Church Website Checklist

40 items across seven categories. Score your church's website in ten minutes and see exactly where to focus. The score updates live as you check items off.

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Your result

Let's find out where you stand

Work through each category below. A score in the middle is normal, not a failing grade. Every unchecked item here is a solvable problem, not a permanent condition.

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Check the box next to anything that's already true for your church's current website. Be honest rather than aspirational. The goal is an accurate picture, not a high score. Your progress is saved automatically in this browser if you want to come back to it later.

First Impressions

0/5 checked

Your homepage headline says something meaningful beyond just your church's name
The homepage uses real photos of your people and space, not generic stock imagery
A first-time visitor can tell what to do next within about 10 seconds of landing on the page
The site looks intentional, with consistent fonts, colors, and spacing throughout
The homepage loads in under 3 seconds on a phone

Essential Pages

0/7 checked

There's a dedicated "Plan a Visit" or "New Here" page
Service times, days, and location are listed clearly, not buried in a PDF or an old announcement
A staff or leadership page introduces the people a visitor will actually meet
A beliefs or "What We Believe" page exists for people who want to know more
An events or calendar page shows what's happening this month
A working contact form or clear contact info is easy to find
Every major page is reachable within two clicks from the homepage

Sermons & Media

0/5 checked

Past sermons are archived and searchable, not just the last handful
Sermons are organized by series and/or speaker
Sermon audio or video plays directly on your site, with no dead links
Your podcast feed is live and current on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Each sermon page includes a short description of what the message is about

Giving & Connect

0/5 checked

An online giving button is visible from the homepage, not buried three menus deep
There's a way for first-time visitors to fill out a connect or "I'm new" card
Small groups or ministries are listed somewhere a visitor can find them
There's a way to submit a prayer request online
Volunteer or serving opportunities are visible somewhere on the site

Technical Foundation

0/8 checked

The site loads securely (https, with a padlock and no browser security warnings)
The site is fully usable on a phone, not just "technically responsive"
You've personally clicked every link in your main navigation in the last 6 months
Images have alt text so screen readers and search engines can understand them
Text has enough contrast against its background to be easily readable
A privacy policy and cookie notice are in place
Analytics (like Google Analytics) is installed, and someone looks at it regularly
A specific person is responsible for keeping the website current

Local SEO

0/5 checked

Your Google Business Profile is claimed and shows correct hours and address
Your homepage's page title and meta description are written intentionally, not left as defaults
Searching "[your city] church" surfaces your website
Your church's name, address, and phone number match exactly across your site and Google
You've claimed your listing on at least one other directory (Apple Maps, Facebook, Yelp)

Church Database Connections

0/5 checked

Key next steps (give, register, join a group, fill out a connect card) link to your church database's forms, not to an email address or a phone number
Each link opens the exact form or page someone needs, not your database's homepage
Buttons say where they lead ("Give Online," "Find a Group"), so leaving your site never feels like a surprise
Your database's forms and pages carry your church's name, logo, and colors, so the handoff feels like the same church
Someone checks these links each season (fall kickoff, Christmas, Easter) so none point to last year's form or event

Your final score

0/ 40

Let's find out where you stand

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