There are so many cool features that can be added to a website. There are wondrous visual effects, slick technical tricks, amazing feats of audio-visual magic. Most of it adds little to a website and much of it actually hinders its functionality.
A site needs to be visually attractive; there are some church websites that scream 1995 when you open them, with the little animated icons and boxy layout. There are others that are so visually overwhelming that its next to impossible to find any real information. Every time you move your cursor, something new pops up at you. Videos are running on both sides of the page, with a slideshow moving across the middle.
And please, PLEASE, get rid of the splash page. You know, that landing page that has no real content on it. There was a moment in time when that was appealing. But those three minutes and 40 seconds have passed. People don’t want to go to your site, then have to click to actually get to any real content. They want to read something now. Reports show that people become impatient if a page takes more than a second to load, and if it takes over 10 seconds, they’ll usually go elsewhere.
Never lose sight of the fact that, when it comes to church websites, content is king. People want information. Yes, like I say, an ugly website can create a bad impression. But a website that won’t load because they don’t have the SnazzMaster™ plugin on their computer also creates a bad impression.
Think about our technology. Why are mp3s so popular? Because of their quality? No. Because of their accessibility. Why do newscasts now show cellphone videos? Because of the high def picture they produce? Nope. Its because the information can be had now. In many ways, the text message is a huge step backwards. But it’s become the dominant communication form for a whole generation. Is it pretty? Not at all. No bells. No whistles. But it works, right now. That’s what you want on your website. Something that works. Right now.
Or do you see it differently? I’d like to hear your experiences with websites in general and church websites in particular.
Functionality is the key. A person visits a church website to learn something about the particular church, not to see how irritating some techno-geek can be with what he/she adds on to the church website. That being said, part of functionality is being ascetically appeasing to the eye. The background and layout of a website must look fashionable to the year we are living in rather than making it appear we are living still in the twentieth century. Of course, that assumes that the church itself is not stuck in the past (which might be a big assumption for some churches).
Grace and Peace,
Rex
I’ve got one bell & whistle on my home church’s site (linked to my name above) that I like: a picture rotator that even works with cell phones — no flash, just javascript. I added the linking feature to it so you can click on the pictures to go to a page with more information.
I’m hoping that our site software upgrade will provide a mobile layout alternative, but it’s been months in the process now with our host/provider.
There are years of human-machine interface studies available, some specializing in web-page viewing. There’s a great book called “Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability” http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Me-Think-Usability/dp/0321344758 that gives food for thought along these lines. This book also points out that in addition to the 10-second rule in the post (and it might be shorter by now), there is also a three-click limit. On average, if the information is not available within three clicks, people stop trying.
Ultimately, it comes down to how we think people are interacting with us. If it’s through the building, then we try to make it appealing. If it’s a web site, we put our energies there. If it’s through Twitter, we try to say interesting things each day (where brother Keith of the above excels, I might add).
If a company, church, or individual thinks that no one is really looking, then why exert the energy to make it elegant (simplicity that hides complexity and adds a smile to functionality)?
Here is an article http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/wordpress/best-church-websites/ showing 50 (supposedly) great website designs. Scroll through the images and make note of the ones that catch your eye, and the ones that turn you off. Then try to write down those distinguishing features. Within no time, you’ll have your own personal guidelines for websites.
I’ve got to tell you the truth. I’m a church guy. I have heavy input into our church website. I look at the numbers all the time, but I have no idea why people actually go to a church website. If it weren’t for Online Worship Services, I’d never go to a church web site. People keep saying they want “resources,” but other than the sermon podcast, I can’t imagine a scenario where I might spend more than 30 seconds on ANY church website – regardless of how it looks. I can say this though, church websites that were built in 1999 and haven’t been updated is DEATH for searching folks.
Appreciate all the comments. Great info, great insights. (Man, I sound like one of those spam comments) Hope this discussion will be helpful to some.
Sean makes a great point. Any website I frequent has content that’s worth my time. Specifically fresh content.
If we were to understand our websites as community water coolers, how would that change what we put there? Scripture says the early church gathered daily. Is it not easier to do that now more than ever before? We don’t even have to travel! (I’m not advocating for abandoning face-to-face meetings, but adding daily interaction to them.)
Our websites could be a place to showcase our artists, teachers, theologians, musicians, story tellers, writers, apologists. we could highlight current events and tell the kingdom perspective.
This reminds me of one of my favorite musicians named Mark Hollis. He famously said, “Before you play two notes, learn to play one note. And before you play one note, have a reason for playing it.” Up to this point the reason for a church website is as mentioned: directions and mp3s. But all we have to do is repent (change our thinking), and we will find a society-changing tool at our fingertips.
The hard part is seeking the Kingdom first rather than our religion. The Kingdom is full of ideas and expressions of those ideas. It gives us the reason for playing our note. But when we don’t have a reason to play it, it’s embarrassingly obvious.