Questions to focus on: Pinecrest Church Site

These questions can be used at different levels. You can take 30 seconds to think about one or two. You can discuss them in a team or group of like-minded Christians. Or they can be used in a college class, including assignments and research projects, and answered in writing at any depth. They may be freely reproduced for this purpose. Please email us additional questions that could be added to this page.
To enlarge this window: drag border →
or hit the maxamize button in top right corner


  1. What is the target audience of the SouthSide site?
  2. Place yourself in the mind of a non-Christian who finds this site for the first time. What is your reaction? Now conduct the same exercise for a typical church site.
  3. What is the value of using a logo as well as a title on church sites? Does Pinecrest's logo communicate something about the church?
  4. Because the .to domain is unusual, would it help to say, "Welcome to www.pinecrest.to" ?
  5. There is content 'below the fold'. Does it matter?
  6. Does the 'Investigate Pinecrest' tour answer your questions about the church?
  7. Is it easy to find out what activities there are - for men, women, teens, children, mums and toddlers.
  8. Comment on the children's game area.
  9. Few churches give sermon summaries. Comment on the relevance and readability of Pinecrest's. Would it be better if the sermons were in serif font, with shorter line length, within the standard Pinecrest page layout?
  10. Do the local secular community links enhance the site and display an identification with the town?
  11. Is there a picture of the existing church building anywhere?
  12. Would the site benefit from church members testimonies? Or even a focus on some church members, with photos and brief bios? Is there a photo of Pastor Meyer anywhere?
  13. Assess the online calendar.
  14. Is it obvious how to find the church? Would you realise that the directions and map are included in the 'tour' section? Does it explain about parking? Public transport routes? Access for those with disability? Loop system for hearing disabled?
  15. Does the site navigation system tell you 'where you are, where you have been, and where you can go'? Comment on the use of right navigation bar, which appears on all pages.
  16. Is this the only church site you know, that specifically points out on any page, let alone the homepage, that an informal dress style is appropriate!
  17. Is there any use of humor? Cartoons? Jokes?
  18. Make a list of the user-friendly strategies and innovative features on the site.
  19. Is the site kept up-to-date? Is it obvious that there are new and current events being highlighted?
  20. Do the color scheme and graphics communicate any mood?
  21. Compare this church site with the others showcased in this section. Although each is outstanding in many ways, could they each learn from each other and improve further? Make a list of 'must-have' and 'highly desirable' features which should ideally be on any church site.