites individuals into it. By choosing a semi-custom solution over the restricted design capabilities of Church Center, you are not just building a website; you are crafting an online destination that wholistically represents your church.
The Hybrid Model: Blending Planning Center with a Full-Featured Website
The Concept:
The hybrid model is an innovative approach that merges the functionality and integration of Planning Center with the branding and advanced features of a full-scale website. This model leverages the best of both worlds - the robust management tools of Planning Center and the customizable, SEO-rich environment and custom branding of a dedicated website.
Deep Integration with Planning Center:
At the core of the hybrid model lies a deep integration with Planning Center. By utilizing Planning Center’s embeddable elements such as Giving, Calendar, Forms, etc., your church can create a seamless connection between your website and your management tools. This integration allows congregants and new visitors to directly interact with various church activities and resources through your church’s website.
Maintaining Brand and Searchability:
While leveraging Planning Center’s tools, the hybrid model ensures that your church’s unique brand identity is not lost. The website remains a distinct, search engine optimized (SEO) platform that is easily discoverable by new and existing members. This setup supports your church’s branding efforts and enhances online visibility, ensuring that your church’s digital presence aligns with your mission and values.
Balancing Functionality and Aesthetics:
This model represents a strategic balance between functionality and aesthetics. By embedding Planning Center’s functional elements into a custom-designed website, your church can offer a user-friendly experience without compromising on design and user engagement. It allows for a cohesive, branded user experience that facilitates interaction while maintaining your church's unique digital identity.
Advantages:
The hybrid model offers numerous advantages:
Enhanced User Experience: A seamless blend of Planning Center's functionality with an engaging website design.
Increased Engagement: Direct interaction with Planning Center elements like giving and event registrations through the website.
Strong Online Presence: Customized design and SEO features of a dedicated website enhance your church's visibility online.
Brand Consistency: Maintains your church's unique brand identity while utilizing robust management tools.
In essence, the hybrid model is a comprehensive solution for churches looking to optimize their online presence. It effectively bridges the gap between management efficiency and digital engagement, catering to both operational needs and community outreach.
Conclusion: Charting a Path Forward for Your Church's Digital Presence
In an era where digital interaction often precedes physical engagement, the choice of a website platform for your church is more than a technical decision—it's a strategic one. The exploration through this article illustrates that while Church Center may offer simplicity, it falls short in areas critical to a church's online success—SEO optimization, design flexibility, and comprehensive brand representation.
Adopting a hybrid model, which marries the operational efficiency of Planning Center with the expansive capabilities of a full-fledged website, presents a forward-thinking solution. This approach not only addresses the immediate needs of your congregation but also casts a wider net to engage potential new members actively seeking spiritual guidance or community connection online.
Embracing a platform that aligns with your church’s unique identity and mission is imperative. The digital front of your church is not just a convenience; it’s a virtual extension of your church's ethos and a beacon for community engagement. By choosing a solution that offers robust SEO, customizable design, and seamless integration with essential management tools like Planning Center, your church positions itself not just to be found, but to truly connect and resonate with its digital audience.
As you contemplate the future of your church's digital presence, consider it an investment akin to maintaining a physical building. It's an opportunity to create a welcoming, accessible, and engaging online space that reflects the heart and soul of your community. Your church’s website is more than just a digital destination; it’s a dynamic gateway to spiritual growth, community building, and meaningful engagement in an increasingly digital world.
Michael Visser
P.S. Here’s how we can further assist you:
#1: Looking for more tips and tricks? Check out our blog.
#2: Check out our YouTube Channel for all things Planning Center.
#3: Contact us directly if you have questions or want us to write on a particular topic. info@threefold.solutions
