REACHRIGHT Podcast

Churches have traditionally relied on word-of-mouth and physical signage to spread the word about their services. But in this digital age, everyone is communicating online, ALL the time, so that’s where effective church advertising happens.

That doesn’t mean word-of-mouth is less effective. On the contrary, it’s as essential as ever! But since people primarily communicate online, the tools and resources for spreading your message must include digital assets.

Here are some crucial dos and don’ts for effective church advertising that will help you reach new people and grow your church in the digital age.

Table of contents

• 5 Must-Do Church Marketing Ideas
  • 1. Do choose the best channels and platforms.
  • 2. Do create a church website and use SEO best practices.
  • 3. Do take advantage of the Google ad grant.
  • 4. Do consider paid advertising.
  • 5. Do create great headlines, content, and eye-catching visuals.
• 5 Things to Avoid With Church Advertising
  • 1. Don’t use a random approach in church advertising.
  • 2. Don’t set it and forget it.
  • 3. Don’t bait and switch church members.
  • 4. Don’t forget about your local community.
  • 5. Don’t try to do it alone.
• Your Church Website is Only the Start

Church marketing can be overwhelming. But although churches have a lot of things to consider, start with these five must-do items for a solid digital marketing foundation.

Research the various marketing channels and platforms to determine which are best for your church marketing. Consider what will help you establish a solid and consistent online presence.

Be strategic; a church marketing plan will ensure your church is visible in the right places and makes a positive impression on potential church members.

Remember that some channels, like email marketing and social media, are free or low-cost.

Then, within your chosen social platforms, you may want to focus on organic reach, targeted ads, or both. Also, you may not be ready to tackle every platform at once! Social media is a powerful tool for spreading the word about church events and establishing an interactive online brand and community for members.

Consider which example, out of these many options, will reach more members and be more relevant. Start creating great content there, then take on other approaches over time.

SEO tactics are essential for online marketing. SEO used to be primarily about getting your website discovered in search engines. But it’s now critical for every social platform as well.

That means churches must research keywords and optimize their copy to appear in search results (thereby increasing traffic).

Although you may share across multiple channels, your church site should remain the centerpiece of your marketing plan. People first look for a church online, so a user-friendly website needs to be fast, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.

And there are additional technical SEO elements to consider for improving your search results.

Most importantly, deliver a stellar experience to your website visitors, and your marketing efforts will pay off!

Not all organizations and businesses have the option for free advertising…but if your church is a registered 501c3 nonprofit, you probably qualify for the Google Ad Grant.

This is excellent news for you to market your church!

This grant provides up to $10,000 monthly for advertising on Google Ads. It’s an opportunity to reach new church members online, and there’s no cost to set up or maintain it.

To use this free church advertising option, set up a Google Ads account, create your church ad campaigns, and set up tracking. You need to monitor your account to ensure it’s effective and meets Google requirements like click-through rate.

This can be a lot for churches to keep up with, so check out our Google ad grant page if you want to see how our team can help.

After maximizing the free ads you can get via the Google grant, you should consider paid digital church advertising options. After all, traditional advertising methods like billboards, radio, and direct mail are expensive and hard to track.

So, if you have some budget dollars, consider church advertising on Facebook and Instagram, as well as buying other ads (Google Ads, Bing Ads). And don’t forget YouTube!

In addition, you can consider purchasing advertising banners on local websites or media pages.

As the world becomes increasingly digital, it’s no surprise that churches are looking to the internet to spread their message. After all, if you can get more sermon views online, it allows you to preach the gospel to people who would never walk through the doors of your church.

However, simply posting sermons online is not enough to guarantee views. Church leaders need to be proactive in positioning their online content in the right places and in the right way to get more sermon traffic.

Luckily, a few simple hacks can help you reach more people. We’ll cover five of them today, so let’s dive right in.

Table of contents

• #1 Create a Strong Online Presence
• #2 Make Your Sermons available on Your Website
• #3 Upload YouTube Videos
• #4 Share Your Church Service on Social Media
• #5 Collaborate With Other Church Leaders to Spread God’s Message
• Getting the Most of Your Sermon Views
• More on Church Online

Ok, we know churches don’t always like to talk about their “brand” because that feels too much like a marketing term. Yet we rarely come across a pastor who’s preaching to get famous. The vast majority care about honoring God, preaching Jesus, and being led by the Holy Spirit in their ministry.

That said, an online brand ensures that people understand who you are, what you stand for, and how you deliver your truth. That’s a strong brand; as a pastor or preacher, that’s exactly what you want!

So throwing up random videos isn’t enough. You need to have a solid platform for people to find you online. And when you show up consistently as a pastor, people will trust you.

A powerful online presence requires

If you want to get more sermon views online, it all starts with posting them on your website. And your church website should have a dedicated page for your sermons.

That way, when your congregation struggles with a particular issue, they can easily find a sermon that addresses their needs. If timely topical preaching is hard to find on your church’s online channels, they’ll be off to search Google or YouTube.

Whenever possible, you want them to hear from their pastor first to provide a course of action with wisdom from the Bible. And a great way to equip and encourage people beyond Sunday is by providing timely messages. Your online library will help people deal with the complex realities they encounter daily. And these sermons can help build their faith with prayer, scripture, and sound teaching.

Here are some ideas for getting your sermon views on your website:

Although you might also post your service on YouTube and social media channels, you must develop a central hub on your website.

In addition, when people are considering visiting your church on a Sunday, they’ll want to watch some online sermons first. This gives them an idea of the pastors and their preaching style. So make sure your website is a one-stop shop for visitors and your congregation to view and share sermons.

More than one billion hours of videos are watched every day on YouTube. It’s one of the most popular online platforms for watching videos and one of the largest search engines–second only to Google!

Whether you do YouTube Livestream or post recorded videos after you preach live on Sunday, your church needs sermons on YouTube.

You can get creative with the content you share. For example, in addition to uploading entire sermons, you could post shorter clips as YouTube Shorts. These could focus on a particular point or theme from your message.

You could post Shorts as a series so that your viewers get a sneak peek of your message each week and are encouraged to watch the entire service when it’s available on your website or channel.

As in all areas of the internet, it’s essential to understand how to optimize your videos for more effectiveness on YouTube.

Here are some five keys specific to boosting your sermon views on YouTube.

We know what you’re thinking…another social media platform?! How in the world am I going to come up with TikTok content ideas on top of everything else I do?

Never fear, because making TikTok videos is easier than it sounds!

On TikTok, users expect content that is raw, authentic, and not overly produced, which is good news for busy church leaders!

We’ve got 11 easy and fun church TikTok content ideas. But first, a quick rundown on what you need to know about this social media channel.

Table of contents

• What You Need to Know about TikTok Videos
• 11 TikTok Video Ideas For Your Church
  • 1. Behind the Scenes
  • 2. Interviews and Testimonies
  • 3. Pastor Insight or Sermon Snippets
  • 4. Prayer
  • 5. Ask Your Audience
  • 6. How-To Short Tutorials
  • 7. Inspirational
  • 8. Sneak Peeks
  • 9. Funny Videos and Fun Trends
  • 10. Create Challenges
  • 11. Partner up
• Tik Tok Ideas Conclusion
  • More About this Social Media Platform

Here are the basics. TikTok is a short-form, video-sharing app that allows users to create and share short videos, on any topic.

Originally a TikTok video could be a max of 15 seconds. Now, a TikTok video can be up to 10 minutes long. However, shorter videos still tend to perform better.

According to Backlinko, TikTok has 1 billion monthly active users. And since it was released in 2016, it has surpassed many other popular social media platforms like Twitter, Snapchat, and Pinterest.

TikTok is especially popular with Gen Z but has also grown in popularity with millennials and older generations.

Compared to other social media platforms, TikTok presents a great opportunity to reach the younger generation–a demographic that can be difficult to connect with in a church setting.

And as we know, Gen Z is more likely to identify as atheist or agnostic and have ambivalent feelings toward the church. So having a TikTok account can be a great way to get videos in their feed and connect with new audiences.

Now that you know some TikTok basics, let’s get into our TikTok content ideas for churches.

Pull back the curtain back and show your followers what goes on behind the scenes at your church.

BTS can include everything from worship rehearsal to prepping for an outreach project to a day in the life of your pastor. Pastors can also give a behind-the-scenes look at their sermon planning process and even ask for feedback and questions!

Other TikTok video ideas include short interviews or testimonies with members of your church community. You can interview a staff member, a youth group leader, a volunteer, or even someone who’s brand new to your church.

TikTok videos are a great way to show the diversity of your church community and share inspiring stories.

We’ve all seen sermon video clips and preaching highlights on social media. But there are ways you can mix it up.

Here are some TikTok ideas to create videos with a more unique slant on your sermon content.

For this last point, think about asking questions or addressing points that anyone in your TikTok feed could relate to like, “What to do when you have a difficult co-worker.” Then you can cut to a sermon video clip that speaks to that issue.

Another of our favorite TikTok video ideas for churches is daily prayer. Or couple times a week prayer. You don’t need to make it long, just a few seconds of prayer can have a huge impact!

You can post videos of a pastor or team member praying for specific needs in your church, or general prayer items. This leads us to the next video idea…

Hook your TikTok followers by asking them direct questions in your videos. You can ask them for prayer requests and pray for them.

In addition, you can ask about their favorite Bible verse, what they’re struggling with, or what topics they want to hear more about from your church. You can also use TikTok polls to get feedback from your audience on things like upcoming events or sermon series topics.

People have lots of questions about how to practically live out their faith. So tutorials or educational videos are always awesome TikTok content.

It’s true, TikTok ideas often center around life hacks like makeup tutorials and cooking videos, but you can do how-to videos about any topic. So why not brainstorm TikTok video ideas that will help disciple? You can create content for basic, complex, and specific topics as well as navigate current events.

For example, think about helpful and educational content for your TikTok channel like:

Giving is a vital aspect of a thriving Christian life. The Bible is filled with scriptures that paint a picture of the positive impact of generous giving.

When we give, we tangibly demonstrate our love for God and others. The Bible outlines various reasons for giving and the incredible thing is: giving isn’t just helpful for the one receiving, it also blesses the giver.

Here, we’re exploring five different biblical aspects of giving. In addition, we’ve included 15 tithing verses in each category reflect why we give according to what the Bible says.

Be sure to check out more resources for tithes and offerings with these 29 Offering Scriptures and 18 Bible Verses on Giving.

Table of contents

• Tithing Verses for Your Church Service
  • 1. Giving is an act of worship.
  • 2. Giving provides for the needs of others.
  • 3. Giving is about the heart.
  • 4. Giving comes with a return blessing.
  • 5. Giving is an investment in the Kingdom of God.
• What Bible Verses on Giving Show Us
• Becoming a Cheerful Giver

We get it, talking about money is nerve-wracking! But most church services have a dedicated time for offering because it’s a vital part of our worship.

Knowing what to say and having offering scriptures to back up your points is vital. And these biblical truths and principles about giving should put your heart at ease.

Here are five different aspects of giving to highlight in your tithes and offering time along with 15 tithing verses.

Our willingness to freely give shows our deep trust and dependence on God, acknowledging that He is the provider for all our needs.

Giving also shows that we prioritize God above all else. This frees us from the love of money, dependence on our possessions, and desire to hoard for ourselves. In other words, it helps us keep our priorities straight.

In addition, our obedience with the tithe is about giving FIRST to God. Following the biblical example of Abel, Abraham, and others, we know we’re simply returning to Him what He’s already given to us and that God blesses us in our giving.

So the next time you bring a tithe or offering, remember the true purpose behind the act and let it be a beautiful expression of worship and faith. Our willingness to give brings glory to His Name!

You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

It can be easy to get caught up in our schedules, needs, and possessions, but giving reminds us to consider others needs. As the family of God, we are called to care for one another, especially those less fortunate.

Through giving, we can provide necessary support for others including those who are experiencing hardship. It’s also important to remember that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and giving is a way for us to honor and thank Him for His generosity.

Furthermore, many times our concerns and troubles diminish when we shift our focus to serving others. Biblical giving not only helps meet physical needs, but these tithing verses show that it brings joy and spiritual fulfillment to both the giver and the receiver.

If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

God doesn’t need our money or resources, so it’s not about giving a certain amount. Instead, it’s about the heart.

We’re not called to give an identical offering and shouldn’t judge others based on how much or little they’re able to give. Neither should we feel guilty or compelled to give out of obligation.

The gospels record the story of a widow who put two small copper coins in the offering box. Although Jesus and His disciples saw the rich putting in larger offerings, Jesus highlighted the poor widow’s sacrifice. She gave a perfect gift because she gave what she had, from the heart.

When church leaders talk about tithes and offerings, it should never be done with a sense of guilt or condemnation. Instead, each person can privately determine what to give. We can be confident knowing that God sees our heart, rewards our obedience, and is pleased with a pure heart.

Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him.

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disci...

Church leaders are balancing a million different responsibilities. So when it comes to digital marketing tips, you don’t want to add more to your plate.

Digital marketing is essential for your church, and we have some tips to save you time. And that means you have more time to personally invest in your target audience.

So here are six top digital marketing tips for churches that will help you be more efficient.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Table of contents

• 6 Tips for Churches to Save Time on Digital Marketing
  • Tip # 1 – Create brand guidelines for your digital marketing strategy
  • Tip #2 – Automate your social media posts
  • Tip #3 – Use a calendar to plan your digital marketing efforts
  • Tip # 4 – Automate your email marketing
  • Tip # 5 – Outsource digital marketing tips and tasks when you don’t have time or expertise
  • Tip # 6 – Create a system for managing digital assets
• Communication is Everything for Digital Marketing Strategies
  • More Digital Marketing Tips

Although traditional marketing channels aren’t entirely dead, the digital landscape is rapidly changing.

In today’s digital world, using the right digital platforms and establishing a solid online presence is key to reaching your target audience.

So here are six best digital marketing tips for churches to help you save time and develop a successful digital marketing strategy.

Creating brand guidelines or a style guide takes time upfront but can save your church a lot of time and energy in the long run.

Establishing your brand equips your communications team with the right digital marketing tools to succeed.

According to Demand Metric, 95% of organizations have branding guidelines, but only one-quarter have formal policies and consistently enforce them.

In addition, having everything written up and organized will make it easier to train new team members.

In summary, when your digital marketing strategy tips and brand guidelines are in writing, you’ll be able to create more valuable content and save time.

Social media can be a significant drain on your time!

As we mentioned in a previous episode, the average person spends 2 hours and 29 minutes a day on social media platforms.

However, one of our digital marketing tips for churches is to automate posting to your social media accounts.

That way, the majority of your time on social media platforms is spent interacting and building online communities.

And this is where a social media scheduler comes in handy.

A social media scheduler is a tool that lets you automate posting to multiple platforms.

You can write and schedule all the posts for the month in one sitting, which will save you time later on. (Check out this 31-day social media plan.)

Using hashtags is also key to a successful online marketing strategy.

Most of these social media schedulers have hashtag lists you can reuse. And they offer advice about the best hashtags to include to improve search rankings.

You can also schedule posts through individual apps. For example, YouTube, Twitter, and Meta Business Suite (Facebook and Instagram) all allow you to schedule your posts in advance.

Have you ever looked up and realized that a big event like Easter is just around the corner?

Or you’re starting a new sermon series next weekend and don’t have any digital marketing planned to promote it?

A digital marketing calendar can help you stay on top of your digital strategy and content marketing.

Simply put, a digital marketing calendar is a tool that helps you plan, create content, and execute your digital marketing strategies.

It includes your content, social media, video marketing, emails, blog posts, and other promotional content.

You can use a digital marketing calendar to:

There are a few digital marketing calendar t...

Church Facebook ads can be an excellent tool for digital evangelism. That is, if you know how to run those Facebook ads for churches effectively…

But if you’re not strategic with your Facebook ad, then your ad spend can skyrocket before you know it. And for churches, that’s completely unsustainable long-term!

So here are some essential tips for creating church Facebook ads that are not only creative, but also effective. Find out how you can create ads that compel people to pause, click, and connect to your church.

Table of contents

• Getting Started – Set Up Your Facebook Page
  • Set up your free Facebook page
  • Set up your Facebook business manager account
  • Set up and install a Meta pixel
  • 1. Targeting your ideal audience for Facebook advertising
  • 2. Using a strong headline in your church Facebook ads
  • 3. Creating Facebook ads with eye-catching visuals
  • 4. Writing clear, engaging, keyword-rich copy
  • 5. Testing and revising the Facebook ad based on results
• How Can Churches Advertise on Facebook?

Before setting up Facebook ads for your church, here are three preliminary steps. Once you do these, your church will be set up to launch an advertising campaign.

Also, although Facebook is now under the umbrella of “Meta”, which also includes Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, we’re still going to use the term Facebook here.

Your church’s Facebook page is crucial real estate for your church’s online presence and can help you connect with members and non-members alike.

Be sure to list basic info like times for your Sunday service, your church website, and how to connect with the local church.

Also known as Meta Business Suite, this is a tool that businesses and organizations use to manage their Facebook presence, including their ad account.

This is where you’ll create a church Facebook ad campaign and track its progress and results.

Installing a Meta or Facebook pixel allows you to track conversions (people who take an action on your church website after seeing your church’s Facebook ad), remarket to people who have visited your church website, and create Lookalike audiences.

Here are step-by-step instructions for how to set up a Facebook pixel.

Now that you’ve covered the basics, you’re ready to set up a Facebook ad.

Here’s one of the biggest mistakes we see with church Facebook ads: failing to set your target audience and goal.

Make sure you know the target audience you’re trying to reach and what you want them to do (one clear call to action). Then, use that information to create Facebook ads and posts that will appeal to them.

Although we know you’d like to reach everyone, targeting the right Facebook users with your ad is important. When you get specific, your chance of actually reaching new visitors who are interested in what you have to say is much higher.

Some keys to a Facebook ad campaign that targets users effectively include:

Your headline is one of the most important elements of your church Facebook ads, so make sure it’s catchy and compelling.

Some points for writing a Facebook ad headline that stops the scroll:

Facebook users are bombarded with digital marketing content, so eye-catching visuals are necessary to set your church apart and make your message clear.

Visuals you can post on Facebook include:

Video content is king right now. Video posts on Facebook range from complete online worship services to short videos and reels. When it comes to video ads, keep them short and sweet.

Whatever visual content you use in your Facebook ad, make sure it’s high quality, personal, and tells a story that resonates with your church’s target audience.

In digital marketing, the headline and first sentence of your paid ads should contain a hook that immediately captures attention and makes a Facebook user want to keep reading.

After the hook, continue writing primary text copy that is clear, engaging, and has a personal touch.

Also, using the right keywords in your Facebook ad copy is vital to target people who will be interested in what you offer.

If you were going to build a church website from scratch in 2024, how would you do it? What would you focus on, and what features would you include?

As technology advances, some elements of outstanding website design stay constant, while other factors and expectations shift.

If you’re building a church website from scratch in 2024 or revamping your current site, we’ve got some advice on what to focus on below!

Table of contents

• 10 Key Factors For Building a Church Website in 2024
  • 1. Design the website for your intended audience
  • 2. Clean design and navigation
  • 3. Video content
  • 4. Online sermons and experience
  • 5. Build an interactive church website
  • 6. Mobile-friendly design
  • 7. Page speed and website load time
  • 8. Choose the right platform
  • 9. A .church domain name and hosting
  • 10. Solid SEO strategy
• Ready to Build a Church Website in 2024?

If it’s time to update or replace your website, or do a thorough website audit and edit, keep these ten factors in mind.

Your current church members are guaranteed to visit your website regularly to double-check service times, event info, and find the information they need.

But your current church members aren’t the primary audience; you’re trying to reach people who are new to your church.

So as you plan out your website, think through the questions and lens of a first-time visitor.

Simple is better. People should be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.

Your site navigation should be logical, and your pages shouldn’t be overloaded with text or too many images. Instead, stick to a clean, minimal design that is easy on the eyes and has plenty of white space.

If you need your current members to access large amounts of information on the website, try to keep that in a separate membership area so it doesn’t overwhelm new visitors.

Video content is dominating social media and becoming a standard feature on many church websites. Stock photos are a definite no-no, but even quality original photographs don’t have the same impact they used to – people want to see your church live and in action.

When you build your church website, think about incorporating video. For example, you might include weekend experiences, church life such as small group meetings and outreach projects, sermon clips, or a welcome from the pastor.

When the 2020 pandemic hit, churches had to shift everything online. And the online-first paradigm seems to be here to stay.

People expect to find online services and virtual church options on your website. Some might have lingering health concerns, prefer online, or be too far to drive.

In addition, people will want to check out your church thoroughly before they load up the car for an in-person visit.

So as you build your website, be sure your church’s online service experience is prominent. Also, make it an interactive experience where they can connect and get involved, not just watch a sermon recording.

People expect personalization and interaction. So landing on a static church website that reads like a brochure isn’t very appealing.

How can you build a church website focused on the visitor experience? Your content should provide options, address relevant topics, and create a dynamic experience.

A few popular ways to do this for 2024:

In today’s world, people are accessing the internet ever more frequently from their mobile devices. In fact, 63% of website traffic comes from phones and tablets. That number will be 70% before you know it!

Also, Google favors mobile-friendly sites in their search results, so focusing on a responsive and mobile-first experience is crucial for SEO.

One of the top factors for user experience and website optimization is page speed and website load time. We’re talking 2-3 seconds in terms of attention-span. People don’t have patience for anything longer, and they’ll click away.

To ensure your site loads quickly, you need the right hosting, optimized images, videos, and proper coding.

There are a ton of different website platforms and hosting companies out there. Although it can be tempting to go with the cheapest or newest, flashiest option on the market, do your research and choose the best platform for your needs.

The most popular website platforms include WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix. All three have pros and cons, so take the time to read reviews and compare features before deciding.

Also, check out our podcast on the pros and cons of Squarespace vs. WordPress.

Your domain name is your address on the internet. It’s how people find your website, so it’s important to choose something easy to remember and spell.

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Your church’s website is the front door of your church and one of the best ways to reach new people and grow your congregation. But if you’re not getting adequate website traffic, then something is amiss.

Let’s talk about five things that could be killing your church’s website traffic.

Table of contents

• Why Does Your Church Need More Website Traffic?
• 5 Reasons Your Church’s Website Isn’t Getting Traffic
  • 1. Your website is slow.
  • 2. Your website is hard to navigate.
  • 3. Your site isn’t mobile-friendly.
  • 4. You’re not using keywords effectively.
  • 5. Your website has poor quality or outdated content.
• Getting More Website Visitors
  • Need to Boost Your Website Traffic?

But first, you may be wondering how much your church’s website traffic actually matters. After all, aren’t you more concerned about connecting with people through services, Bible studies, groups, and events?

The truth is, getting a lot of clicks and website visitors isn’t the end goal. It’s simply the means to connect with people.

In today’s world, people look online for resources when they’re hurting. And if they’re considering visiting a church, they’ll scope things out online first.

However, just because you have a website doesn’t ensure that people will find it, and that’s why boosting your website traffic is vital.

We’re not very patient anymore, and some statistics say that 40% of people abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load.

Website speed (or page loading time) is how long it takes for your website to load. The faster the church website loads, the more likely church members are to stay on your site. And the more traffic Google will send you!

Factors that affect your page load time include:

• The size and number of images on your website
• Videos or other media
• Poorly coded themes or plugins

There are other technical factors that affect your website speed. You can use Google’s free Page Speed Insights tool to help you understand more about what’s slowing down your website.

Can visitors easily understand what’s available on your website? And how to find what they’re looking for?

Your church’s website should be easy to navigate. That means having a simple, intuitive design, organized menu structure, and clearly labeled pages.

You want to organize your menu, and the information on your pages, and link everything correctly. Also, remember to use your footer menus for extra navigation links.

Having a mobile-friendly site is crucial for your church’s website traffic. That means having a responsive design that reformats content for smaller screens, as well as large buttons and easy-to-tap links.

Google published its “mobile-friendly update” in 2015 announcing that it would be boosting the ranking of mobile-friendly pages on mobile search results.

Since that time, there have been several other algorithm updates that favor mobile-friendly websites, and an increasing number of internet users logging in from mobile devices.

In fact, global mobile internet traffic accounts accounted for close to 60% of total internet traffic by the middle of 2022. Having a mobile-friendly site guarantees people will have a good website experience and keep coming back.

Google is looking for keywords on your website to help them understand what your site is about. If you’re not using keywords effectively, then Google won’t be able to send you the right website traffic.

Your church’s website should be keyword-rich, without being too “spammy.” That means using keywords in the right places, such as

• page titles
• headers
• meta descriptions
• image alt tags
• body content

You can use Google’s Keyword Planner tool to help you find the right keywords for your church website

However, don’t stuff keywords! This will not only make your site look unprofessional, but it will also get you penalized by Google.

If there’s nothing new on your church’s website, why would anyone bother coming back?

Make sure to regularly add fresh content in the form of

• blog posts
• photos
• videos
• event listings

This will give people a reason to keep coming back, and it will also help improve your search engine rankings over time.

When you publish new content, whether it’s a great resource in the form of a blog post or your weekend sermon, be sure to let people know.

Include links in your social media posts and email newsletters to encourage traffic to your website.