What Visitors Notice (and Members Miss) About Your Website

It’s easy for a church website to become like the bulletin board in the fellowship hall: well-intentioned, occasionally updated, and mostly overlooked by those who know their way around.

But to a visitor? It speaks volumes.

In our work with churches across New England, we’ve seen a recurring pattern: long-time members naturally become blind to the website’s blind spots. They already know service times, staff names, and how to get to the building. But a first-time guest, often exploring your church online before ever stepping foot inside, is asking quiet, weighty questions:

Will I feel out of place here?
Can I find what I need quickly and clearly?
What kind of people go to this church?
Is the gospel proclaimed here?

These aren’t just practical questions. They’re spiritual ones. And your website is often their first place people find answers.

Three Things Visitors Often Notice First (and Members Don’t):

Outdated or Unclear Information
If service times, ministries, or leadership roles aren’t accurate, it can create a subtle sense of disconnection. Trust begins with clarity.
Tone and Warmth
Is the language invitational? Is the photography real and welcoming? Does it feel like your church, or like a generic template?
Pathways for Next Steps
Visitors are often looking for what to do next—"Plan Your Visit," "What to Expect," or even "I'm New Here." If those pathways are missing, people often leave quietly.

Our Advice? Walk Your Website Like a Visitor

Before you wrap up the work week, consider this exercise:
Go to your church’s homepage and try to find the most important information—as if you knew nothing about the church. Service times. Directions. Children’s ministry details. A recent sermon. If anything feels unclear or hard to find, that’s an opportunity for hospitality.

We believe a church website should be more than a digital bulletin, it should be a front porch. A place of welcome. A quiet but faithful invitation to come and see.

If you’d like a fresh pair of eyes on your site, we’d be glad to offer a free, no-pressure review. Whether or not we work together, our aim is the same: to help the gospel be heard.

Free Website Audit