Our philosophy or perspective of something determines how we use or treat it. The wrong view or philosophy could mean failure to get the most of tools, tech and opportunities. This means you could miss opportunities and means that stare you in the face, all because of how you look at them. This extends to your website; your view of it is the difference between making it work for you or absolute. Let’s see how some look at websites and how you should think about your website.
Must Have
Organizations and churches have websites just because, well, you must have one. Don’t get me wrong, you must have one. You could fail to harness the potential of having one when you only have one because you must. You have to ask why you must have one and how you can get the most of it.
“Just because” isn’t a great reason to have a website. Ask questions that can help you get the most out of your website. For example:
- What examples of effective church websites do we know?
- It is surprising how little attention this question gets: what do we want to achieve with our website?
- Who do we want to reach?
- What should someone do after they’ve been on our website?
If you don’t wrestle with these questions and other similar ones, you might end up with an online brochure. Pretty but not achieving anything notable.
“We have a website because it helps us achieve…” is how you should think about website.
We Have One
Another way websites are viewed is, “our church has a website…”. The result of this thinking is treating your website like an appendix. Something that is there but has little value, contribution or significance. This is where you’re likely to see websites that are rarely updated.
Updates, maintenance and new content are an exception and not the norm. The website here is an afterthought. How sad. Church leaders and tech teams need to think this way: our website is part of church life.
“The website is part of how we do things”, is how you should think about your website.
This means the best way to leverage websites is considered when working strategy. It means you consider how you use the website in the next teaching series, for example. It means the summer camp you’re planning features, perhaps for registration and payment. You could be missing opportunities to disciple. You could miss chances to tell stories that showcase your church’s mission. Have you thought about how you think about your website?
Too ____
We’re too:
- small to have a website
- busy to worry about a website
- stretched to give resources to website
Thinking of your website through the filter of excuses isn’t helpful. In such instances the website is seen as an inconvenience. Another chore we have to do. A lack of understanding of the power of the Internet and a website entrenches this kind of thinking.
“A great tool that helps us fulfil our mission…” is how you should think about your website.
A simple change in perspective makes you care more. It makes working on and through your website a greater joy. It forces you to explore more ways to be effective in how you use your website.
Recap
Your website is one tool you cannot afford to overlook. It is important to see it and its potential in the best light possible. Be clear about why you have it how you can use it. Make sure everyone on your team understands the role it plays in your mission. See it as an integral part of everyday organizational life. See it as an enabler and not inconvenience. It might just be time to revisit how you think about your website.
Eric Dye says
Great post Blessing. Church websites are often overlooked. Not just as far as updates go, but an effective tool.
Blessing Mpofu says
Thanks Eric. And you are right, websites can be potent tools; hope churches and leaders start looking at them as that 🙂