Optimizing Calls-to-Action on a church’s website can greatly increase online conversion rates. A conversion can be defined as any action that a user takes on a website that’s a desired performance goal, such as submitting a prayer request, watching an online sermon, or clicking a “Plan a Visit” button. You can consider a highly converting church website to be an effective one, or rather, one that’s fulfilling its purpose.
Symptoms of poor CTAs include high bounce rates, high ad impressions with low call volume or form submissions, and long session duration on-site without taking action before exiting. Having strong calls to actions (CTAs) on a site that are compelling to a user makes them more likely to take action, versus clicking off the site.
If you just launched a new website or are actively running an organic or paid search campaign without seeing many conversions, it’s important to take a look at the calls to action throughout your site. We hope this post will help give you ideas for actionable improvements in your church website and more effective calls to action for all your various engagement goals.
List of Church Calls-to-Action
By visiting the websites of the nation’s largest 100 churches, we’ve gleaned the three following items for you:
- Ideas for strong calls-to-action
- Links to examples of strong calls-to-action
- Screenshots of strong forms
Here’s the list we used to identify the top 100 largest churches in America: https://outreach100.com/largest-churches-in-america.
Watch
Plan a Visit
https://ccv.church/info/welcome
While we like the messaging of “Let Us Help You Plan a Visit”, the photo here showcases all men. We’d recommend including women and a wider range of diversity to appear more welcoming. The form is easy to complete, but we’d recommend including some more introductory text with instructions on filling out the form and what to expect after a submission.
https://battlecreekchurch.com/
This is a great example of tastefully utilizing a pop-up window. Their main page has a “Plan Your Visit” modal that pops up when you access their website. Since it’s not trying to sell the user anything, it doesn’t appear spammy like most pop-ups you’ll find online. The corners are rounded, making it sleek and modern. Their “Next Service In” feature is nice because it creates a sense of urgency and excitement for the user. Their CTA button is also bold and bright, which makes it stand out. The “x” in the right corner is visible, which helps guide the user to exit out of this window if they wish. Their form is extremely user-friendly and has great error prevention.
Watch Online
This is a strong example of utilizing color contrast for CTA buttons to pop on the site to be more eye-catching to a user. The bright orange button stands out against the purple image overlay, making it more likely that the user will click through to watch a live service.
We selected this example because the typeface within the CTA of “WATCH ONLINE” comes off to the user as open and welcoming as a result of the spacing between the letters. When a user hovers over this box, it becomes larger and brighter, further drawing them in.
We like that this example offers several different ways for the user to watch sermons online from the platform of their choosing. We’d recommend an increase in the text size for better readability.
https://cornerstoneaz.com/adults/groups
We like this example of a sticky top bar countdown above the main navigation because it catches the user’s eye and it’s the first thing they see upon landing on the site. It follows the user as they scroll down the page and creates an atmosphere of excitement for the next live worship service.
Rock City Church has a very engaging CTA. This is beautifully designed and easily guides users to different features on their website including watching their services online. At the bottom of the page, a simple white bar with 4 direct CTAs including “Give”, “Have Questions?”, “Need Prayer?”, and “Share Your Story” follow the user down the page.
https://www.southeastchristian.org/sermons
Southeast Christian does a great job of utilizing a hero video. It showcases a snippet of the latest sermon and title, encouraging the user to watch the whole sermon.
SD Rock Church has a simple, but strong CTA on the hero image of “Watch Live On Sunday // Remind Me”.
This is a great example of a hero image. Immediately, the user feels welcome. The phrase, “Welcome Home” gives the user a sense that they belong and are wanted within the church. We like that they have the subheader of “Join Us for Our Weekend Service or Experience” followed by two buttons for watching online or at an in-person visit.
We love that Traders Point uses a video of their church building, members, and services as the hero visual. It is very engaging to watch as a user and allows them to see a glimpse of what a typical day at the church is like. The CTA is very creative for a COVID era: “One Church. Thousands of Living Rooms. Join Us Online.”
This site uses bold and striking visuals. It’s very modern and easy to read. Upon landing on the site, there are three direct options for watching a service or visiting the church.
East Lake Church does a great job utilizing a slider as the hero image. The design is vibrant, bright, and user friendly.
This site is very easy to navigate and there’s a clear path for the user to take. Just below the fold, there are several buttons the user can click on for different actions including watching online.
https://www.championforest.org/
We like this example because it’s simple and clear. Above the fold when the user lands on the site, they see two buttons for Service Times and Online Services to easily plan a visit.
https://fayftbragg.manna.church/
This is a great example of using videos from the church. The video is dark which makes all of the colors pop on the page. There is a CTA button to Watch Online. There also is a clickable arrow leading the user down the page.
We like this example because it includes a countdown timer for the next worship experience. This creates a sense of urgency and excitement for the user. Below the countdown widget is a button to Watch Online.
https://www.theactionchurch.com/
The Action Church has a really strong usage of CTAs across the hero image. The language is very welcoming, making the user feel comfortable and included. There are three easy buttons to select from for “Visit In-Person”, “Watch Online”, or “Find a Pop-Up”. Upon hover, the buttons change from transparent to white.
Upon landing on City First Church, there is a preview video of the pastor preaching the latest sermon. Overlaid on the image is a transparent button to “Watch Now” or “View More Messages”, making it easy to navigate for the user.
While this design is very creative, the load speed is slower which some users may be frustrated with and prevent them from converting. Some of the text is difficult to read.
Faith Promise has an extremely user-friendly design. It’s very easy to navigate the site and find what the user’s looking for. It has a clear and direct opening header of “Welcome To Faith Promise” with a button to “Find a Location” or “Watch Online”.
We like how Hope Fellowship has a CTA that states “Remind Me” or “Set a Reminder” for their services that are streamed online. This is a great feature that gives users the ability to not forget about the different online services that they’re interested in watching.
This is a great design that’s engaging, vibrant, and user friendly. The messaging is excellent for capturing new visitors or potential members.
We selected this example from The Village Church because when the user lands on their homepage, there are two very clear CTAs for the user to guide them through the site, “Worship With Us Online” and “Connect with Us”. Both of these CTAs offer direct next steps that the user can take that wouldn’t be overwhelming to a new visitor.
https://www.northviewchurch.us/
We like how Northview Church has links to each age-appropriate online service in one place. The user doesn’t have to search for the service they want.
https://gatewaypeople.com/connect
We like how clean this design is. It’s very modern and sleek. It’s convenient for the user to have all of the platforms linked in the CTA buttons where the user can watch the service live wherever they prefer, whether it’s Apple TV, Roku, etc.
https://www.flatironschurch.com/
We like how Flatirons Church displays its different online services. Their UX writing does a great job letting the user know that the church is switching to online streaming services due to the pandemic. Their CTA appears over the images when you hover over it. The animation is very modern and visually pleasing. We think that the CTA would be even more effective if they have their “Learn More” CTA displayed as orange buttons, rather than plain text buttons.
Worship
https://gracechurchsc.org/resources/grace-music/
We like that there are options to listen on Spotify or download on iTunes. The layout is easy to navigate and find music.
Stay Informed
Download Our App
We like this example because it gives the user two direct links to download the app on Apple and Google Play stores, and one link to download a specific sermon if the user already has the app.
We like this example from The Austin Stone because upon clicking “Download The App”, the user clicks through to a landing page with every platform the app can be downloaded through, such as Roku, Amazon App Store, iTunes, and Google Play.
https://hopefellowship.net/kids/
At the bottom of every page on the Hope Fellowship website, there’s a section that features their app with a CTA to “Take Hope With You” and a button to “Download Now”. Since this is very consistent throughout the site, the user is constantly reminded and encouraged to download the app, increasing the likelihood of a conversion. We also like the messaging used here.
We chose this example because it’s very clear to the user what the next step to take is. The font is very clean and modern.
We like that this call to action communicates to the user the benefit of downloading the app, which is to stay inspired and connected throughout the week. It has a modern design and the light blue CTA button pops nicely on the page.
https://www.myredemption.cc/app/
This example has a strong CTA of “A Church In Your Pocket, Download the myRedemption App today.” The language is inviting and communicates to the user that they can take church with them wherever they go. It’s easy to navigate throughout the page. The text is clear and easy to read. We like that they have download buttons on the hero image for the app within different app stores.
Happening Now
https://chcc.org/happening-now/
This is a great example of an interactive calendar that has strong CTAs. Every event has a date in the upper left-hand corner and an engaging photo. Upon hover, the image is overlaid with CTA buttons for more information, registration, or to get in touch.
Stay Connected
https://www.adabible.org/small-groups/
This is a great example of calls to action for a user to stay connected with the church. Whether they’re a first time visitor, a new member, or a long time member, it gives them options based on their comfort level to become more involved with the church. This design is visually pleasing to the user and utilizes the white space well.
https://www.championforest.org/
While this church’s design looks visually appealing, it isn’t very well organized. For an existing church member, this may be easier to navigate but for a first time or fairly new member visiting the site, it might be challenging to find what they are looking for. There isn’t a clear path the user is supposed to take through the page. Since there are a lot of CTAs, it prevents the user from being guided to a specific action on the site. Additionally, the images associated with each way to stay connected aren’t very clear. For instance, “CFSM” doesn’t tell the user that it is a teen group. The buttons could also include more direct calls to action like “Join Now” or “Register Today!”, rather than “More”.
We like the idea of this CTA, but the color against the white text won’t pass accessibility guidelines. We would recommend changing the background color so that it is easier to see the white text.
Canyon Ridge does an excellent job of utilizing engaging and strong calls to action for the actions a user can take. We like that it allows the user to be able to text for help. It gives the user three options for “What’s My Next Step?”, “Find Friends”, and “Discovery Bible Study”. This is a great way for newer members to become more involved within the church without feeling intimidated.
We like that this design is very simple and minimalistic. It could be improved by making the circles turn black with white text upon mouseover.
Subscribe to Our Church Updates
This is a very clean design. It’s not intimidating like most forms since it’s just a single step. The user only has to fill out their email address and they’re instantly subscribed. We like their social media button feature, as well. The user has the option to subscribe to their email list and the option to follow them on their social accounts all from one place.
Get Connected
Join
This is an incredibly user-friendly form. It makes it extremely simple for a user to take the next step with the church. We like that it has three distinct next steps regarding following Christ and becoming a member of the Church. We like that the user just has to make a selection without having to fill out much information.
Meet the Pastors
We chose this call to action from the International Church of Las Vegas website because the design is very warm and welcoming. Their CTA button copy is clear and inviting. A new potential visitor would feel more inclined to further explore the site.
New Members
https://wochurch.org/learn-about-the-church/visitor-info/
We thought it was clever how they have a bright green CTA button in the main navigation for users that are new to their website/church, making it easy to find. The form on that page is also very user-friendly.
We like that this church website call to action has the heading, “Everyone Is Welcome!” to make the user feel comfortable. One thing to note is that there aren't any images showcasing diversity on the homepage which may come off as the opposite of welcoming to people of color. We’d suggest including a photo here that includes several different races. This could also be improved by making the body copy larger since it is hard to read against the black background and increasing the size of the “ARE YOU NEW?” button.
Ministries
Ministries Call to Action Samples
https://faithassembly.org/ministries/
This page is easy to navigate and includes an image, brief description, and a “Learn More” button for each ministry. The CTAs could be made a bit stronger like, “Join Now!” or “Get Started Today”.
Kids Ministry Call to Action Samples
https://www.flatironschurch.com/kids/
This page has a fun and kid-friendly tone. However, it doesn’t have many clear calls to action or buttons.
https://lcbcchurch.com/kidventure-island-online-content
We found the graphics for this CTA very inviting for children and has age-specific options that are easy to find.
Special Needs Ministry Call to Action Samples
We like that this is inclusive of those with special needs. The content used is very engaging and clear. However, this could be improved with a different photo that looks like a child with special needs is having fun.
https://northviewchurch.us/jobboard
Northview Church does a nice job utilizing a bright pop of blue for the buttons on the job board. It’s well organized and features a brief description of each job. One thing we’d recommend is making the button for additional job resources larger than the “Visit Here” link within the copy. It would be nice as a large button with a CTA like “Get Additional Resources Now”. Some of the jobs are also outdated but still listed.
Grow
https://gfconline.com/bibleplan/ We included this example of a CTA for the download of a printable Bible reading plan because it gives the user an easy action to deepen their relationship with God, and as a byproduct, become more engaged with the church. We also like the idea of giving away a free at-home resource since reading the Bible can be intimidating for new Christians. https://www.marinerschurch.org/ We like this example because it has two direct CTAs for those looking to lead or currently leading. Since becoming a leader within a church can be intimidating for many members, the serene beach background creates a sense of peace for the user. https://www.championforest.org/volunteer/spiritualgifts/ While this page has engaging copy and calls to action, the overall design is a bit dated. We’d recommend adding some images to the page and refreshing the design for UX. We do like that the page gives the user 3 options to take a spiritual gifts quiz, download a spiritual gifts survey and discover their spiritual gifts. We like the use of a carousel hero image in this example. The call to action to register for water baptism is very vibrant and eye-catching to a user. https://www.cityfirst.church/giving/spring-creek/ We like this example of a CTA for water baptisms. The imagery is powerful and draws the user in, increasing the likelihood of signing up to be baptized. Bible Reading Plan
Daily Devotional
This daily devotional example is very vibrant and bold, conveying to the user strength and courage through the Fearless 5 devotional series. The imagery of the Fearless 5 contrasts well against the white space where the user is met with two strong CTA buttons: “Go Live At 5” and “Previous Devotionals”. They also utilize a hashtag within the copy of #BeFEARLESS which stands out from other churches. One way that this could be improved would be to choose a different font for “5 days a week @ 5 pm, 5 minutes, Share with Family and Friends” since it’s hard to read.
Become a Leader
Self Assessments
Water Baptism
Care
Request a Prayer
https://www.adabible.org/small-groups/
This church’s design is kept simple. The blue color and typeface used are very calming to the user. The call to action of “Connect With Us” is direct and not overly “churchy” sounding, which may be more inviting for new or unchurched people.
https://brentwoodbaptist.com/prayer/
We like this example because it includes two different actions for the user to take based on their level of comfort, a phone call or form fill. The form is simple and easy to complete. It also has an introduction that explains people are praying for the requests that come in 24-7, versus submitting a request without knowing if people are actively praying for them.
https://www.southeastchristian.org/howcanwehelp
This church’s form for prayer request is simple to complete, however, it’s missing introductory text for instructions on completing the form which could be helpful for some users.
https://www.worldovercomers.church/prayer-requests
While this form is short and quick to complete, it isn’t a great user experience. It doesn’t explain what happens when a form is submitted so users may be hesitant to submit their request. For example, some people may not want to receive a call but just want a team to be praying for their needs. There also isn’t a field to explain the prayer request in detail.
This is a simple, visually appealing form. It’s easy to fill out without taking much time. We feel that adding introductory text on what happens when a prayer request is submitted would make the user more likely to convert.
https://oakhillschurch.com/prayer
This is an excellent example of a prayer request form. It’s very simple and fast to complete. There is an option to remain anonymous. We also like that there is an introductory paragraph.
https://rock.flatironschurch.com/prayer
This is a great example of a strong call to action for submitting a prayer request. The form is user friendly and easy to complete. The messaging comes off hopeful and compassionate to the user.
https://lcbcchurch.com/next-steps/care
We like this contact page because it includes links for the types of care the user may be looking for. They include links for prayer requests, a call from a pastor, care for those in the hospital, weddings, funerals, and care resources on one page. This leads to far less searching when needing care quickly.
https://www.crosschurch.com/prayer-requests/
This prayer request form is aesthetically pleasing. It’s also user-friendly and not intimidating. The form is kept short, increasing the likelihood of a submission.
Support
We like this call to action example because it shows to the visitor of the site that the church is very welcoming and wants to be there for people in need. You can select three different options to either help others or request help. This is great for users who landed on the site from a felt-needs search query since it immediately allows them to ask for help.
Pastoral Care
https://ccv.church/ministries/adults/life-training/pastoral-care
We like that this form is very user friendly. We’d recommend improving this by adding a field where the user can indicate how they’d like to be contacted since some users may be hesitant to convert if they aren’t comfortable receiving a call.
Emotional Support
This is an excellent example of an engaging call to action. It’s extremely relatable and allows the user who may be suffering from mental health issues to feel understood. It’s very emotional and easy to relate to. We like the position of the text and the light blue button to “Play Story”.
Counseling
https://www.worldovercomers.church/mem-services
The imagery is very emotive. It illustrates the exact service that one would receive if they were to choose to utilize the church’s counseling service. We like that they use the CTA of “Let’s Chat” since it is casual. Some people may be nervous about beginning counseling so this language allows them to feel more relaxed.
Family
Student Online Experience
https://www.biltmorechurch.com/students/
We like this example because it’s very modern, clean, and simple. One way this could be further improved is by making the “Sign Up Today” text larger or a button.
This is a good example of ways to brand each level of children, youth, and teen ministries within the church. However, this might work better if the CTAs to “Learn More” weren’t all the same for each option.
We like this example because “Something For Everyone” makes the user feel welcome and comfortable. We like that they use real images and categorize each group for kids, students, or adults. One change that we would recommend would be to add a Youth or Teen category since this age range might not identify with the term “kids” or “students”.
https://www.biltmorechurch.com/arden/
The imagery used in this call to action is powerful. All of the people in the photo look like they’re having a great time and are very engaged. We like that it showcases older students, versus focusing on younger children.
We like this example because there is a clear path the user is supposed to take through the page. We like that “Apply Now” is reiterated at the top and the bottom of the page. There is also a lot of statistics and options to learn more information. The design is very modern and eye-catching.
Online Family Content
This example is visually appealing to the user. It’s located right next to “Watch Online” for the main sermons on the homepage, making it easy for parents to find on Sundays when they tune in to watch for themselves and want their kids to have their separate program.
We like the simplicity of this CTA. This is very clean and modern and has beautiful imagery.
Preschool Academy
This is a great, kid-friendly design for Preschool Academy. The hero image is sweet and playful. We like the language in the header of, “Learning - Character - Our Future”. There are multiple buttons for getting in touch like, “Contact Us” and through email. The colors are bold and bright.
Kids Online Teaching Content
https://northpoint.org/preschool-online-content
This is an excellent example of online teaching content for kids. The imagery is of kids having fun and has a playful feel. There are a lot of resources for parents, calls to action to learn a Bible verse or a song, watch online, and follow them on social media. North Point does a great job of getting both parents and kids engaged.
https://scottsdalebible.com/sheachildren/
We like this example because it is beautifully designed. The colors are vibrant and they do a great job utilizing the white space for contrast. There are a lot of options to watch online, download weekend lessons, and get health updates. We like that it is broken down into different age ranges, making it easy for parents to navigate to the right option for their child.
Overall, this design looks good. However, it would be a stronger CTA if it included more information like the age range for each group and a “Learn More'' button.
This is a great example of a kid’s church online service CTA. It is very vibrant and bright. The messaging is fun, playful, and inviting.
We like that this showcases a family sitting together and watching church at home. The copy is very engaging and emphasizes that they are a family-focused church. It clearly explains what is included in each service.
This is a very cute, colorful, and kid-friendly design. We like that it includes a micro-animation of the “Kids Camp! In a Box” logo. The vibrant “Take Me There!” button is a great asset.
Join a Group
Join a Group
We like this example because the messaging within the calls to action is open. There’s a nice introduction that isn’t too “churchy” sounding, which could be confusing or alienating to people who aren’t yet familiar with church language. Instead, it focuses on relationships and connections which are more personal and inviting to everyone.
This is a great example of a call to action for Connect Groups. It’s very user friendly and emphasizes deep relationships and purpose through joining a connect group. The video is a strong asset for making people feel comfortable since some may be hesitant or nervous to join a group. The page is very user friendly with many options for ways to find the right group.
https://my.adabible.org/default.aspx?page=4734
Here’s an example of a short form that’s user-friendly.
https://eclife.org/page/1709?SmallGroupDefinedType=cd820b8e-6e5e-40f7-a23a-b91aa0109817
This has a great map feature that makes it easy to find a group. There are also “Register” buttons throughout the page.
https://hopefellowship.net/groups/
We like the usage of the vibrant blue call to action buttons in this church’s website. The language used centers on making the user feel at ease and comfortable within a big church.
https://my.lcbcchurch.com/groupfinder?FilterTwoValue=1881
This call to action example has an extremely user-friendly search for groups where a user can type in keywords surrounding what they are looking for. We like the imagery used and the tone of the content.
https://www.celebration.church/small-groups We found this church through secondary research. This page has a great layout for UX and uses warm and inviting language.
https://gracechurchsc.org/ourministries/
This example is clean, organized, and very user friendly. The design is simple and easy to navigate.
While this website example’s copy is inviting and makes the user feel comfortable joining a small group, it’s difficult to read the white copy across the background image. We’d recommend making the copy bolder and increasing the size so that it’s easier to read.
https://faithpromise.org/groups
We like that Faith Promise gives users the ability to search for groups as their call to action banner.
https://cornerstoneaz.com/adults/groups
This is a great example of a group event CTA. The background image of the women laughing comes off warm and inviting to the user. We like the subheader of “PLACES TO GROW IN FAITH AND COMMUNITY” since it further conveys a welcoming message to the user. The “GROUPS EVENTS” button is clean and modern. We also like that the button changes color upon mouseover.
https://www.theactionchurch.com/groups
We love the hero image for Small Groups. It immediately captures the user’s attention. However, we’d suggest adding CTA buttons across it to “Find a Group” or “Learn More”. The page is designed to be very user friendly and modern.
Join a Men's Group
http://www.myredemption.cc/igroups/
We like that this example of a men’s group emphasizes brotherhood and growing in Christ together. The men in the picture look like they’re enjoying each other’s friendship. We like that when you hover over the image it becomes brighter.
https://gfconline.com/groups-dashboard/men/
This is an excellent example of a men’s page with powerful and inviting calls to action. At the top of the page, there is a testimonial about the impact of the men’s group in a person’s life. The theme throughout the page is courage. The color scheme of the page is more masculine. There are red “Join Now” buttons throughout the page that grab the user’s attention. We also like that there are a lot of options to find the right group based on a person’s geographic area for increased convenience.
We like this design overall. The “MEN’S MINISTRY” font looks bold and has a masculine feel to it that appeals well to the target audience. It gives four clear buttons including “Small Groups”, “Events”, “The Latest”, and “FAQ”. Although the messaging is relatable, it does come off a bit churchy which some may be turned off by.
Join a Women's Group
http://www.myredemption.cc/igroups/
When you hover over the image it brightens and the “Join Group” CTA button turns maroon. The CTA directs users to their FB group page. The messaging centers around sisterhood and building deep relationships to empower women.
https://gfconline.com/groups-dashboard/women/
This page on Grace Family Church is designed to be very feminine to appeal to women. The theme throughout the page is “beautiful”. We like that there are a lot of choices for women to select from for the groups. The page is very user friendly with strong CTAs. We like the “Easy Start” overlay and “Join Now” buttons throughout the page.
Join a Life Group
https://www.rivervalley.org/ministries/young-adults/
This is a great example of a Find a Lifegroup call to action. They emphasize that there are over 20 Lifegroups to choose from, all over the local area making it easy to find the right group. It doesn’t come off as overly pushy and makes the user reminded of how convenient it is to attend a Lifegroup. The image is vibrant and bold. The white CTA button stands out well.
https://www.crossroadschurch.com/lifegroups/
We like that Crossroads Church has a search feature at the top of the page for users to easily find a group that’s close to them and fits their needs. The page has good UX. They utilize the white space well and contrast it with sleek images to make it pop. We like that they also include buttons for “How to Use Facebook” and “How to Use Zoom” since some users may be confused about how to join a group, which could prevent them from converting.
Join a Small Group
https://saddleback.com/connect/ministry/singles
We like that the CTA has a description next to the image because it is more readable than having the text over a busy image. This also allows the user to see the image rather than having it dimmed to make the text visible.
https://www.adabible.org/small-groups/
This is a great example of various CTAs for small groups. We like that the hero image is very friendly and shows happy people. We like the language of “Join a small group to share life, pursue God, and invest in others.”
We like this example because the red text and button grab the user’s attention, making them want to take action by clicking “Learn More”. We like the faded out image overlay and the group of people featured meeting for a small group.
Join a Youth Group
This is a nice example of a kids’ ministry page. We like that they have a hero video that shows the kids playing and enjoying the youth group. They use strong CTAs throughout the page which gently guides the user. One thing we’d recommend is increasing the font size in the header and subheader so it’s easier to read.
https://www.crossroadschurch.com/kidsgroups/
We like that this kids page has a button immediately at the top for “I’m New”. This is a great feature for new members or first-time visitors to easily navigate to information targeted directly to their needs. We like the white font on top of the darkened images. Upon hover, the buttons change from white to black which is a nice feature. There are CTA buttons for each age group to watch on Zoom or download a free printable.
Join a College Group
https://lcbcchurch.com/other-groups/young-adults/college-age-connect
While we like that this page features a video that is always great for improving user experience, it doesn’t have many CTAs throughout the page so the user may not know what action to take next or click off the site entirely. We’d recommend adding more direct CTAs and buttons throughout the page.
Join a Young Adults Group
https://gfconline.com/new-here/young-adults/
We like that this page is very well targeted to young adults. There is a CTA to follow them on social media which appeals to young people and would feel like an easy next step. There’s also CTAs to listen to their podcast or watch online. We also like that there is a button to “Ask A Question” if the user wants to speak with someone. Overall, the page is extremely user friendly and easy to find the right group to become more connected.
Join a Parenting Group
https://gfconline.com/groups-dashboard/couples/
This is a great example of parenting group CTAs. We like that they feature a testimonial of a family that was saved through the parenting groups, adding some credibility to the programs for the user. They list the different groups with an image, brief description, and a “Join Now” button. We also like the usage of the “Easy Start” CTA.
Join a Singles Meetup Group
https://www.lakepointe.org/singles/
The Lakepointe Church has singles events for many age groups including 30s, 40s & 50s on their singles page. We like that they organize the page in a way that makes it easy for the user to find the right group for them, especially since singles at various stages in their life have different needs. There’s also a feature for widows and widowers, as well as college students.
Online Support Groups
https://www.northcoastchurch.com/life-skills-support-groups/
This is a very user-friendly way to see a wide variety of online support groups. North Coast Church utilizes an accordion feature so that a large amount of information is easily digestible to the user. It’s simple and quick to find a support group that fits the user’s unique needs.
Join a Recovery Group
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/spiritual-gifts-inventory
We like that this CTA for Recovery Groups doesn’t have a negative tone. The image used is a scenic road with sunlight streaming through, unlike many other recovery programs that often use stock photography that’s very dark. The messaging is kept simple and free of judgment, encouraging the user to “Find A Group”.
Join a Community
Their form is very user-friendly. We like how their copy is bold and stands out. The image is also very inviting. Their CTA button is eye-catching.
Volunteer
Volunteer
https://chcc.org/for-my-family/grades-5-8/
While the messaging is strong, the image could be improved. It’s unclear what the person is doing in the photo and doesn’t overly emphasize volunteering. We would suggest changing this to a photo of a group of youth or teens having fun volunteering together so the user can feel the joy of helping others.
Serve
https://gfconline.com/serve-campus/
This is an excellent example of a call to action for volunteering. The font choice for “Serve” is fun and has an energetic look with the arrow. We like that the blue is tied in throughout the photo and in the buttons. The white text pops against the darkened image. The CTA is very direct and to the point.
Support Community
This is a great example of a CTA for serving during COVID-19. The content is very powerful and emphasizes that people are struggling and need help during the pandemic. We like that it focuses on serving the local community and neighbors, giving it a personal feeling. The “Explore” button is vibrant and bold.
Outreach
https://www.marinerschurch.org/
Both of the above screen captures are from a video on the homepage and show individuals engaging in a global movement. The CTA button “Learn More” also changes to the color orange once you hover over it. The video shows real footage of the church members serving and helping others, versus a traditional stock photography image or still photo, making it more appealing to users.
https://mcleanbible.org/tysons/global-outreach/
The copy is bold and clear. The CTA button is also vibrant and stands out on the page. It’s nice that they have a “Share this Page” feature for social media.
https://www.flatironschurch.com/volunteer/
This design is very engaging. There is a nice flow to the page that gently guides the user throughout the content. The colors are very vibrant and the imagery works well to support the CTAs.
https://battlecreekchurch.com/serve/
This design is clean and very modern. It’s easy to navigate and has great imagery. We like the language used throughout the calls to action. The tone is conversational and welcoming.
Give
We like how Central AZ is creative with their design for giving. The shape that surrounds the giving content draws users’ attention.
https://sandalschurch.com/give/
Sandals Church has its “Giving” CTA button on their primary navigation bar. Since the giving button is blue, it draws the user’s attention. Their giving page is very clean, user-friendly, bold, and easy for users. Their content that describes why one should give to their cause is warm and enticing. Their imagery further enhances the CTAs.
This is an excellent example of a powerful call to action, “Your Giving Changes Lives, Forever.” This helps the user to feel like their tithing makes an impact, without being overly pushy. We like how Rock Church uses its own imagery that allows the text to stand out. Their CTA button has a bold color that grabs the user’s attention. The only thing we’d recommend improving is the CTA text to the right of the green button.
Rock Church has content that’s bold and grabs the user’s attention. “Ready to Transform Lives” allows the user to focus on the powerful impact their giving can make on their church, their community, and globally. It paints a picture to the user, increasing the likelihood of them choosing to click “Give”. The imagery is also strong. Their Give form is very user-friendly as well.
https://www.lakepointe.org/give/
It’s great that they have people helping out in this image. It shows the impact that one would be making if they choose to “Give Today”. It’s nice how the image is separated by the text. It’s very readable.
https://www.rivervalley.org/ministries/kids/
This CTA is specific to a certain cause that parents and grandparents of children would feel connected to, increasing the likelihood of them choosing to “Give Today!”. However, this would be more powerful if it used an image of children within the church or stock photography of children worshiping and reading the Bible. While the cartoon may be appealing to children, it’s important to remember parents and adults invested in the lives of the children is the appropriate target user.
Grace Family Church has a video feature attached to this CTA that is very informative and lets the user know exactly what “Giving” does to help the community. The only aspect we would change is to center the video along with the “Thank you for your Giving!” copy beneath it.
This Tithing Calculator is a helpful feature. It allows the user to figure out approximately the amount that they should be giving which many churchgoers and new members may get confused by, decreasing the likelihood of them donating. This removes a potential conversion barrier.
https://pushpay.com/g/southeastchristian?src=hpp
This image is very inviting and showcases the joys of giving through a happy family. The description of giving is clear and easy to understand why giving is important.
https://www.cityfirst.church/giving/spring-creek/
We like the contrast of the bright imagery next to the black and white copy. The design is visually appealing and gives the user a clear CTA to “Give Now”. We like that this reminds the user that their giving is making a difference in other people’s lives.
This CTA is interactive because of its animation and includes photos in the background of their church members caring for people around the world.
https://compass.church/generosity
Although this example is very simple, it still communicates a powerful message to the user. It’s easy to read and direct.
Rock City Church does an excellent job of drawing on people’s emotions to give and sends a powerful message to the user. We like that they specifically breakdown in numbers the impact of the church’s generosity. The background imagery of the person on their phone reminds the user of the simplicity of giving on any device.
https://southwestchurch.com/midweek-webpage/give-2020/
We like the simplicity of the design and CTA. Southwest Church makes giving easy by featuring a Text-To-Give option, increasing the likelihood of a user choosing to convert.
https://pushpay.com/g/christchurchofthevalley?r=fortnightly
This church provides an extremely user-friendly way to give. The easier a process to give is, the more likely a user is to convert.
The design layout of this is very clean and modern. It’s easy to navigate and offers the user a lot of options to give based on what’s easiest for them and select the cause they’d like to donate towards. We like the language of the H1, “Life-Changing Generosity”.
https://my.longhollow.com/GiveNow
Long Hollow gives the user an option to log in for easy giving. We like that the user can select what campus or fund they want to give money towards so that the donation feels more personal to the user. It’s a simple form to complete.
https://my.adabible.org/default.aspx?page=3730
The form is fairly lengthy but it does give an option to log in for faster giving. We would recommend that they add some introductory text on the importance of giving, how it can change the lives of others, and bring you closer to God.
https://www.worldovercomers.church/giving
This is a great example of powerful CTAs to give. The design is modern and features members of the church. The header text says “Help Us Continue to Help You” and has three buttons to give below it. The giving form is extremely quick and easy to use. We like that they use Bible verses to explain the importance of giving.
https://pushpay.com/g/biltmore/?nav=p-652988&clickpath=give&wildcard=/
This form is set up in a way to prevent errors. The design is also clean and user-friendly.
https://www.crossroadschurch.com/online-campus/
Crossroads Church does an incredible job with its call to action for giving. Users often become frustrated and click off of a site when it’s a lengthy process to tithe on a church’s site. It promises the user that they can give within one minute and gives the option to securely give through PushPay or Paypal. If the user needs help or wants to be consulted on their donation amount, there’s an easy option to call or chat with a team member.
https://fayftbragg.manna.church/giving
We like this church’s call to action because it’s very user friendly. They make it clear to the user that it’s on a safe and secure platform and that all tithing is tax-deductible, increasing the likelihood of them converting.
https://www.chaseoaks.org/giving/
This is an excellent example of calls to action for giving. The page is vibrant and colorful. It utilizes white space well and is easy to navigate. We like that it lets the user select exactly what they’d like their gift to go towards so that they feel connected to their donation.
https://www.thecrossing.net/giving
We love the messaging of, “Invest in Eternity”. The video is very engaging to users and makes them feel more comfortable. There are a variety of ways a user could give on the page based on their personal preferences. The red buttons stand out on the page, easily directing the user to a specific action.
https://faithassembly.org/giveonline/
This design is very modern and visually pleasing. It’s easy to navigate and centers on making giving as simple as possible. We like the accordion FAQ feature on the page so that if a user has a question or concern, they can easily find the answer.
Miscellaneous
Various CTA on Homepage
Faith Church uses four specific icons with CTAs to give the user the next steps of “Salvation”, “Prayer Request”, “Giving”, and “Watch Online”. The design is visually pleasing to the user and the subtext below each category further explains the different next steps.
https://www.championforest.org/index2.php/
This is a great example of key next steps a user can take based on their level of comfort and familiarity with the church, allowing each target audience to be reached accordingly through the CTAs. The “I’m New” button is a great resource for new users looking to learn more about the church, while the other CTAs like “Get Involved” are targeted for site users that probably already have some relationship with the church or are frequent site visitors.
Questions
We like this feature for user questions at the footer of the ADA Bible Church website. We also like how users can also start a conversation with the church's employees which may be appealing to new site visitors since it creates a welcoming, friendly atmosphere without having to talk with someone on the phone.
Coronavirus
This Coronavirus information is very clear for the user and is easy to find. We like that in addition to allowing the user to easily be able to click through to specific details and important updates on COVID and reopenings, there’s also a button for users seeking help from the social, mental health, and financial effects of COVID. We like that this church used blue which is psychologically calming to users who may be very anxious about coronavirus.
https://cornerstoneaz.com/adults/groups
We like this CoronaVirus Update banner but would change the color and positioning of the X button to be to the far right.
https://www.flatironschurch.com/coronavirus/
We love that Flat Iron Church not only has a page for Coronavirus but also offers a lot of resources and books for managing stress and anxiety, as well as downloadable activities for kids.
https://fayftbragg.manna.church/updates/covid-19-updates
We like the design of this page. It makes it easy for the user to get a lot of information in an easily digestible format. The messaging used within the calls to action is easy to understand encouraging them to take action on the site.
We like that Faith Promise has an entire page dedicated to COVID-19 updates. However, it isn’t in the main navigation, making it not easily accessible to users. It’s only accessible through the Events page. We’d recommend adding this to the main navigation and the homepage.
This modal helps let their users know the exact steps the church is taking to stay connected during COVID-19. We’d recommend making a few design updates including making the buttons the same size, changing the text on the left button to “Next Steps” to make it more cohesive, and spacing out the text on the entire design to allow for breathing room.
This header modal banner on Mclean Bible Church’s website is very helpful and allows the user to click out of it if necessary. The CTA takes the user to the COVID-19 update page once they click on the banner. We like that they used a bold color that gets the user’s attention right away.
https://crosspoint.tv/covid19/
This is an excellent example of a way to have strong calls to action based on a user’s needs. The design is bold, bright, colorful, and uplifting, The tone of the content is hopeful and positive. There are easy to navigate actions a user can take based on their need - “I Can Help”, “I Need Prayer”, “I Need Friends”, or “I Need Help”. Since the user will see a specific CTA for their needs, they’ll be more likely to convert.
We like that this section for COVID updates is featured on the homepage of the site, right below the hero image. We’d recommend removing the “Click here for the details” below the H2 and just having the single CTA button to simplify it for users.
This is very easy to read for the user. The CTA button of “Read Now” is large and easy to read for the user. Since many people want to know the precautions churches are taking for COVID and updates on reopenings, City First Church does a nice job of making this easily accessible to users.
We like the simplicity of this CTA. The buttons are bold, clear, and readable. While people are facing increased social isolation from COVID, the imagery and tone of the copy do a good job of still communicating a sense of community to the user who may be quarantined at home.
We like that this banner is just below the main navigation on the homepage so that it is one of the first things the user sees upon landing on the homepage. The “More Information” button is vibrant and catches the user’s attention.
Cookies
https://fayftbragg.manna.church/
This is a necessary feature to let users know that the website is using cookies to collect data. We like that they use the language of “Got It!” instead of “Accept” since it is more casual and increases the likelihood of the user clicking forward.
We hope you found this collection of church call to action samples to be a valuable reference for creating a conversion-friendly church website with effective calls to action for all your conversion goals. We encourage you to share it amongst your church leader communities and bookmark it for future use!