With your own website in ChurchDesk, you get a powerful tool to present your congregation online, share information, and get in touch with your members and interested people. This article guides you step-by-step through the basic considerations and the technical implementation, so your new website becomes a complete success.

No matter if you want to build a completely new site or migrate an existing presence – with the right preliminary considerations and this guide, you lay the foundation for an appealing and functional online presence for your congregation.

On this page:

• 1. Get an overview
• 2. Conceptual questions
• 3. Technical implementation

1. Get an overview of technical possibilities, desired content, and its implementation

Before you start with the technical implementation of your website, we recommend thinking about the following points:

1. What should be on the page? What content do you want to convey?
2. Who should build and/or manage the website?
3. How do you want to start your project? What template do you want to use? Which technical tools appeal to you?

Need help?

If you need support from ChurchDesk at the beginning or during the implementation of your new website, we offer on-site or digital training for the entire team with your personal congregation consultant (You can get more information or a cost estimate from us via email.)

Don't have much free capacity to transfer your website from the old system to ChurchDesk?

No problem!

We transfer the content of your old website to the ChurchDesk editor, so you can continue working with a pre-made website. Find out more about the website transfer service here.

2. Conceptual questions

Before you start with the content and technical implementation, we recommend you think about what you want to prioritize:

1. Should the website be able to go online as quickly as possible? In that case, you can start simply and publish the most important information on just a few subpages as soon as possible. Afterwards, you can fill your website with more content at your leisure.
2. Or should a more holistic concept be created and pursued from the beginning?

3. How do I define my target audience?
4. What content provides added value to my target audience?
5. What should be the common thread of our website?
6. Do you already have a corporate design? What should be our main font and what colors do we use for which places?

3. Technical implementation

After the general conditions have been agreed upon, the technical implementation can begin. We recommend you first get an overview of the following topics:

1. Choose a template and get an overview of the content available there

The template is your starting point. It sets the basic layout and already includes useful building blocks. Get an idea of our templates in advance:

1. Visit our website and click on the live preview at the very bottom.
2. In the ChurchDesk website module, you can get an overview of all templates by clicking the "Preview all templates" button and then click through the different templates from there:

Which building blocks should remain in the template? A conscious selection and the decision of which of these building blocks you keep saves time and ensures a harmonious look from the start. (Here you can find our introduction to the topic of websites)

2. Check and adjust technical settings

The gear icon is where you'll find the central technical settings of your website. (More on this is also in the website intro)

3. Global Design (Texts, Colors, Button)

A uniform global design creates a professional and recognizable appearance for your congregation. By centrally defining fonts, colors, and button styles, you ensure a consistent look across all pages and make website maintenance easier. (More on colors and texts)

4. Enter Global Data

Global data such as address or phone number, which appear in multiple places, are entered centrally. This ensures that this information is always up-to-date and consistent – if you make a change, you only have to adjust it in one place. (You can find more about Global Data here)

5. Get an overview of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and accessibility

SEO helps make your website more visible in search engines. (You can find more on SEO optimization here)

Accessibility ensures that your content is accessible to all people. Both aspects are crucial for the reach and inclusion of your online presence. (More on accessibility here)

6. Understand the structure and organization in the website file manager

The website file manager is your central repository for all media content such as images and documents. (More on the file manager and the difference to files in the Group module here)

7. Page structure/page layout

A clear page structure and navigation are particularly important. They help visitors find their way around quickly, improve usability, and optimize the discoverability of your content. (More on how to create and manage pages here)

8. Understand rows, columns

Rows and columns are the fundamental elements for designing your page layout. Understanding their relationship is important for arranging content and creating appealing designs that work on all devices. (More on rows and columns)

9. Copying pages/rows

Copying pages or rows saves time. If you want to reuse similar layouts or content blocks, you don't have to create them from scratch every time.

10. Understand modules

Modules are the content blocks of your website (texts, images, calendars, etc.). Understanding their functions is crucial for presenting your content in a diverse and dynamic way and for communicating the desired information appealingly. In the Helpdesk, there are several articles on the individual modules; feel free to use the search function to inform yourself.

11. Adjust view for tablet and mobile phone

An optimized display on mobile devices is essential in today's world. Start by editing for the desktop and then adjust your pages for tablets and smartphones to ensure that all visitors can use your content optimally. (More on mobile device display here)

12. Privacy, Cookie, Imprint, Accessibility Statement

A correct imprint, a transparent privacy policy, and a cookie notice are legally required.

The legal requirement for accessibility also includes an accessibility statement. We show you what content it should contain and how to embed the statement on your website.

ChurchDesk does not provide legal advice. The owner of the website bears sole legal responsibility.

13. Insert Widgets

Widgets are special modules for dynamic content (e.g., calendars, blog posts). They keep your website vibrant and always up-to-date by automatically synchronizing useful information from your ChurchDesk content. (More about widgets can be found here)

14. Preview & Publish

Connecting with the domain and then publishing makes your website visible online. If content is adjusted later, you must click "Publish" again to make it visible online. (More on how to publish your website can be found here)

Updated on: 08/08/2025