Dean Cothill

Tag: how to setup google business for my local business

  • There are five steps to you can take to start improving your Church’s website’s SEO

    There are five steps to you can take to start improving your Church’s website’s SEO

    Are you struggling to get your Churches website noticed online? If so, you’re not alone. With so much content available on the web, not just church content or church SEO, it can be challenging to stand out from the crowd. However, the good news is that there are steps you can take to start improving your website’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization). By making some simple changes to your website, you can improve your search engine ranking, drive more traffic to your site, and increase your online visibility. Here are five essential steps to get started:

    Get an SEO baseline so you can compare it to future results.

    Like any adventure or mission, you have to know where you are to know where you are going, and to know if you are making progress. Before you can start improving your website’s SEO, you need to know where you stand currently. It’s essential to get an SEO baseline so that you can compare it to future results. This will help you to see how your efforts are paying off and make adjustments as necessary.

    To get an SEO baseline, you can use tools like Google Analytics, which will show you your website’s traffic data and other metrics. You can also use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs, which will give you an overview of your website’s current SEO performance, including your keyword rankings, backlinks, and more.

    Create a plan to publish original content.

    Creating original and high-quality content is crucial to improving your website’s SEO. By regularly publishing informative, engaging, and valuable content on your site, you can attract more traffic and keep visitors coming back. Start by telling the unique stories that are found in your community.

    To create a content plan, start by identifying your target audience and the types of content that will resonate with them. Consider the topics that your audience is interested in and the keywords they’re searching for. Then, create a content calendar and plan out your content in advance. This will help you stay organized and consistent with your content publishing.

    Don’t forget the most basic SEO strategies.

    While creating high-quality content is important, it’s also essential not to overlook the most basic SEO strategies. These include optimizing your website’s titles and descriptions, using keyword-rich URLs, and using header tags (H1, H2, H3) in your content.

    Optimizing your titles and descriptions is important because they’re the first things that people see when they search for your website. Your title should be brief, descriptive, and contain your main keyword. Your description should also be informative, engaging, and include your main keyword.

    Using keyword-rich URLs can also help improve your website’s SEO. Make sure your URLs contain your main keyword and are easy to read and understand. Finally, using header tags in your content can help search engines understand the structure of your content, making it easier for them to index and rank it.

    Introduce your site to the search engines.

    Another crucial step in improving your website’s SEO is to introduce your site to the search engines. You can do this by submitting your sitemap to search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. This will help them crawl your website and index your pages more effectively.

    You can also create a Google My Business page, which will help you appear in local search results. This is especially important if you have a local business or provide services in a specific geographic area.

    Google Business

    Make sure you have the right SEO tools.

    Finally, it’s important to have the right SEO tools to help you track and monitor your website’s performance. Tools like Google Search Console, SEMrush, and Ahrefs can help you track your keyword rankings, monitor your backlinks, and identify any technical SEO issues that might be holding your website back.

    You can also use tools like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack, which will help you optimize your website’s content for search engines. These plugins will analyze your content and suggest improvements, such as using more keywords, optimizing your title and description, and more.

    In all honesty, improving your website’s SEO can seem like a daunting task, but by following these five essential steps, you can start to see results. Remember to establish an SEO baseline, create a plan to publish original content, optimize your website’s titles and descriptions, introduce your site to search engines, and use the right SEO tools to help you track and monitor your performance. By making these small but significant changes, you can improve your search engine ranking, drive more traffic to your site, and ultimately increase your online visibility.

  • The basics of digital marketing and how it can work for your church

    The basics of digital marketing and how it can work for your church

    Churches need to be online, but often don’t know where to start. This article will help you understand the basics of digital marketing and how it can work for your church.

    Digital marketing is a great way to reach local church members and attract new ones. There are several things you can do to get started, such as local church SEO, setting up a Google Business for local churches, and exploring other forms of digital advertising.

    Local Church SEO

    Local Church SEO is a process of optimizing your website’s content so it appears higher in search engine results when people search for local churches. To make sure your local church shows up in local searches, create an optimized profile on popular directories like Yelp and Yellow Pages. Additionally, make sure the name, address and phone number (NAP) for your local church appears prominently on all webpages — this will help ensure that search engines know what information to include in their results.

    Google Business

    Google business for local church

    Google Business is a great way for local churches to build an online presence and make it easier for local people to find your church. With Google Business, local churches can create listings that show up in local search results. You can also provide crucial information like contact details, opening hours and more so that potential visitors can easily get the information they need.

    Digital advertising or paid campaigns are another powerful way to reach local churchgoers. Digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok etc enable local churches to target specific demographics or interests with highly targeted ads. Ads on these platforms are often cheaper than traditional forms of advertising, making them ideal for local churches looking to maximize their budget while still reaching a large audience.

    By understanding the basics of local Church SEO, digital marketing and local church advertising, local churches can make their presence known in their local community. With a well-crafted strategy, local churches can reach out to local churchgoers in an effective and cost-efficient way.

    Find your UNIQUE-ness

    It’s important to note that every local church is different. What works for one may not work for another. It’s important to tailor your digital strategy so it reflects the needs of your local community and its visitors. Digital marketing doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming; with the right tools and knowledge, local churches can create effective campaigns without breaking the bank.

    Take some time to review your options, identify what works best for you, and start reaching out to local churchgoers. One of the simplest ways to get started is with local SEO (search engine optimization). By optimizing your local church, you can ensure that local visitors are able to find you and learn more about your services. You can also use Google Business for local churches to list your location and contact information so local people can easily find it online.

    Social media marketing

    Another great way to reach out locally is through social media marketing. This will allow you to share updates about your church activities and connect with local churchgoers who are already interested in the same topics as you. Make sure to post regularly and engage with those who comment or ask questions – this will help build relationships within your local community.

    Finally, don’t forget local SEO. You can increase your local visibility by creating local keywords specific to your church and using them in content you post online, such as blog posts and social media updates. This will help local search engine results prioritize your church when someone searches for local churches. Same goes for using various HASHTAGS on posts across all social media platforms. Create a unique HASHTAG that identifies who you are online.

    Closing thoughts

    By utilizing these tips for local church digital marketing, you can start building relationships with local members of the community and help more people find out about the services your church provides. With a little bit of effort, you’ll soon see a great return on investment from all your hard work!

    Grace and Peace

    D

  • How can our church get more local reviews on Google Business?

    How can our church get more local reviews on Google Business?

    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

  • My local church and Google “Business”

    My local church and Google “Business”

    “Google SEO” and Google Business isn’t something that should scare us off the bat, I’m going to try and simplify as much of it as possible as we go here.

    “Google SEO” is important for a local community church in South Africa (or really any organization) because it helps to increase the visibility of their website in search engine results. This can be especially important for a small, local church because it can help more people in the community discover their church and learn about the services and events they offer. Additionally, having a strong online presence can help to establish credibility and make it easier for people to get in touch with the church or learn more about it. Overall, Google SEO can be a useful tool for helping a local community church in South Africa reach a wider audience and connect with more people in their community.

    Why is “Google Business” important for my local church?

    Having a Google My Business listing can be beneficial for your local church in several ways:

    1. Increased visibility: Having a listing on Google My Business can help your church’s website show up higher in search results when people search for churches in your area.
    2. Connect with your community: Google My Business allows you to share information about your church, such as your service times, location, and contact information, making it easier for people in your community to find and connect with you.
    3. Online presence: Having a listing on Google My Business can help to establish your church’s online presence and make it easier for people to learn about your church and the services you offer.
    4. Customer reviews: Google My Business allows customers to leave reviews of your church, which can help to build credibility and establish your church as a trusted place of worship in your community.
    5. Insights: The Google My Business dashboard provides insights about how people are interacting with your listing, such as how many people have viewed your listing and how they found it. This can help you understand the effectiveness of your online presence and make any necessary adjustments.

    How to setup Google Business for my local church

    To set up your church’s Google My Business listing, follow these steps:

    1. Go to the Google My Business website (https://www.google.com/business/) and click “Start now” to begin the process of creating a listing.
    2. Enter your church’s name and address. If your church has a physical location that is open to the public, you can also add your phone number and website.
    3. Choose the category that best describes your church (e.g., “church,” “place of worship,” etc.) and add any additional information about your church that you would like to include (e.g., services offered, mission statement, etc.).
    4. Verify your listing by choosing the option that is most convenient for you. This may involve receiving a postcard in the mail with a verification code, or verifying by phone or email.
    5. Once your listing has been verified, you can begin to manage it by logging in to the Google My Business dashboard. From here, you can add photos, update your hours of operation, and respond to customer reviews.

    I hope this help answer some of your questions around some “Google SEO” and how it links up with setting up your “Google Business”. Here is another article related to why SEO is so key in more depth.

    Look forward to hearing from you.

    Grace and peace

    Dean