10 features every Masonic Lodge website should have
A Lodge website does not need every feature a web developer can think of. It needs the features that help real visitors and reduce work for the Lodge.
1. A clear statement of who and where you are
Put the Lodge name, number and location where a new visitor can understand them immediately. Do not assume everyone knows the Province, Hall or local Masonic geography.
2. A proper joining route
Prospective members should not have to hunt for a Secretary’s personal email address. Give them a page that explains what happens after an enquiry and a clear contact route. Our guide to attracting new members through a Lodge website explains that journey in more detail.
3. Lodge-specific content
Tell people what your Lodge is actually like. Generic Freemasonry content is useful as background, but it does not explain why somebody might want to meet your members.
4. Mobile-friendly design
Navigation, paragraphs, photographs and enquiry buttons need to work comfortably on a phone. Test the whole joining journey on a small screen.
5. Accurate meeting and location information
Show where you meet and give enough information for legitimate visitors and enquirers. Keep dates and schedules current.
6. Real photography
Use good photographs of the Hall, Lodge room, appropriate social events and charitable activity. Real imagery gives the visitor evidence that the Lodge is active and human. You can see how we use Lodge-specific material in our Masonic Lodge website examples.
7. News or evidence of current activity
You do not need to publish every week, but a site that has not changed in seven years sends the wrong message. News, charity stories and selected events can demonstrate life.
8. Professional contact and email
Role-based Lodge email gives continuity when officers change. It also makes the contact journey feel more official to someone outside Freemasonry. We can also provide professional Masonic Lodge email addresses as part of a website project.
9. Basic SEO foundations
Give each page a clear subject, useful title and description. Include the Lodge’s real location and connect related pages with internal links. For Lodges that need more help, see our Masonic Lodge SEO service.
10. A maintenance plan
Decide who is responsible for keeping it current. That may be a Lodge webmaster or a managed Masonic website service, but it needs to be somebody’s job.
Useful extras — only when needed
Members areas, directories, dining booking, payments and calendar subscriptions can all be valuable. They are not mandatory features of every Lodge website. Add them because they solve a problem, not because a package list says you should.
How does your current site compare?
If several of these basics are missing, a rebuild may be easier than adding more patches to an old site. See our Masonic Lodge website design service or send us your current site for a review.
