Based on a number of metrics, we’ve compiled a list of top 10 best church websites from 2018 that perform well with those who visit them. These metrics are as follows:
- Bounce Rate – The percentage of people who leave the site when reaching the first page
- Time – How much time a visitor spent on the site
- Optimization – If there are a good number of links to other websites, and if other websites link to them
- General Design – Aesthetics of the pages
- Search Traffic – Percentage of people who find the website through Google search, versus those who already know the website’s URL and type it in
There isn’t a simple digital formula for church website designs. The most effective tool for learning is to look at other examples and take a page out of their book. So peruse the list below and see if you come up with any ideas for your website!
The Aplos Top 10 List Of Best Church Websites
crossroads.net
A little bit about the church: “On March 24, 1996, Crossroads Community Church of Hyde Park “went public” in a Cincinnati neighborhood. They wanted a great environment to meet with friends to explore questions about God without having to pretend they had it all together or wading through a bunch of religious lingo. But our short history has shown us that it’s a journey of creating something that hasn’t yet been seen, saying things that aren’t being said and trusting God to do something truly meaningful in and through a bunch of imperfect people.”
thewellcommunity.org
A little bit about the church: “We are committed to being a doctrinally sound church, and our mission is to help people connect to God and to each other in every neighborhood.”
victoryatl.com
A little bit about the church: “We’re a church of more than 100 different nationalities, a wide range of ages, singles, married couples, families, and people from all different church backgrounds. Every weekend we worship Him together with a live band in an energetic and intimate atmosphere followed by a relevant and dynamic teaching. We also have campuses in Hamilton Mill and in Midtown.”
mcleanbible.org
A little bit about the church: “Jesus told His disciples to spread His message, beginning in their hometown. For them, it was Jerusalem. For us, it’s Washington, DC. This metropolitan region has over six million people, and it’s one of the most powerful, educated and diverse cities in the world. It’s also one of the most secular, or non-religious. The early church inundated their cities with the message of Jesus Christ. We seek to make a similar impact on our metro region.”
marshill.org
A little bit about the church: “In the late 1990’s, our founding pastor, Rob Bell, was an assistant pastor at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Late one night at Taco Bell, he and his wife Kristen had an idea and a dream: the idea that church could be about desire, longing, and connection, and the dream that it be those things without fluff or hype piled on. Along with some friends, they decided to give it a shot. Calvary gave their blessing, and the first Mars Hill Gatherings took place on February 7, 1999.”
elmbrook.org
A little bit about the church: “At Elmbrook Church, our mission is to help people become rooted in Jesus and released to His mission. From our weekend services and exciting programs just for kids and students, to thriving Life Group communities, our focus is always on growing deeper in and our relationship with Christ and one another. And the outworking of being rooted in Christ is a life of purpose — one that is fully released to His mission.”
faithpromise.org
A little bit about the church: “We decided to be a church with a heart for those outside the church. A place where anyone can come and connect with God without the risk of being judged. We desire to be a church that’s rich with ethnic diversity, and a place where kids love to come back each week.”
A little bit about the church: “Northside started with a group of people who desired to follow Jesus and met in the basement of a house in 1970. What happened in the next 46 years can best be described by saying, ‘Only God.’ Whether it’s making an impact on the community, preaching the Gospel, or moving locations to gather, the elders at Northside have always taken risks to follow God. That’s what it means to follow Jesus as a Church. And we can’t wait to see what Christ does in the next 40+ years through His Church!”
churchofthehighlands.com
A little bit about the church: “Pastor Chris Hodges dreamed of planting a church with a simple goal—to help people connect with God so that they might reach their full potential. With the help of the initial Dream Team, 34 people committed to seeing this dream become a reality, Church of the Highlands began February 4, 2001. That Sunday, more than 350 people attended the first service at the Fine Arts Center of Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Today, thousands of people attend Church of the Highlands at multiple campuses all over the state of Alabama.”
Conclusion
Hopefully these examples have provided some inspiration for church website designs. Aesthetics are never an exact science, but you can always use tried-and-true methods for website layout to engage those who visit. Do you have insight on designing that you would like to share? Feel free to leave a comment below!
