Now that you know how to get onto Google Business and you’ve got that up and running…
Where to from here?
Google reviews are an important aspect of any local churches online presence. Not only do they help to improve the visibility of your church in search results, but they also serve as a trusted source of information for potential church visitors or guests. In today’s digital age, (church goers/seekers/christians/consumers) rely heavily on the opinions of others when making purchasing decisions, and Google reviews provide a platform for your “people” to share their experiences with your church. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why Google reviews are so important for your local listings and how they can help to drive traffic to your church.
Did you know… the number of Google reviews is one of the biggest factors in Google’s local search algorithm?
Take a moment and see for yourself:
- Google “church in [your city].”
- Look under the map at the “Local 3 Pack,” add together the number of reviews the 3 churches there have, and divide by 3 to get the average number of reviews.
- Click the map in the Local 3 Pack to see the top 20 results in Google maps
- Scroll down and take a look at how many reviews churches towards the bottom of the top 20 have.
Big difference, right?
How do you get more Google reviews for your church?
Glad you asked. Here are…
3 Ways to Get More Google Reviews for Your Church
1) Add a Google Business Profile icon/link in the header or footer of your website.
By placing social media icons that link to your church’s profiles on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you can encourage members to review your Google Business Profile. Including these icons makes it easy for visitors to access and read all of the positive reviews that your church has already received. This simple step can help to drive traffic and engagement on your online profiles, as well as improve the overall visibility of your church in search results.
2) Post a request for reviews to social media.
One way to encourage your followers on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to leave reviews for your church is to post a request for reviews and include a link to your Google Business Profile. Remind people that by posting a review, they are not only sharing their positive experiences with your church, but they are also helping to improve your church’s search rankings and reach a wider audience online. Highlighting the specific ways in which your church has made an impact on people’s lives through the power of God can be a particularly effective way to motivate people to visit your church in person on Sunday.
3) Send email and/or texts to members asking them to post a review.
As it becomes increasingly difficult to reach people through social media channels, email and text message communication can be effective alternatives. Both of these mediums tend to have high open rates, and you can make your request for reviews more personalized in an email or text. When asking for reviews through email or text, be sure to include a link to your Google Business Profile and explain how the reviews will help your church achieve its mission. It’s also important to be mindful of Google’s efforts to combat fake reviews. If your church receives a large number of reviews in a short period of time, it may be flagged by Google’s algorithm as suspicious. To avoid this, it’s best to aim for a steady stream of reviews rather than a sudden influx.
To avoid triggering any red flags with Google’s algorithm, it’s best to gradually collect reviews from your congregation rather than sending a mass email all at once. A good goal is to aim for around 5 reviews per week. You can start by sending an email request to a small group of people, such as 20 individuals, and then assess the response after a week. If you receive a high number of reviews, such as 10, you can scale down the number of people you email the following week. On the other hand, if you only receive a few reviews, you can try increasing the number of people you email to see if that leads to more reviews. This approach allows you to adjust your strategy based on the response rate and ensure that you are collecting reviews at a natural and sustainable pace. Natural and organic is key here.
In today’s digital world, Google reviews are more critical than ever for local communities, businesses and churches. Not only do they help to improve the visibility of your church in search results, but they also serve as a trusted source of information for potential visitors and guests. By encouraging your people to leave reviews and actively managing your online reputation, you can build trust and credibility with potential guests and drive traffic to your community. So don’t underestimate the power of Google reviews – they are an essential part of any successful digital marketing strategy.
Let’s stay in touch
Grace and Peace
Dean
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