You do not need to be a writer to write a good lodge website. You need to be clear, warm and honest. The advice below will carry you a long way, and if you ever stick, the website itself can suggest a starting draft for you to shape.
Write as you would speak at the door
Imagine a visitor has knocked, and you are welcoming him in. You would be courteous, plain-spoken and reassuring. Write the same way. Avoid grand or stiff language. “We meet on the second Tuesday of the month and we would be glad to see you” reads better than anything more formal.
Lead with the point
Put the most important thing first, in the first line. On the home page, that is who you are and when you meet. On an event, that is what it is and when. Readers skim, so reward them quickly and let the detail follow.
Keep it short
A paragraph of three or four sentences is plenty. Two short paragraphs beat one long one. If a sentence runs on, cut it in two. White space is your friend; a page does not need to be full to be complete.
Some phrases that work well
- “A warm welcome to our Lodge.”
- “We have met in [town] since [year].”
- “If you are curious about Freemasonry, you are very welcome to get in touch.”
- “Our next meeting is on [date]. Visitors are always welcome.”
A simple rule
Be warm, be clear, be brief. Say who you are, when you meet, and how to get in touch. Everything else is a bonus.
Mind a few courtesies
- Respect privacy. Do not publish members’ names, addresses or telephone numbers without their consent. One contact address is enough.
- Keep ritual private. The website is the Lodge’s public face, not its working.
- Check the dates. Nothing undermines a website like a meeting that has already passed. A two-minute update keeps it trustworthy.
- Be welcoming, not pushy. Invite the curious gently. Let them come to you.
When the words will not come
Every site we build arrives already written, so often the kindest thing to do is simply read what is there, change the names and dates, and adjust a line here and there. And when you want a fresh draft, the editor can suggest warm, suitable wording for you to make your own. You are never staring at a blank page.
Start your lodge website and you will see how little there is to do.