Creativity, for me, simply, is making something out of nothing. Once there was just nothing, then a thought came along, then a melody came, then words on a paper, then sentences. I believe that we have been created to create, made in the image of our creator, we are creators.
When it comes to creativity and imagination, worldbuilding is all about tapping into the endless possibilities of your own mind. You see, when you have a desire or dream, you’re presented with a choice. You can either choose to take the creative route and work on expanding your imagination, or you can take the default reality route and just stuff that dream back down inside of you. The first option is exciting because it allows you to bring your dream to life, but the second option can lead to internal chaos and a lack of congruence between your inner and outer worlds. It’s important to remember that our imagination is a powerful tool that we can use to create the life we want, but it takes work and commitment to develop it.
What does it mean to take the road less traveled
The first option I mentioned is taking the “creative route” or “the road less travelled” and working on expanding your imagination. This means actively using your imagination to bring your dream or desire to life. It could involve brainstorming different ideas, visualizing different scenarios, or even experimenting with different ways to achieve your goal.
Road less travelled
The phrase “the road less traveled” is often used to describe a path or choice that is not commonly chosen by others, and this is where it gets tricky, there is often a reason this road is less travelled, there a fewer travellers on this road and fewer people have made maps of this road. I think the analogies here are endless. In the context of the creative process of an artist, it can refer to taking a unique or unconventional approach to their work. It means to break free from the common or typical ways of creating and to explore new and uncharted territories.
An artist who takes the road less traveled may choose to work with unusual materials, explore new styles or techniques, or create work that challenges the status quo. It could also mean to not following the trends or being influenced by what is currently popular, instead choosing to create work that is true to their own vision and style.
Choosing the road less traveled can be a risky and challenging path, but it can also lead to more rewarding and meaningful work. It allows an artist to stand out from the crowd and to create something that is truly original and authentic.
It’s important to note that “the road less travelled” is not always about being completely different but rather about having a unique perspective, and taking a different approach, which may be a combination of different elements. It’s about not being afraid to experiment and to push the boundaries of what is considered “normal” or “acceptable” in the art world.
One way to expand your imagination is by exposing yourself to new experiences, art, and cultures. This can help you think outside of your usual ways of thinking and come up with new and creative ideas.
Another way is to practice brainstorming and mind-mapping techniques, which can help you generate a wide range of ideas and possibilities. These techniques are designed to help you think more freely and come up with new and unique solutions to problems.
You can also engage in activities that require imagination like writing, drawing, painting, sculpting, and building models. These activities can help you develop your creative skills and give you a greater sense of control over your imagination.
Ultimately, taking the creative route requires dedication and willingness to take risks. It’s about being open to new possibilities and not being afraid to think outside of the box. But remember, it’s not just about having a good idea, it’s about taking the idea and turning it into something real.
What’s the other option?
The second option I mentioned is taking the “default reality route” and just stuffing your dream or desire back down inside of you. This means not actively working on bringing your dream to life, and instead settling for the status quo.
When you take the default reality route, you may find yourself feeling unfulfilled and uninspired. Your dream or desire may continue to linger in the back of your mind, causing internal chaos and a lack of congruence between your inner and outer worlds.
You may feel like you’re stuck in a rut, and that you don’t have the time, resources, or ability to make your dream a reality. You may also feel like you’re not good enough, or that your dream is too unrealistic. So, you may choose to push your dream or desire to the back of your mind and just focus on the daily tasks and responsibilities.
Additionally, taking the default reality route may also mean that you’re not taking any steps to improve your current situation, you’re just accepting things as they are. This can lead to a lack of motivation and a sense of stagnation in your life.
It’s important to remember that when we settle for the default reality, we are missing the opportunity to create something new and unique, and to bring our desires and dreams to life. It’s important to be mindful of our thoughts and feelings, and to make a conscious effort to work on our dreams and desires, even if it means going against the norm and taking risks.
Where to from here…
In conclusion, creativity and imagination are powerful tools that we can use to create the life we want. By using our imagination and taking the creative route, we can bring our desires and dreams to life and live a more fulfilling and authentic life. We are created to create, and when we tap into our imagination, we can create things that are truly original and authentic. However, it’s important to remember that taking the creative route requires dedication, willingness to take risks and to develop our imagination. We must be open to new possibilities and not be afraid to think outside of the box. Embracing our creativity and imagination is not just about having good ideas, it’s about taking the ideas and turning them into reality. It’s about following the road less traveled and creating something unique and meaningful. Let’s not be afraid to use our imagination, and to create as we have been created to create.
How can you, as the pastor of the church, ensure that people easily locate your church online? The good news is that by following a few simple local SEO guidelines for churches, you can increase your online visibility.
When looking for a new church, the majority of individuals start by pulling out their phone and searching Google for nearby churches. If your church website has good local SEO, it will show up at the top of the search results page for churches in the area (search engine optimization).
With the help of these ten local SEO tips for churches, you can significantly raise your Google position and make it easier for people to find you online.
What Does Local SEO Mean for Churches?
When someone searches for “encouraging online sermon” or “Bible study ideas” online, they receive millions, literally millions, of results. When they are looking for a nearby church to attend, location is crucial. Local SEO is helpful in this situation.
At least 33% of consumers look up neighboring businesses on a daily basis. Every day of the week, a lot more people utilize online search engines to find nearby products and services.
One or more key phrases, such as “near me,” “nearby,” or include a city or neighborhood name, let Google know that the searcher is seeking for a specific location. Location settings on our phones is something that we have all become very familiar with… When searching for that restaurant or using WhatsApp pin drops or sending a LIVE location to a family member…
For example, someone who has recently moved or looking for a new church might search for
churches near me
churches in [city name]
top churches in [city name]
nondenominational churches near me
churches with kids program in [city name]
SEO for local churches
Location-based queries like the ones in the aforementioned instances will display the Google map pack at the top of the search results page. This feature has probably already been seen by you. The map pack displays the locations of the top three search results on a Google map.
It’s crucial to get your church listed in Google Maps if you want it to appear in local searches. Google claims that the order of local search results is dependent on
Relevance\Distance\Prominence
Local SEO strategies for churches can increase your relevance and prominence in search algorithms even when you have no control over how far a church seeker is from your location. Here are some recommendations to get you going.
1. Set Up a Solid Google Business Profile
A free web tool called a Google Business Profile connects to Google search and maps. Even while some businesses and churches may already be listed on Google Maps, it’s still vital to claim and validate your profile. In addition to verified listings appearing more frequently, you will also be able to amend your information.
In order to claim your listing, you typically need to mail a verification code on a postcard to an actual address. Once you’re live, spend some time carefully filling out your profile.
Add photographs and videos highlighting your culture, community, and church experience. * Include your physical address, business hours, website, phone number, and other pertinent information. Connect your social media accounts Respond to reviews and the feature that asks questions. And get those reviews rolling in…
2. Claim Your Listing in Online Directories
You might not be aware of how many websites your church is listed on. If you’re keeping track, there are at least 77. Have you verified the accuracy of your information and claimed your company citation across all of these platforms?
Sources like Yelp, Bing, Apple Maps, Yahoo!, Waze, YP (previously known as Yellow Pages), and others list local business citations.
Websites, social media, apps, and local directories are some examples of the different types of online local citations for churches.
Local directories, which are those that are exclusive to your area, may include local newspapers, blogs, and chambers of commerce that list the churches there.
If the idea of updating 77+ directory listings overwhelms you, you might want to think about employing a directory management service.
3. Ensure All Your Information is Accurate and Consistent
Make sure all of your information is current once you’ve set up your Google My Business account and claimed your online directory listings.
Your NAP, or name, address, and phone number, is the most important information. Maintaining accuracy across all platforms has a big impact on Google rankings.
Try to maintain a consistent format for the data. Instead of abbreviating “Avenue,” spell it out in full everywhere.
Additionally, keep in mind that you’ll need to go in and update all your listings if any important information about your church changes.
What more elements might persuade Google to list your church among its top results? Reviews and ratings are unquestionably important.
Genuine reviews are a reliable indicator to Google that your page merits a recommendation. You should increase your reviews on Yelp, Facebook, and any other sites where people may rate you in addition to Google.
You could be reluctant to bring this up due to the painful worry: What if we get terrible reviews?
It’s certain that you’ll receive reviews that are fewer than five stars at some point.
But keep in mind that a few unfavorable remarks won’t harm your rankings or deter visitors. On the contrary, by highlighting your distinctive qualities, they can end up benefiting you in the long run. Not everyone will find a church to their liking.
You can’t just wait around and hope that people would publish reviews on their own initiative. If such request makes you uneasy, think about the following strategies.
Ask people to share their testimony online. It’s not just a plug for your church; it’s the story of what Jesus did for them at or through your church.
Remind people of the purpose and mission of reviews: it allows more people to find your church online. This is digital evangelism!
Ask for reviews in your email newsletter or on your website with a direct link. Take out the extra steps and make it easy for people.
Finally, remember to reply to reviews that individuals leave. You can congratulate and support them. Leave a brief reply if the comment is unfavorable and take any further discussion offline. Avoid engaging in online arguments, stoking the flames, or starting new discussions.
5. Optimize Your Website for Mobile
One of Google’s key ranking variables influencing where you appear on the search results page is your site speed (how quickly your website loads). Additionally, since the majority of people search on mobile devices, you must optimize your website for them.
In 2021, mobile devices accounted for more than 56% of all web traffic worldwide. Start with a free church website review if you’re unsure about the technical aspects of website optimization and optimizing site load time.
6. Do Keyword Research
Don’t be intimidated by the phrase “keyword research”; it doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated.
By conducting keyword research, you may find out what terms and phrases individuals are searching for. What inquiries do they make?
With this knowledge in hand, you can create online content to enhance local SEO.
You can get started with brainstorming and creating target keyword lists with the use of free keyword research tools. A couple to check out are: * Wordstream * Neil Patel’s Ubersuggest * Google’s Keyword Planner (part of Google Ads) No cost keyword tool.
To get started on your keyword research, check out our post on free SEO tools for churches. When you’ve compiled a list of pertinent terms, INCLUDE THEM EVERYWHERE!!
7. Include Local SEO Keywords in Your Headings, Images, and Descriptions
Using local keywords in your titles, headings, and picture names will help your local SEO because Google searches every word and piece of information on your website. Here are a few illustrations of landing pages for Easter services.
* The names of your pages and blog entries are contained in title tags. Use “Church Easter Services in Fairview, Montana” in place of “Church Easter Services.”
* Your website’s URL is its address. Use mychurch.com/easter-services-fairview-montana in place of mychurch.com/easter-services. In the file name and alt-text of your images, include regional SEO keywords. You may name the file “Easter service in Fairview” rather than “church service” when naming an image.
Use these guidelines for creating headlines for your website, webpage content, meta descriptions, and Google or social media adverts.
Don’t make things too complicated. Make sure your titles and descriptions are clear, logical, and concise because a pleasant user experience and easy readability come first.
8. Update Seasonal Church and Event Content
What is happening in your neighborhood? Include content on your website and blog that highlights the local events your church attends, from holidays to community festivals.
Events’ booths, neighborhood outreach programs, and partnerships could all be listed. Other instances include: * Christmas or Easter services * Trunk or Treat or Fall Festival * Easter Egg Hunts or Spring Festivals * Summer Camps * Back to school activities for families * Men’s Breakfast, Women’s Retreat, etc.
Adding your church’s website to local event sites or directories also generates backlinks, a crucial element of search engine optimization.
9. Use Local Lingo to Improve Local Search Results
Do your city or neighborhood have a moniker? Are there any well-known local proverbs in your area? Sometimes, only locals are familiar with the insider terminology and will search using it.
Local slang might aid searches in pinpointing regions and target populations if you have different campuses. Whether your church is located in a major suburb, downtown, or on a university campus, describe it in a distinctive manner that speaks to your neighborhood.
10. Think Like Someone Searching For a Church
The most crucial local SEO tip for churches is to create material with the perspective of someone who is looking for a church. Yes, we’ve already touched on this idea, but adopting this attitude is essential to applying all of the other local SEO best practices.
Your church’s website cannot be created from that viewpoint; it is more than just an online bulletin or information board that pushes internal updates. What questions are being posed from an outsider’s perspective?
People who… * recently moved to the region * stopped attending church and want to reengage * are looking for a different church * have never attended to church before may be among the several groups you’re attempting to target.
Your keyword research should have given you a list of things to include on your web pages. But if you “keyword stuff,” Google will penalize you (overusing keywords in an attempt to rank higher). Instead, they aim to find information that is actually pertinent to searches and valuable to users.
It’s true what they say about how you say things being more important than what you say. Therefore, be sure that your article contributes relevant information and is interesting to read.
Common Questions People Ask When Looking for a Church
Create a website with a simple navigation system and user-friendly page layouts to help website visitors get the content they’re looking for. These are some queries potential visitors to your church might have.
Does the church offer biblical instruction?
Where can I access an archived sermon?
Exist any youth/programs? children’s
What is the philosophy of leadership?
What are their names?
What is the structure of the church’s leadership or governance?
What community services does this church provide?
What opportunities are there for growth and discipleship?
In conclusion, providing comprehensive and consistent information about your church online can help you rank higher in Google and make it simple for people to locate you at the top of the search results page. Your rating is influenced by your church’s website, other internet directories, and reviews.
In today’s world, instantaneous responses are expected. Your preferred search engine will provide pages and pages of results for any query you can think of, but the majority of users won’t scroll past page one.
It’s not difficult to enhance local SEO for your church. If you work on each of these local SEO tips individually, your church’s internet presence will improve.
So, my name is Dean Cothil, and I’ve created something called the Sunday Social University specifically for the South African context. In South Africa, many churches are looking for ways to improve their social impact and use technology to reach more people and spread God’s word. Social media isn’t going anywhere and if anything, is becoming more and more part of all of our daily lives. My 3 year old is fluent on an iPad and my 6 year old needs no assistance getting around YouTube and finding GOAT free kicks. BUT with the high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment in our country, churches are looking for ways to make a real difference in their communities. Digital and social networks can play an awesome part in this.
I have got 13 years of ministry experience spanning 8 years in the Methodist Church (5 years at Northfield Methodist Church in Benoni and 3 years here at Lorraine Methodist church in PE) and 5 years in a non-denominational church also here in PE. Even in the start, I played in worship teams and assisted as much as I could by offering music lessons and offering starting little music schools if you will, as so many Methodist and local small churches needed bands for their worship services. I think I still have a ew guitar or piano 101 booklets lying around.
So I began by offering talks and workshops to churches on how they can use music more effectively and as time went on I began to see social media trends and instagram trends and began to talk more about how churches could use technology to connect with their congregations and reach out to people in need. I provided insights on how they can use social media, mobile apps, and other digital tools (local SEO for local churches, Google business and analytics etc) to spread their message and connect with the wider community. I also shared strategies on how they can use their resources to make a real impact on issues like poverty, education, and healthcare.
As time went on, I realized that there was a need for an enrollment platform that has videos and educational tools to share all of this knowledge in a more comprehensive way. So, we created one! The churches can purchase a subscription to the NEW platform with new content always being added. This way they can have access to the tools and strategies they need to make a real difference in their communities. I still offer my in-person service, but it’s more expensive and considered premium now. It’s two sides to the same coin.
I transitioned into an enrollment platform that has videos and educational tools that share all of the knowledge I’ve gained through my talks and workshops. This platform is specifically tailored for the South African context and provides churches with a wide range of resources to help them improve their social and social media impact.
The platform includes instructional videos, case studies, and best practices for using technology to connect with congregations and reach out to people in need. It also includes guides on how to use social media, mobile apps, and other digital tools to spread their message and connect with the wider community. The platform is designed to be easily accessible and user-friendly, so churches of all sizes and technical abilities can benefit from it.
The churches can purchase a subscription to the platform, which gives them access to new content that is added on a regular basis. The subscription also gives them access to a community of like-minded churches and organizations who share their goals and can provide support and ideas.
This platform is a great solution for South African churches that are looking to improve their social impact but may not have the resources or expertise to do it on their own. It provides them with the tools they need to make a real difference in their communities and spread God’s word in a more effective way.
My goal is to eventually have a whole online university that works actively in this niche, focusing on keeping the Church up to date with tech and the modern landscape and navigate through it with a faith-based focus in the South African context.
The online university will provide a more comprehensive and structured approach to learning about how technology can be used to improve the social impact of churches. It will offer courses, programs and certifications that will cover various topics such as digital marketing, data analytics, community engagement, and leadership development, all with a faith-based perspective.
The university will have a diverse range of instructors, including experts in technology, communication, and social impact, as well as theologians and religious leaders who can provide a faith-based perspective on how to use technology to make a difference.
The online university will provide a flexible and accessible way for South African churches and individuals to acquire new skills and knowledge, and will also have an active community of learners and practitioners who can share their experiences and provide support. Each course and each module has community based discussion and learning experiences as if we are all in the same classroom, which we are.
This online university will be a valuable resource for South African churches and religious organizations that want to stay up-to-date with the latest technology and best practices for making a positive impact in their communities. It will provide them with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to navigate the modern landscape and spread God’s word in a more effective way.
