Sometimes it becomes hard to discern what is essential and what is non-essential. This has certainly become the case with church Web sites. In an effort to provide some guidance, I’ve outlined nine essential features or items of consideration for every church site. Then I give a brief glimpse into some of the most cutting-edge, forward-thinking technologies churches are using to enhance their sites. These are, of course, the non-essentials. But first, here are some things you need.

1. Develop a design that attracts the people in your community.

Remember who your audience is. A strong, simple and relevant design is important because it’s the first thing visitors will notice when they arrive at your site. A static or uninteresting design can deter visitors before you even have a chance to tell them about your ministry.

2. Remember the basic information.

Sometimes the most basic information can be overlooked. Don’t forget to include – on your home page or another obvious location – your church’s service times, locations, directions, office schedule and anything else considered to be basic information for your ministry.

3. Tell people what’s going on.

Your Web site needs to include an “Announcements” or “Upcoming Events” section. This is one way that you can communicate with your visitors about news and updates with your church. This information should be very accessible and readily available to visitors as soon as they arrive at your site.