Let’s talk about a common mistake I see in a lot of churches:
👉 We use our website like a junk drawer.
Every time something comes up—
Another page.
Another link.
Another random landing page.
Just slap it on the website.
And before long, you’ve built a maze instead of a map.
Your Website Should Be Clean, Consistent, and Clear
Here’s the truth:
If someone lands on your website and they don’t know where to click…
You’ve already lost them.
A cluttered site doesn’t just look bad—it confuses people. Especially new visitors who are just trying to find the essentials:
Where do I go on Sunday?
What about my kids?
How do I get connected?
Those answers should be front and center.
But too often, they get buried under:
A random fundraiser
A form for the potluck
An update about last month’s group hike
Five different giving links
Eight tabs in the nav bar
We’re trying to say everything.
And as a result—people hear nothing.
So What Should Be on the Website?
Start by getting clear on the primary things every church website should cover:
🛠️ Weekend Services — Where, when, what to expect
👶 Support Ministries — Kids, Youth, Groups
📅 Event Page — What’s coming up and how to get involved
🤝 Next Steps — A clear path to get connected
💬 Contact Info — Easy to find and easy to use
If it doesn’t fall under one of those buckets…
It probably doesn’t need its own page.
Yes. Just don’t let your website become your communication plan.
Not everything needs a landing page.
Not every update needs its own button.
Try this instead:
Group smaller updates on a single “News & Updates” page.
Use your email newsletter or social media to drive urgency.
Think about how people navigate your site. Are you guiding them, or just hoping they click around long enough to find it?
Don’t Build Rabbit Trails. Build Clear Roads.
An overloaded website is the easiest way to lose a potential visitor—or confuse a committed member.
When you try to capture everything, people miss the important things.
So here’s your challenge this week:
Open Your Church Website.
Ask: “if I were new here…would I know where to go next?
If the answer’s not clear, it’s time to simplify.
🧠 Want more practical insights like this for church creatives and comms leaders?
We drop a new post every week at city-on-a-hill.beehiiv.com
Subscribe to get the full posts in your inbox.