How to get support for a new Lodge website

In this blog, we’ll help you get support for a new lodge website from your Lodge’s existing members.

Since 2011 Masonic Website has been helping Lodges find new members by building them websites or updating existing ones. Launching a new Lodge website can be one of the biggest projects a Masonic Lodge can undertake, not to mention one of the biggest investments (despite MasonicWebsite being fantastic value. See our prices) There can be a lot of unknowns along the way, but one thing is certain: support from the Lodge brethren is a necessity.

One of the most critical steps in launching a new website happens before implementation: first, you’ll have to pitch the idea for a new site to key stakeholders – usually the WM, Secretary and other senior members and/or the Board General Purposes. Knowing what to say and how to say it – as well as anticipating what questions they’ll have – can be the difference between getting the green light or failing to get the project off the ground.

Each of the Lodge stakeholders will have different wants, needs, goals, pain points, and visions for the website. It’s important to cater for as many of these as you can when you pitch the idea. It’s worth mentioning that Lodge membership, and particularly lodge leadership can be of a generation that didn’t grow up with technology. There may be some problems you need to overcome around technology in general, or websites in particular. Don’t assume everyone understands how their tablet/phone/computer works. We have dealt with “problems” that were in fact due to needing to update the OS, poor wifi and a range of others user issues. We have also worked with clients who had Lodge members that were used to looking at poorly designed websites, so we had to explain how modern sites work. Whatever the technical literacy of your Lodge members is, it’s worth pitching it to the lowest common denominator in terms of IT experience.

What if you already have sign off for a new Lodge website?

This blog is specially for those who know that their Lodge or Masonic venue needs a new website, and are trying to get support for it. If you already have the go-ahead for a new website, then find out how the Masonic Website process works.

How to get buy-in for a new Lodge website from senior Lodge members 

Regardless of how busy the Secretary or WM is you’ll need their support no matter what. The website will be the main tool to present the vision and mission for the Lodge, and since they ultimately are likely to have the final say, they’ll be the most important Lodge members you need to convince. Without the support them, this project won’t go very far.

So find a time to sit down with the WM and Secretary and talk about what they envision the purpose of the new website is. Be prepared to explain why your Lodge’s digital presence needs to improve or change, and try to anticipate some of the issues on their mind as well. What might be their frustrations or concerns about your current site if you have one? How do they find its functionality? How can you help them achieve their goals?

Your leadership’s top considerations:

• How will the website represent the Lodge?
• How many new members will the site attract?

The website will serve as your face and voice in your community. When meeting with the Lodge leadership, bring some examples of other Lodge websites you admire (there are some great examples of the sites we have built at MasonicWebsite in the portfolio section) including those from the competition if there is any — along with any analysis of the current website if you already have one.

Expect to hear, “Do we really need this?“

It’s no secret that a new or updated website will require a resources involving time, effort, and budget to get the best from it. At some point those who hold the purse strings will need to review the proposed cost. You need their buy-in ahead of everyone else in the Lodge.

How much is this going to cost?

They’ll want to know how much everything will cost, when it’s due, and what the terms of the contract are. Having that information before the meeting will help paint a clearer picture and set expectations. How we work at Masonic Website is laid out in our FAQ’s. If you would like to receive a copy of our process document to help with this conversation then please contact us

What is the ROI?

Whether in the form of anecdotal or qualitative data, the Lodge will want an understanding of the return on investment. It’s important to consider the lens of success through which they might be looking and have examples of ROI. These can be found on the MasonicWebsite site.

Some helpful ways to provide ROI include:

• Sharing an example of a Lodge who increased membership.
• Showing a competitor’s new website, alongside their rank in search engines and social media engagement. (We can help with this)
• Explain how the cost of working with MasonicWebsite is repaid through every new member attracted to the Lodge

How much work is this going to be?

Your leadership will also want an understanding of what will be needed to launch a new website:

• Who will be involved?
• What is the timeline?
• How much help will the website designer provide? Website providers (like MasonicWebsite) have the ability to help vary how much of the workload throughout the website rollout they do. At MasonicWebsite we offer a turn-key solution. We will do everything if you want us to. In fact we can create you a website from just a Summons. Other clients of ours want to be much more involved in the design process. Either way is fine, find out more by dropping us an email

How to Get support for a new Lodge website from technically minded Lodge members 

Expect to hear: “(Insert the most technical phase you’ve ever heard)”

Technically minded Lodge members will want to know the ins-and-outs of all the technical aspects of a new website.

Their likely top considerations:

Is the hosting safe and secure?

Everything we build at Masonic Website

• Is very quick to load. Site speed (Load times) are a very important ranking factor for Google. google hates slow websites. – We run various tools to make the site fast
• Has an SSL certificate – Never accept or even view a website without a Secure lock (SSL) symbol.
• Has regular back ups – We set up weekly and monthly backups as part of our process
• Use a CDN – This is built into the hosting we use.
• Uptime/Downtime information – Our sited have an industry beating 99.99999% + uptime because we only use industry leading hosts like 123reg or WordPress.com

Feel free to ask us for any other information in this area to help you build your case!

Do we provide email addresses?

Yes we can no problem. However it is worth considering whether a free, easy to set up, use and transfer Gmail accounts might work better for you. We will talk this through with yu.

How to get buy-in around membership

Expect to hear, “How will this attract more members?”

As your Lodges’s most (only?) powerful marketing tool, your new website will be a critical online space to engage with your community. First impressions matter (visitors will make a subconscious decision about your site in about three to seven seconds). However without a website they literally will never have heard of you.

Membership top considerations:

How will a new site help us boost membership enquiries?

Bring case studies and ROI data (MasonicWebsite can help with this) about similar Lodge’s success.

You might hear “We already have a Facebook to Twitter (X) page.” – Congratulations, this is a tiny part of the overall marketing available to you. However you do not own that, ir is owned by the platform ie Facebook. They constantly change how the platforms work, recent changes on Facebook have lead to peoples feeds being full of pages hey do not follow, whereas only around 20% of followers of a page now actually see posts from that page. Twitter operates in an echo chamber. It’s hard to discover new accounts outside those you are recognised as being interested in. You won’t find new Lodge members via social media.

General buy-in

• Take the time to talk to your brethren about what they feel sets the Lodge apart. If they feel involved the whole process will run much more smoothly
• Share ideas and inspiration from other Lodge websites
• Don’t design by committee – There needs to be a clear, short sign off process for website development or it will take for ever

How can we bring more attention to fundraising?

Creating a website that celebrates and supports the charity efforts of your Lodge will be a big factor in gaining support for a new website.

• Share any examples of posts about charity from other MasonicWebsite Lodges
• Discuss which charities to feature on the site, and what assets (logo’s, images etc) you have for them
• Propose ideas for how they can be involved in content creation, and ask how they want to be involved

How to get support for a new Lodge website key takeaway

The look, feel and functionality of your Lodge’s digital presence is more important than ever these days – it will be the biggest tool that can help the Lodge grow (or even survive!). But unless all of the stakeholders agree, you’ll have a hard time actually getting started.

The pitches you’ll need to make to your team members and stakeholders will vary. Before meeting with each person or presenting in Lodge or at a BGP, take the time to consider what’s important to the relevant person, and arm yourself with resources (MasonicWebsite can help) that can help you ease any questions or concerns before they arise.

Ultimately building a new or updating an existing Lodge website is the best way to attract new members to your Masonic Lodge. MasonicWebsite has been doing this since 2011 and know how to help you get support for a new Lodge website right through the sign off process. Once achieved, we can have your Lodge attracting new members within weeks.

How to get sign off for a Masonic venue website

At MasonicWebsite we have been building Masonic venue websites for a long time. The process of sign off can be even more complicated. There are even more stakeholders.

We built this impressive website for our clients at Wakefield Masonic Hall in West Yorkshire England. They are delighted, and are pleased that they followed the above process to get support for this new website from the Lodges that meet there. It is worth considering that the cost of the website will be split between the Lodges featured, so it offers excellent value for money. Contact us today to find out more about a new or updated website for your Masonic venue, or for the group of Lodges that meet at your venue

 

What is the process for building a Lodge website?

We deliberately keep our process for building a Lodge website simple both in terms of working with us before and after we launch. We have vast experience in this area and have honed our process for over 15 years. We can get sites live within 2 weeks if necessary, although

The top 5 reasons Freemasons work with Masonic Website are:

1. Finding new Lodge members, including those unaware of Freemasonry, in their area 
2. Communicating more effectively with existing members
3. Increasing hire of Masonic venues
4. Updating old websites
5. Creating additional content for existing websites – writer, video or social

Masonic Website only started on Trustpilot in 2024 – We have all 5* star reviews already

The Masonic Website story 

Masonic Website was founded in 2011 when our founder Paul offered to build a website for his mother Lodge. Very quickly this attracted new members, word spread and he was asked to build sites for other Lodges. Masonic Website was born. Since then we have built hundreds of Lodge and Masonic venues in the UK and globally. We have created websites for our clients other interests, as well as churches, village halls and more. Our small team are all on the square, and experts at helping Lodges exceed their requirements as we understand Freemasonry.

Portfolio examples

• UGLE Charter Mark Lodge website – https://baberghlodge8122.org.uk
• Local community and charity focussed Lodge – https://hootonparklodge.org
• Masonic venue now generating increased hires –  https://wakefieldfreemasons.org

Testimonials

• “The lodge has had two positive enquiries for membership in the short time that we have been up and running with your updated site”
• “We have had a positive response and a good number of enquiries. We fully recommend Masonic Website. You will not be disappointed with the cost and results. ”

FAQ’s

• Will our new website get a Provincial or UGLE Charter Mark – Of course!
• Can we have a member’s area? – Yes

What your new Masonic website includes – (Plus loads more!)

• It is your site, it is not sub-let from us
• Unlimited pages and posts of any length
• Built in WordPress
• Works perfectly on PC and Mac, desktop, and mobile ready for phone or tablet
• Free ongoing support and management (if required) – no extra cost
• Social Media integration
• Website address of your choice – e.g., www.yourlodge1267.org
• Secure HTTPS connection 
• Your content, your way – We can advise and guide on design
• Content upload from – Another site, documents, Summons, email however it comes!
• Photos – As many as you have, we upload them to the right place on the site
• Video – We can upload any video you have and make it work perfectly
• Links to UGLE, Provincial – Whoever you need to link to
• Stats – So you know who is coming to your site, and from where
• User management 
• Widgets – e.g., count down widget to your next important date
• Display or hide comments on your posts

The Masonic Website process for building a Lodge website

• We hold an initial phone call to discuss your requirements
• We build you a free of charge draft website – (You can show this to anyone you wish)
  • Sending us a Summons is a great starting point for us to create the draft
  • We research your Lodge. Naturally we discuss with you before we add to your site
• If you wish to proceed with – we ask for a 50% deposit at this stage
• We then make unlimited revisions until you are totally happy with the design
• Once complete we ask for the balance to be paid
• We then set the site as live 
• We register your site with Google and Bing 
• Ongoing support – Friendly support throughout the launch process and beyond
• We provide documents on how to use the site and upload your own content
• Training (if required) – in how to use the site for you and other members of your Lodge 

How much does Masonic Website cost?

• From £495, paid in two instalments (see process above)
• No ongoing cost or monthly fees – just one annual payment direct to the hosting company (on which we do not make a profit and will set up for you).

Example website structure

• Home page
• Lodge
  • History
  • Officers
  • PMs
  • Lodge of Improvement/Instruction
  • Chapter
• Charity
• News
• Meetings – Dates, how to find us, address, map etc.
• Venue hire – (if required)
• Picture Gallery
• Freemasonry Frequently Asked Questions
• Links
• Contact

To find out more about the process for building a Lodge website that brings in new members for your Lodge then please contact MasonicWebsite today to receive your free no obligation draft website

This is just an example website structure. Some of our clients concentrate on keeping it simple, and directly compete with other activities in their area. In effect they bring the detail about Freemasonry into the website structure at later date. It is up to you, but will discuss your requirements with you in detail and create the most appropriate for your Lodge.

We really do know how to build a freemasonry website. We have built more than a hundred since 2011. We don’t mind passing on some free advice though.  However if you are considering designing a new Lodge website, or updating your existing one, we would strongly recommend letting the Masonic website experts do it.

Content on Masonic Websites

1. Don’t post any member’s name without the member’s permission.
2. Avoid complex URLs; use short names in lower case characters.
3. Remove outdated information on a regular basis.
4. Provide a site map
5. Keep a back-up
6. The “Charges of a Freemason” provide some excellent ideas on what to include, and what to not include…
   “Avoid all ill language… no private piques or quarrels… cautious in your words and carriage… act as becomes a moral and wise man… avoiding all wrangling and quarreling, all slander and backbiting… that all may see the benign influence of Freemasonry.”
7. Include a copyright notice
8. Include a disclaimer on the site, such as:
   “The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of any masonic lodge, Grand Lodge or recognized masonic body.”
9. Include a disclaimer on each page with links to offsite pages, such as:
   “No claims are made or responsibilities assumed for the contents of linked websites”
10. Include a link to your Province and your countries national Lodge eg UGLE

Design on Masonic Websites

1. Avoid using frames and animated graphics
   Frames make it difficult for some browsers to navigate; animated graphics are time consuming distractions.
2. Don’t use black backgrounds or detailed, high contrast background graphic tiles; they generally render type illegible.
3. Use WordPress
4. Make sure it is mobile ready, naturally everything we build at MasonicWebsite looks great on every screen

Technical: Aspects on Masonic Websites

1. Don’t use the symbol “#”: spell out “Lodge No.”
2. Don’t use the ampersand, “&”; this symbol is used in HTML coding and can confuse some browsers.
3. Browser compatability is a major issue in web design. View your pages on as many different browser and OS versions as possible to identify potential problems (naturally we will do this for you when you become a client of ours.)

Overall

Keep in mind that your website is a reflection of the entire fraternity of Freemasonry and act accordingly.

If you don’t know how to build a freemasonry website, then we’d be very happy to help! Drop us a line via our contact page

7 Proven Strategies To Attract Traffic To Your Freemasonry Website Quickly And Easily

Driving more visitors to your website is one of the most important steps in creating successful online content. But with so many proven strategies out there, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to boosting your website traffic. In this article, we’ll explore 7 proven strategies to bring you more visitors quickly and easily! The easiest way to start is to contact us here at Masonic Website, the experts in Freemasonry websites since 2011

Introduction

If you’re running a website, one of your primary goals is likely to be attracting traffic. After all, without traffic, you won’t be able to achieve your other goals, such as generating leads or making sales.

Fortunately, there are a number of proven strategies you can use to attract traffic to your website quickly and easily. In this blog post, we’ll share some of the most effective ones.

So if you’re ready to start driving more traffic to your website, read on!

What Is Website Traffic?

Website traffic is the number of visitors who visit a website. It is a measure of the popularity of a site and an important metric for businesses to track. Website traffic can be generated from a variety of sources, including search engines, social media, and referral sites.

There are two types of website traffic: organic and paid. Organic traffic is generated by people who find your site through search engines or other websites. Paid traffic is generated by people who click on ads or sponsored links.

Increasing website traffic can be challenging, but there are a number of proven strategies that can help. These include optimizing your site for search engines, using social media to promote your content, and guest posting on high-traffic websites. By implementing these strategies, you can attract more visitors to your site and improve your business’s bottom line.

Benefits of Increasing Website Traffic

1. Increasing website traffic can lead to more sales and conversions.

2. More website traffic can mean more customers and clients for your business.

3. More website traffic can also lead to better search engine rankings, which can result in even more traffic over time.

4. Increasing website traffic can also help you to build up a loyal audience or following for your site.

5. Finally, more website traffic can simply mean more people are exposed to your brand or message, which can be beneficial in itself.

7 Proven Strategies to Attract Traffic To Your Website Quickly and Easily

1. Make sure your website is well-designed and easy to navigate. First impressions are everything, so you want to make sure your website makes a good one. Invest in a good web designer and make sure your site is easy to use and appealing to the eye.

2. Use social media to your advantage. promoting your website on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn can help you reach a wider audience and generate more traffic. Make sure you post interesting and engaging content that will encourage people to visit your site.

3. Use pay-per-click advertising. This type of advertising allows you to bid on keywords that potential customers are searching for online. When someone clicks on your ad, they will be redirected to your website. This is a great way to get targeted traffic to your site quickly and easily.

4. Optimize your website for search engines. This means making sure your website includes relevant keywords that people are searching for online. Implementing SEO strategies can help you attract more organic traffic from search engines like Google and Bing.

5. Run a promotional campaign or contest. Offering discounts or running a contest is a great way to attract attention to your website and generate traffic. People love freebies, so this is an effective strategy for getting people to visit your site

1. SEO Optimization

One of the most effective ways to attract traffic to your website is through search engine optimization (SEO). By optimizing your site for specific keywords, you can rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), which will in turn lead to more organic traffic. In addition to improving your SERP ranking, SEO can also help to increase your click-through rate (CTR) and brand awareness.

When it comes to SEO, there are a number of different strategies you can use to improve your ranking. Some common methods include optimizing your title tags and meta descriptions, creating informative and keyword-rich content, building backlinks from high-quality sites, and using social media to promote your content. While it may take some time and effort to implement these techniques, the rewards can be well worth it in terms of increased website traffic.

– Paid Ads

Paid ads are one of the most effective ways to attract traffic to your website. By placing ads on popular websites and search engines, you can reach a large audience of potential customers. Paid ads can be targeted to specific demographics, interests, and even keywords. This makes them an extremely effective way to attract targeted traffic to your website. United Grand Lodge of England have been known to run paid adverts, because they work

– Guest Blogging

If you’re looking to attract traffic to your website quickly and easily, guest blogging is a great strategy to consider. By publishing articles on other blogs in your industry, you can reach a new audience and build up your brand awareness.

When guest blogging, it’s important to make sure that your articles are high-quality and relevant to the blog you’re publishing on. You should also include a link back to your website in your bio or signature so that readers can easily find your site.

If you’re not sure where to start with guest blogging, there are a few places you can look for opportunities:

• Blog directories: There are many online directories that list blogs in various industries. You can search for blogs that accept guest posts in your industry and submit an article for review.

• Social media: Social media is a great way to connect with potential guest bloggers and pitch your ideas. Try searching Twitter for relevant hashtags or joining Facebook groups related to your industry.

• Google: A simple Google search can turn up some great guest blogging opportunities. Just search for “[Your Industry] + Guest Blog” or “[Your Industry] + Submit a Guest Post.”

– Social Media Engagement

Social media engagement is one of the most effective means of driving traffic to your website. By engaging with your audience on social media, you can build relationships and trust, which will eventually lead to more website traffic.

Here are some proven strategies for social media engagement:

1. Choose the right platform: Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some platforms are better suited for certain types of businesses than others. Do your research to find the platform that will work best for you and your business.

2. Create valuable content: The key to social media engagement is creating content that is valuable to your audience. Ask yourself what kinds of things your target market would be interested in and then create content around those topics.

3. Be consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to social media engagement. You need to be posting regularly in order to keep your audience engaged. Posting sporadically will only lead to people forgetting about you and your business.

4. Respond to comments: When someone takes the time to leave a comment on your post, make sure you respond! This shows that you are engaged with your audience and value their input. Ignoring comments will only lead to people feeling like they don’t matter to you or your business.

5. Use calls-to-action: Calls-to-action are a great way to encourage people to take action, such as visiting your website or signing up for your email list

– Content Marketing

If you’re looking to attract more traffic to your website quickly and easily, then implementing a few key content marketing strategies can make all the difference. Here are four proven ways to do just that:

1. Publish regular, high-quality blog posts.

One of the best ways to attract more traffic to your website is by regularly publishing helpful and informative blog posts. Not only will this help you attract new visitors, but it’ll also give people a reason to keep coming back.

2. Create valuable resources and guides.

Another great way to attract traffic to your site is by creating valuable resources and guides that people will actually want to read and reference. If you can provide something truly useful, people will be much more likely to visit your site on a regular basis.

3. Share interesting infographics and images.

People love visual content, so if you can share interesting infographics or images along with your blog posts and articles, you’ll be more likely to capture attention and drive traffic. Just make sure that whatever visuals you share are high quality and relevant to your topic.

4. Use social media effectively.

Social media can be a powerful tool for driving traffic to your website – if used correctly. Make sure you’re sharing links to your latest content on all of your social media channels, as well as engaging with other users regularly in order to get maximum exposure for your site

Conclusion

Whether you are just launching your website or looking to increase visitors, using the strategies outlined in this article can help you reach your desired goals. SEO and content marketing are essential when it comes to attracting traffic to a website quickly and easily. Additionally, leveraging social media platforms, creating valuable partnerships with other websites and businesses, participating in forums and communities related to your niche, as well as advertising through sponsored posts or banners can all be great methods for increasing website traffic. With these proven strategies at hand, you’ll be able to attract more visitors than ever before!