It’s Action Time!

Your web presence is so much more than an online flyer. In previous months we’ve talked about the importance of why you need a good web presence. Essentially, it boils down to this: your website is a direct reflection of your church or ministry. It should be a living, breathing representation of who you are.

You recognize the importance of figuring out the right message and how to say it. In fact, the attention span of a reader is so short that some experts believe you have just several lines or 30 seconds to get their attention. If you’re not clear about what message you want to convey, readers may just leave your site and move on to the next church.

Get Your Readers Attention and Draw Them In

Compel your readers to keep reading. Make them want to respond to your message and contact you. Make that invitation. Most readers already know what they want and they won’t stop to take the time to read something that doesn’t motivate them to action.

Ask Your Readers To Respond — Again & Again

A call to action can have many faces, but every website should have multiple ways for people to engage. Take a look at your existing website. What is the purpose of each page? Does each page include a call to action? What do you want your reader to do? Maybe you want them to respond to a sermon. Perhaps, you want them to visit your church or to register for Vacation Bible School.

Let the reader know how to contact you.

It’s so simple and yet so easy to forget. Offer multiple ways for your readers to respond:

• Contact Us form for contacting via email
• Phone number to call for more information
• Your address and directions to be able to find you

Don't forget to let them know the times of your services. Include information such as if you typically dress casually or not, or if the kids are in the Worship service.

Tips For Success

But since you want to motivate the reader toward more actions, Gaye Newton of Galibren Written Treasures recommends some of the following tips:

• Begin small. Begin with some introductory information on the topic and then use a “read more” link to take the reader to the full article. This encourages the reader to engage and move around your site. Imagine looking at the newspaper. The opening text draws you in and then sends you to C19 to finish the article.
• Free always gets responses. If you have a free offer, this is a great time to offer it. Remember, free can be anything from information to free tangible items.
• Date it. Don’t forget to include a date. A date indicates urgency. This will aid in motivating your visitor to action. For example, Family Fun Fair August 16th! Click here for more information!

Take some time to think about how you want your visitors to respond. Encourage them to call, email or participate in an upcoming event. No matter what the method, use your content to compel the reader to take action.

Don’t forget, if we can help you implement or upgrade your own web presence challenges, please contact Katalyst Solutions, LLC.

Traci Riley has worked in marketing in the technology industry for 8 years. She spends her days with Katalyst Solutions researching and writing to be a ‘katalyst for your online success.’