Research continues to show the importance church websites and an active online presence.

A recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that religiously active Americans use online technology as much (if not more) than other Americans.

A church's online presence is key to every ministry wishing to remain relevant in today's tech-driven age. A church website—one that actively engages its users, is findable on search engines, and attracts visitors to its real world counterpart—is pivotal.

Here are four important findings from the study and how you should react:

Religious Americans are Online

79% of Americans who are active in religious groups are internet users, compared with 75% of those not involved with religious groups

So you should ...

• Have a church website that engages your visitors
• Update your site with fresh, interesting news articles, event pages, blog entries, podcasts, and videos
• Drive your congregation from your bulletin to your website with easy-to-remember URL shortcuts
• Advertise "exclusive extras" from the pulpit

Religious Americans are Mobile

86% of Americans who are active in religious groups are cell phone users, compared with 80% of those not involved with religious groups

So you should ...

• Upload your podcast to iTunes so listeners can easily upload to smart phones
• Limit the use of Flash on your website, so mobile visitors don't miss anything
• Best-case-scenario: have a mobile version of your website
• Research creating an app for your church or ministry

Religious Americans are Active E-mailers

75% of religiously active Americans are email users, compared with 68% of those who are not involved with religious groups.

So you should ...

• Send out regular e-newsletters with links back to your website
• Segment e-newsletter recipients based on the audience (by ministry, age group, gender, marital status, etc.)

Religious Americans are Social

46% of these religiously active Americans use social networking sites such as Facebook, compared with 49% of those who are not involved with religious groups.

So you should ...

• Create a Facebook page, which regularly interacts with users
• Update social media outlets with links back to website content
• Use a content calendar and social media management tools to help organize updates

Over a period of six months we monitored the usage of all of iMinistries websites using Google Analytics. Some results were to be expected. Others surprised us. From these statistics we've come to the conclusion that the convergence of technology, social media, and design/UX create a healthy church web presence.

Technology

Definition: The platform your website is built upon, and how you manage website content.

A church should be using some sort of content management system (CMS). Website content includes, pages, blog entries, sermons, news, and events. This technology should be SEO friendly and easy to update.

Why?: People come to your website for content (see the astounding numbers below). It is important to present that content in a way that is easy to find and interesting. A CMS is the best tool for completing those tasks because:

1. A CMS helps you organize your content.
2. A CMS lets you concentrate on the content, instead of the back-end technology.
3. A CMS makes your website findable on search engines.

Social Media

Definition: Outlets used to engage and connect with users and draw traffic to your website.

Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, YouTube, and LinkedIn are a few examples. Newcomers are Google+ and Pinterest--both showed good results in the first six months, but not enough to give much thought to them yet. We plan on revisiting this in another six months and are curious to see if that changes.

Why?: Social media hubs like Facebook give you a level of personal interaction that is usually lacking on your main website. Twitter and video sites can also help your content be shared to audiences who wouldn't normally come into contact with you.

Design/UX

Definition: How your website looks and functions.

Is it easy to navigate and find content. Is your website visually appealing? Is it simple? Your website should look professional. This design should be carried over into the social media outlets to create a uniform online presence.

Why?: What good is content if your visitors can't find it? Or if interacting with your website is not a positive experience? Your UX leaves a lasting impression to users, most of the time within seconds of their arrival.

The Infographic

Put all these things together, and you have a healthy web presence. Here is a visual representation of our data:

Another free skin is available for all of our church website customers.

Gibeon is now available to be selected! Just like all of the new free designed church website skins that we introduced last year, (Olivet, Ephesus, Capernaum, and Bethsaida) the introduction of this skin also introduces some of our newer editable features like:

• Adding your own logo.
• Adding your fav icon.
• Adding your Social properties like Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, YouTube and more.
• Adding different editable text fields. You can use these to add your service times, location and more.