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Five Tips for a Better Catholic School Website

LPi • July 28, 2022

What’s the secret to creating the perfect website for a Catholic school? There are a lot of factors that can make or break a website, and so much depends on the mission and culture of each individual school. Elements like content presentation and mobile friendliness, however, are universally important. Read on to find out more about those crucial factors and to explore other ways to improve your school’s online presence.

Put Catholicism Front and Center

No matter how large or small your school, staff, campus, and budget are, the very best asset offered to every student who learns there is the Good News of the Gospel. Catholic education has a lot of great selling points, but none better than the one that simply doesn’t need to be sold at all: its Christ-centered mission. Catholicism sets your school apart — celebrate that with the content and voice of your website.

Optimize Accessibility

How easy and intuitive is your site to navigate? How many clicks does it take a visitor to find contact information, mission statement and “fast facts” like enrollment and class sizes? Does your site have a prominent search window? Even simple choices like font and color scheme can impact the usability of a website. What are the load times like for your pages, and how can you lessen them ? Make sure your design gets a refresh every few years to avoid getting stale and ensure that your written content is reviewed and updated with every school year. Finally, ensure that your website is set up to optimize its ranking in Google search.

Adaptability Is Key

These days, thanks to the 56% of web users who access sites on their mobile phone, it’s imperative that a website be mobile-friendly. Check to see if yours is using this link. To make sure users are able to easily and effectively access your site using mobile devices, you’ll want to make sure that the website has a design that responds well to different screen sizes, as well as an adaptive server.

Check Out Other Schools’ Websites

They say dress for the job you want, not the job you have, and the same principle applies here. Check out the sites of a school whose enrollment and mission you want to emulate. And just like a real estate agent runs comps for houses on the market, research the websites of schools that compare to yours in terms of budget, demographics, enrollment, and values. View them through the lens of a prospective parent: what compels you, piques your interest, and makes a positive impression?

Be Trendy

What’s the latest in design, content, and user experience for private school websites? Sites like CampusSuite and FinalSite have some interesting examples of current trends like bold, creative color schemes and purposeful storytelling.

If you’re ready to tackle your website, but need a little help, see what LPi can do for you with our easy-to-use yet powerful website builder WeConnect! Looking for more web-focused content for your Catholic community? Visit the "Web and Social Media" section of our blog!

Updated 3-11-2024

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Surprise! Printed Church Bulletins Are More Popular Than Ever

February 12, 2025

In a world full of digital content, it’s easy to assume that printed church bulletins are becoming a thing of the past. Wrong! Recent studies show that well-designed, content-rich Catholic parish bulletins are still going home with families after every Mass. Is your parish running out of your printed bulletins every week? If not, we can help you level up. By following our tips to enhance your bulletin's design and content, you can increase its appeal and effectiveness within your congregation. Why Are Printed Church Bulletins Gaining Popularity? Professional Design: A strong, easy-to-navigate parish bulletin design is one of your very best tools to getting your parishioners to pick up the bulletin every week. Churches with professional, attractive designs are finding bulletins fly out the doors! Tangible Connection: A physical bulletin provides a sense of tradition and belonging that digital formats often can't replicate. Engaging Content: Elements like pastoral letters, beautiful Catholic covers , and parishioner spotlights can make the bulletin more engaging. Exclusive Content: Make your bulletin one of a kind with content your parishioners won’t find anywhere else! With WeCreate, our exclusive library of Catholic content, you’ll have access to Catholic comics that engage and inspire, Gospel story illustrations that bring scripture to life, saint illustrations that highlight the heroes of our faith, and so much more ! How to Enhance Your Parish’s Bulletin 1. Lean In and Invest in Professional Design: If your bulletin is cluttered with small copy and hard to read, many folks may simply overlook it. An intentional and professionally designed layout enhances readability and reflects your church's commitment to excellence. Don’t forget, parishes that print their bulletins through LPi get a free professionally designed, custom bulletin template to easily cross this task off their list! 2. Incorporate that Engaging and Exclusive Content: Consider the content you include and remember to: Highlight Key Information: Important announcements, event details, and staff/ministry contact information should be prominently displayed and easy to find. Maintain Consistency: Use consistent branding elements, such as colors and fonts, to create a cohesive look that aligns with your church's identity. We can help if you don’t know where to start with a professional brand for your parish. Solicit Feedback: Encourage congregation members to provide input on the bulletin's content and design to ensure it meets their needs and preferences. In fact, consider putting a survey in the bulletin for them to return the following week! 3. Print Your Bulletin in Vibrant Color: Give your parish a bulletin that stands out with high-quality paper and gorgeous, eye-catching color — without breaking the bank. With LPi’s free, ad-supported bulletins, your parishioners will feel proud to pick up a beautifully crafted bulletin as soon as they see it at Mass. By focusing on these areas, your church bulletin will become a cherished resource that congregants look forward to each week, fostering a stronger sense of community and engagement. To learn more about LPi’s ad-supported free printed and digital bulletin service for Catholic parishes, and see some examples of the beautiful bulletin designs we create for thousands of parishes across the country, head on over to our website . We would love to help you spread the love of Christ!