Spring Cleaning Your Church Website: 7 Simple Things You Can Do This Week

Spring isn’t just for dusting off windowsills and clearing out closets. It’s also the perfect time to tidy up your church website. A few quick updates can make a big difference, especially for first-time visitors checking your church out online before ever stepping through the doors.

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Why Your Church Website Needs a Seasonal Refresh

First Impressions Happen Online

Before someone ever sets foot inside your church, they’re likely checking you out online. Your website is often the very first “hello” a potential visitor receives—and that impression matters. A site that looks neglected, outdated, or incomplete can unintentionally send the message that your church isn’t ready to welcome new people.

Think of it this way: would you invite guests over without straightening up your living room? Probably not. In the same way, a tidy, up-to-date website reflects care, hospitality, and attention to detail—the same values your church lives out every week.

A polished staff page, current event listings, and clear service times help visitors feel informed and at ease before they ever walk through your doors. When your digital front door is inviting, you increase the chances that new families, students, or seekers take the next step and visit in person.

It’s Easier Than You Think

The good news? You don’t need a web developer, a full redesign, or a massive block of time to freshen up your church site. Most of the updates that make the biggest difference are simple, quick wins—like checking for broken links, updating a few photos, or adding a welcome message to your homepage.

Spring cleaning your church website isn’t about perfection; it’s about intentionality. Small, consistent updates go a long way in showing that your church is active, engaged, and excited to connect with new people. Even setting aside one hour this week can create a more welcoming, helpful experience for every visitor—online and in person.

Whether you’re a pastor juggling ten roles or the administrative assistant everyone leans on for “just one more thing,” here are 7 practical ways to freshen up your site this week.

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7 Quick Ways to Spring Clean Your Church Website

1. Double-check your staff page

Your staff page is one of the most visited sections of a church website. People want to know who leads the church, what they do, and maybe even a little about their family or hobbies.

Take a moment to make sure:

• Names, titles, and photos are current.
• No one is listed who’s no longer on staff.
• Bios are friendly and consistent in tone.

If you’ve had staff transitions recently, this is a quick win. Bonus points if your team photos look warm and approachable (not like they were taken in a DMV waiting room).

2. Update your event calendar (or remove it if you’re not using it)

Nothing says “we forgot about this page” like a list of events from last fall or a women’s brunch that happened three months ago.

If you keep a calendar, make sure it shows upcoming events and not things that have already passed. Even better, provide a link to your latest bulletin or newsletter if that’s where events are most up-to-date. If no one has touched your calendar plugin since 2022, it may be time to hide it until you’re ready to keep it current again.

3. Check your service times

It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many church websites list old service times, especially if you made adjustments for holidays, construction, or COVID and never switched back. Make sure your homepage, contact page, and footer (if it includes service info) all match.

And don’t forget midweek gatherings, online service options, or seasonal changes.

4. Look for broken links and outdated pages

Set aside ten minutes to click through your main pages. You’re looking for:

• Broken links that lead to error pages.
• Old PDFs or sign-up forms for events that have passed.
• Ministries that no longer exist or have shifted focus.

Free tools like Broken Link Checker can help, but even a manual spot-check of your top pages can catch the worst offenders. If you’re linking to other ministries, partner sites, or giving platforms, make sure those still work too.

5. Read your “New Here” section like a first-time guest

Pretend you’ve never been to your church. Pull up your website and try to answer these questions:

• What time should I arrive?
• Where do I park?
• What’s the kids’ check-in process like?
• What should I wear?

If the answers aren’t clear and welcoming, spend a few minutes adding the details people actually want to know. Use photos when possible. A few pictures of friendly greeters or the kids' check-in station can go a long way in making people feel at ease before they visit.

6. Make sure your online giving still works smoothly

Even if you’ve regularly received online contributions, it’s worth doing a test donation just to be safe. Confirm the button works, the giving page loads, and there are no confusing steps that could cause someone to give up. Even better, use Tithely to provide your users with the best online giving experience.

Also, double-check that any special giving campaigns (building fund, missions trips, benevolence offerings) are still current—or removed if the campaign is over.

7. Review your homepage with fresh eyes

This one might take a little longer, but it’s worth the time. Your homepage is like the digital front porch of your church. Ask yourself:

• Is it clear what our church is about?
• Is there a clear next step for someone who’s interested?
• Is the content recent, or does it look like it’s been the same for two years?

Even simple updates, like adding a graphic from a recent sermon series or featuring a quote from a church member, can give the page some life.

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Bonus Tip: Ask someone outside your staff to review it

Sometimes we’re too close to it. Ask a trusted church member—or even better, someone who doesn’t attend your church—to scroll through your website and give you honest feedback. Did anything confuse them? Did it feel warm or stiff? What questions did they still have?

You don’t have to overhaul your whole site overnight. But cleaning up a few key areas each spring can help your website reflect the same care and hospitality your church offers in person.

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Final Thoughts: Small Updates, Big Impact

Your website doesn’t need to win design awards or have all the bells and whistles. But it should be current, helpful, and give people a sense of what it’s like to be part of your church. A quick “spring clean” each year helps make sure it stays that way.

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