Internet. It has brought extraordinary and unprecedented changes to our culture over the past couple decades. The internet has changed the way people go about everyday lives, how they interact with others, and how they approach businesses and organizations.
Just how widespread is internet use in the U.S? Here are some statistics:
Sources:
Just how widespread is internet use in the U.S? Here are some statistics:
- In early 2000, 52% of adults were online.
- By the end of 2019, that number had topped 90%.
- 81% of internet users claim to go online on a daily basis, most of whom do so multiple times, as detailed by Figure 1 below.
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| Data Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/25/americans-going-online-almost-constantly |
To put it simply, Americans use the internet . . . a lot. It's where many of us spend a big portion of our lives. And businesses and organizations have picked up on this, establishing a prominent online presence so that they can meet the people where they're at. Specifically through websites, they have effectively accessed a main highway of society.
People used to talk with friends, read the newspaper or visit in person in order to get information about a local business. It was the most effective way to do that years ago. Nowadays, however, things are different. About 90% of consumers search for local businesses online, scavenging for reviews, recommendations and products. Interactions with local businesses and organizations typically begin online. As one writer puts it:
"The iconic physical storefront has been replaced by many digital ones."
What does this mean? It means that businesses and organizations have a new main entrance: the internet. Now you might be thinking, "Sure, people search for businesses and organizations online. But that's not what pushes them into action." Well, research tells a different story. In fact, 76% of people say that online reviews are just as trustworthy as recommendations from family and friends. Figure 2 shows more details about this stat.
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| Data Source: https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/ |
The Problem
Most people spend a big part of their life online. And, it's the go-to place to find information on local businesses and organizations, making an online presence a vital priority. Businesses and organizations have jumped into action and put themselves in this high-traffic area by building and maintaining websites.
Unfortunately, many churches across the U.S. have not.
Many churches and church leaders do not see a church website as a priority. They see it as superfluous, unnecessary, and sometimes contrary to their beliefs. Instead of being beneficial, the results produced by having a website can be seen as actually detrimental to the church. Change is not something that everyone eagerly embraces. On the other hand, some churches do have a website - but, it's not used to its full potential. It is seen more as an annex than a main entrance.
The way that individuals and churches view the internet and advancing technology needs to be changed. Perceptions about a church’s online presence also need to be transformed, and the vision for utilizing a website must be expanded. This is an incredible opportunity to build up the body of Christ and enrich the ministry of any local church.
Based on what it produces for a church, what it produces from a church and what it produces in a church, there are 10 reasons why churches should invest in a website. Before I launch into the details, though, here are these 10 reasons:
Based on what it produces for a church, what it produces from a church and what it produces in a church, there are 10 reasons why churches should invest in a website. Before I launch into the details, though, here are these 10 reasons:
- bringing in new people
- attracting young people
- increasing giving
- creating new forms of outreach
- expanding the scope of outreach
- mobilizing Christians for ministry service
- involving Christian youth
- contributing to better communication
- establishing a resource center
- preparing a church for the future
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Sources:
- Capoccia, C. (2018, April 11). Online reviews are the best thing that ever happened to small businesses. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/04/11/online-reviews-are-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-small-businesses/#1a5e35de740a
- Copeland, A. (2012, May 30). Reaching out to young adults will screw up your church. Retrieved from https://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2012-05/reaching-out-young-adults-will-screw-your-church
- Internet/broadband fact sheet. (2019, June 12). Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/
- Murphy, R. (2019). Local consumer review survey. Retrieved from https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/
- Perrin, A., & Kumar, M. (2019, July 25). About three-in-ten U.S. adults say they are “almost constantly” online. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/25/americans-going-online-almost-constantly
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