Dean Cothill

Tag: SEO for dummies

  • 109 FREE copy and paste social media posts

    109 FREE copy and paste social media posts

    We all know the feeling, a new week, a new agenda, and we all know you can only say SUNDAY FUNDAY so many times before there is just no more fun left. How about 101 free social media copy and paste ideas to help spice up for social media content?

    Social media for churches

    Text Posts with Inspiration

    Use these posts to promote the gospel and enliven the social timelines of your followers. And lets start with one that we have all come to know and love.

    • God does not call the equipped, he equips the called. You are called by God.

    Now immediately I know what you’re thinking. When it comes to social media and the story that we are telling on our channels, this is where it can get really cliche and cheesy. So there is definitely more than one way of saying this. Here’s 10 more ways of saying the same thing…

    1. Just because others may have a certain perception of you, doesn’t mean that’s who you truly are. Remember, it’s what God says that matters.
    2. Don’t let anyone else define who you are – only God knows the real you. And don’t let your past hold you back from opportunities.
    3. Don’t let anyone else’s words or actions define you. You are who God says you are and that is all that matters. And don’t let your history stop you from pursuing what you want.
    4. People may try to label you, but you are not defined by them. Only God truly knows who you are. And remember, your past experiences have prepared you for the present.
    5. Don’t let other people’s opinions of you become your reality. You are who God says you are, and that is all that matters. And your past does not determine your future.
    6. Others may try to put you in a box, but don’t let them limit you. Remember, you are who God says you are. And your history has made you ready for what’s to come.
    7. Don’t let others define you. You are who God says you are and that is all that matters. And your past experiences have prepared you for the present.
    8. Just because someone else says who you are, doesn’t mean it’s true. You are who God says you are, and that’s all that matters. And don’t let your past hold you back from applying.
    9. Don’t let anyone else tell you who you are. You are who God says you are, and that is all that matters. And don’t let your past experiences hold you back from applying.
    10. Others may have an idea of who you are, but you are not defined by their perception. You are who God says you are, and that is all that matters. And don’t let your past experiences hold you back from applying.

    So you see, part of this list is actually more about inspiring you to get writing and rewriting various “cliches” that are often found in church circles and rewriting them for our channels. (more on this later, let’s carry on with that list)

    • You’ll come to see that Christ is all you need when Christ is all you have.
      Don’t go backward. Look ahead. The very best is still to come. Everything we require will be provided by our dependable God.
    • On the mountaintops we may enjoy God, but in the lowlands we discover Him.
    • Jesus is the one from whom we can learn to love all people. He led the way for us. When you are reliant on God, you are never stronger.
    • Everything we require will be provided by our dependable God.
    • On the mountaintops, we may enjoy God, but it is in the lowlands that we discover Him.
    • Jesus is the one from whom we can learn to love all people. He led the way for us.
    • When you are reliant on God, you are never stronger.
    • Remember: worrying is ineffective. rather, turn to God.
    • Keep on worshiping, praising, and praying no matter what.
    • You can overcome any circumstance by relying on Jesus.
    • Where there is no way, God can make a way. Give Him anything you are dealing with.
    • God will bless the rest if you give Him your best.
    • Happy always. Continually pray. Give thanks in every situation.
    • At first, every miracle looks improbable. Believe for the best!
    • Consider difficult situations through the lens of faith. Have faith in a better day ahead.
    • Do not contrast your Chapter 1 with another person’s Chapter 20.
    • Don’t let your issues control you. Follow the promises of God.
    • God is able to change any circumstance. Continue to pray. Keep your faith. Keep your faith.
    • Stop. Breathe in deeply. God will make a solution.
    • You have come too far under God’s guidance to quit up now. Carry on.
    • Have you worried about it and prayed about it equally? God is willing to hear.
    • Both the major and minor matters can be trusted to God. All are important to him.
    • When everyone assumes a tale is finished, Jesus intervenes and transforms everything.
    • An extended week? Hold on to hope! Every step of the road, God is there with you.
    • Encourage others! Kind words are free and can mean the world to others.
    • There is still hope for your life as long as you can still breathe.
    • Nothing is so damaged that God cannot create something from it.
    • Keep in mind that whatever issue you are dealing with, God has a greater plan for you.
    • In every circumstance, let your hope in Jesus serve as your anchor.
    • You can have faith in God’s purpose without having to comprehend it.
    • The difference between what we can accomplish and what God can accomplish is prayer.
    • Share Jesus with others! Discuss Him and the impact He has had on your life.

    Interactive Text Posts

    Try these posts to spark engagement and friendly conversation on your church’s social pages.

    • Tell us your testimony in one sentence.
    • Share a praise report in the comments!
    • Fill in the blank: Dear Jesus, _
    • Tell us about a time that God showed up in your life in a big way.
    • Describe our church in one word!
    • Tell us a Bible story using only emojis.
    • What is your favorite worship song right now?
    • What’s your favorite Bible verse right now?
    • What was your favorite part of this week’s message?
    • How can we pray for you today?
    • How old were you when you found Jesus?
    • What is your favorite way to serve at church?
    • What is your favorite book of the Bible?
    • Name an old worship song that you still love.
    • What’s your favorite place to get lunch after church on Sundays?
    • Who has been a hero in your life?
    • What’s the best donut shop in town?
    • List 3 things that you’re thankful for today in the comments.
    • Let’s play a game. Quote a lyric in the comments and let others guess the song.
    • Drop a photo in the comments that you’ve taken at our church.
    • Emoji responses only: How’s your week going?
    • Which person in the Bible do you relate to most?
    • What’s your favorite video game of all time?
    • What was your favorite subject in school?
    • Tell us all of your favorite sports teams in the comments.
    • What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
    • Which emojis do you use most?
    • What’s your go-to flavor of ice cream?
    • Tag the best cook that you know.
    • What’s your go-to morning drink?
    • What is one food that you could eat forever?
    • Who is the best superhero?
    • Tag a friend who can always cheer you up!

    Invitation Text Posts

    Social media hacks for church

    Try these posts to remind people of your upcoming services and encourage them to bring a friend.

    • Today is a wonderful day to celebrate Jesus! I’ll see you in church!
    • To express your excitement for church this Sunday, use a GIF.
    • Ever wanted a reset button for life? Attending church could give you the fresh start you need.
    • Every Saturday is essentially “Sunday Eve” when you attend a church that you love.
    • Someone’s life could change with only one invitation to church. Who are you bringing?
    • How did you learn about our church at first?
    • I’ll see you on Sunday at church.
    • Just for you, we have a spot reserved. I’ll see you on Sunday at church.
    • Nearly time for church! Hope to see you there.
    • Trying to find a church? This Sunday, we’d love to see you.
    • Sunday will soon be here! We are eager to meet you.
    • Every Sunday, we offer engaging Bible activities for children. Your children will adore it.
    • This week, don’t forget to invite a friend!
    • Today is the big day! Until then, bye.
    • You’re looking for a new beginning for your family. Come to worship with us on Sunday.
    • Wednesday is our day for church. See you tomorrow!
    • Do you know someone who is struggling? Invite them to join you at church.
    • Feel as though your life is lacking something? Sunday, try attending church.
    • Join us in worship this weekend!
    • To attend church, you don’t have to have everything worked out.
    • If you’re prepared for church, raise your hand!
    • This is your invitation to church if you are reading this.
    • Hot coffee is served. The band is practicing. We are ready to meet you!
    • Church is the perfect place for imperfect people.
    • Without you, Sunday won’t be the same.
    • Here, a Sunday is never simply another Sunday. Avoid skipping a service!
    • A successful Sunday sets the tone for a fantastic week. We’ll talk soon.
    • Church is not just a building. a family unit!
    • Invite a pal. Or two. Or ten!
    • Looking for a church that you can call your own? We can assist.
    • Create a new routine. Come to worship with us on Sunday.

    Again, if all of the content on your church’s social media pages is text posts, it will quickly become monotonous. Combining these text posts with other postings that include graphics and text from free APPS like Studio (Previously knows as OVER), photographs from Sunday’s or even free images from sites like UNSPLASH, and videos makes everything much more effective.

    I hope this helps and I hope that we can stay in touch

    Chat soon

    D

  • 10 things you have to know about SEO and the Local Church

    10 things you have to know about SEO and the Local Church

    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. 

    Update Local Church Information: 

    * Taglines/Mission statements 

    * Name, address, and phone number 

    * Business description 

    * Website 

    * Email 

    4. Ask for Reviews to Improve Google Ranking

    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.

  • How to market your local churches Sunday gatherings and other events.

    How to market your local churches Sunday gatherings and other events.

    Are you looking for ways to effectively promote your church’s events and increase attendance? Look no further! In this blog post, we will be sharing 7 key ideas for marketing your church’s events and reaching a wider audience. From utilizing social media platforms to leveraging the power of SEO, these ideas will help you effectively promote your church’s events and build a sense of community among your congregation. Whether you’re planning a special service, a fundraising event, or a community outreach program, these ideas will help you get the word out and attract more attendees. So, let’s dive in and explore how you can effectively market your church’s events and make a meaningful impact on your community.

    Church Service

    1. Utilize social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote upcoming church events by creating engaging and visually appealing posts, including details about the event, location, and time.

    I would say that utilizing social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter is an essential aspect of promoting upcoming church events. By creating engaging and visually appealing posts, including details about the event, location, and time, we can effectively reach out to our congregation as well as the wider community. Social media allows us to connect with people on a personal level and build a sense of community, which is crucial in getting people excited about attending our events.

    You should also make sure to include a call to action in our posts, such as “RSVP now” or “register today” to make it easy for people to take action and attend the event. Additionally, we should consider using paid social media advertising to reach a wider audience, particularly targeting those who live in the local area. See more here on “targeting specific audiences”.

    In short, social media is a powerful tool for promoting church events and building a sense of community among our congregation. By utilizing it effectively, we can increase attendance and make a meaningful impact on our community.

    2. Leverage the power of Instagram and Facebook stories to share behind-the-scenes content, testimonials from attendees, and live updates from the event.

    I would emphasize that leveraging the power of Instagram and Facebook stories is an excellent way to share behind-the-scenes content, testimonials from attendees, and live updates from the events we host at our church. These platforms allow us to create a sense of excitement and anticipation among our congregation, which in turn can help to increase attendance.

    For example, we can share photos and videos of the preparations for an event, such as setting up the stage or decorating the venue. This will give our congregation a sneak peek into what they can expect and get them excited about attending.

    Additionally, by sharing testimonials from attendees, we can showcase the impact our events have on the lives of our congregation, which can be a powerful motivator for others to attend. Live updates from the event can keep people engaged and connected, even if they are unable to attend.

    In summary, Instagram and Facebook stories are an effective way to create a sense of excitement and engagement around our church events and help to increase attendance. By sharing behind-the-scenes content, testimonials, and live updates, we can create a sense of community and connection among our congregation.

    3. Create a YouTube channel for your church and post videos of sermons, teachings, and events to reach a wider audience and improve your SEO.

    I would stress that creating a YouTube channel for our church and posting videos of sermons, teachings, and events is an excellent way to reach a wider audience and improve our SEO. By having a YouTube channel, we can share the message of our church and the teachings of our faith with a global audience, which can help to attract new members to our congregation.

    YouTube Logo

    Additionally, by optimizing our YouTube videos with relevant keywords and captions, we can improve our SEO and make it easier for people to find us online. This can be especially useful for attracting new members who are searching for a church in our local area.

    Moreover, by posting videos of our events, we can give those who were unable to attend a sense of what they missed and keep them engaged and connected to our community.

    In summary, creating a YouTube channel and posting videos of sermons, teachings, and events can help us reach a wider audience and improve our SEO, which can help to attract new members to our congregation. Additionally, by sharing videos of our events, we can keep our congregation engaged and connected, even if they are unable to attend in person.

    4. Optimize your church’s website for local SEO by including location-specific keywords, creating a Google My Business listing, and encouraging attendees to leave reviews on your listing.

    I would express the importance of optimizing our church’s website for local SEO. This includes including location-specific keywords, creating a Google My Business listing and encouraging attendees to leave reviews on our listing. By doing so, we can ensure that our website appears at the top of search results when people in our local area search for a church. This can be especially useful for attracting new members who are searching for a church in our area.

    Creating a Google My Business listing allows us to provide important information about our church such as our address, phone number, and hours of operation. Additionally, by encouraging our attendees to leave reviews on our listing, we can showcase the positive impact our church has on the lives of our congregation. This can be a powerful motivator for others to visit our church and join our community.

    In short, by optimizing our church’s website for local SEO, we can improve our visibility online and make it easier for people in our local area to find us. This can help to attract new members to our congregation and showcase the positive impact our church has on the community.

    5. Partner with local influencers, bloggers, or media outlets to help promote your church events and reach a “new” audience.

    As I even begin to think about this topic I begin to cringe a little bit and actually struggle to connect the dots between influencers and The Church. But even as I type this I think about the woman at the well, was she an influencer of sorts? So as “Dean Cothill” and that weird world of social media influencers and the likes, I would stress the importance of partnering with local influencers, bloggers, or media outlets to help promote our church events and reach a new audience. By doing so, we can tap into their existing networks and reach a wider audience than we could on our own.

    Social media influencers at an event

    For example, partnering with local influencers can help us reach a younger demographic and showcase the relevance of our church in today’s society. Working with bloggers or media outlets can provide us with valuable coverage and exposure for our events, which can help to attract new members to our congregation.

    Additionally, by partnering with these individuals and organizations, we can gain valuable insights into the needs and interests of our community and tailor our events and services to better meet their needs.

    So by partnering with local influencers, bloggers, or media outlets can be a powerful tool in promoting our church events and reaching a new audience. By tapping into their existing networks and gaining valuable insights, we can attract new members to our congregation and better serve the needs of our community.

    6. Use email marketing to keep your congregation informed about upcoming events and remind them of the details.

    Email marketing has almost slipped under the radar with the rise of social media and us just trying to keep our Facebook and socials up to date, but email is still so key to keep our congregation informed about upcoming events and remind them of the details. Email is a powerful tool for reaching our congregation directly, and we can use it to keep them informed about important dates, events and other church-related information.

    For example, we can send out email reminders about upcoming events, including details about the location, time, and what attendees can expect. This can help to increase attendance and ensure that everyone is informed about what’s happening at our church.

    Email marketing for churches

    Additionally, we can use email marketing to share updates on the progress of our events, such as fundraising efforts, and ask for support. We can also use it to share post-event reports and highlight the impact of the event on our community.

    7. Create a hashtag for your church events and encourage attendees to share photos and posts using it on social media.

    Lastly, hashtags are a powerful tool for creating a sense of community and engagement around our events. By using a specific hashtag, we can easily track and curate all of the social media posts related to our event in one place.

    For example, we can create a unique hashtag for each event and encourage attendees to use it when posting about the event on social media. This can help to create a sense of community and engagement among our congregation, and also allow us to easily track and curate all of the social media posts related to our event.

    Additionally, by encouraging attendees to share their photos and posts on social media, we can create a sense of excitement and anticipation for our events, which can help to increase attendance.

    In summary, creating a hashtag for our church events and encouraging attendees to share photos and posts using it on social media is a powerful tool for creating a sense of community and engagement around our events. It allows us to track and curate all of the social media posts related to our event and increase attendance.

    Having a specific hashtag for a brand or community is important for several reasons:

    1. Branding: Using a specific hashtag helps to establish and reinforce the brand’s identity. It makes it easy for people to recognize the brand and associate it with specific content.
    2. Community building: Hashtags allow people to easily find and join conversations about a brand or product. This can help to build a sense of community around the brand, which can lead to increased loyalty and advocacy.
    3. Content curation: Hashtags make it easy to curate and organize user-generated content. This can be used for marketing purposes, such as showcasing customer reviews, testimonials, and engagement.
    4. Analytics: By tracking the usage of a specific hashtag, brands can gather data on engagement, reach and the demographics of users who are engaging with the brand.
    5. Discoverability: Hashtags increase the discoverability of a brand or product on social media. Hashtags make it easy for people to find and join conversations about a brand or product, which can increase the brand’s visibility and reach.

    In summary, a specific hashtag is important for any brand as it helps in building recognition, community, curating content, tracking analytics and improving discoverability.

    Hashtag coffee cup for church.

    Last bonus tip, we all love coffee and have worked hard to offer great coffee to our volunteers and church guests. Put your next big event on your take away cups, can be as easy as using a stamp.

    In conclusion, effectively promoting your church’s events is crucial in building a sense of community and increasing attendance. By utilizing social media platforms, leveraging the power of SEO, and partnering with local influencers, you can effectively reach a wider audience and promote your church’s events. Additionally, by using email marketing, creating a mobile app, and encouraging the use of a specific hashtag, you can keep your congregation informed and engaged with your church’s events and activities.

    Implementing these 7 key ideas can help you to create a sense of excitement and anticipation for your church’s events, and increase attendance. Remember to stay consistent, always evaluate the results of your efforts and adapt accordingly. Don’t be afraid to try new strategies, and most importantly don’t be afraid to ask for help or feedback from members of your congregation. With the right approach and a little creativity, you can effectively market your church’s events and make a meaningful impact on your community.

  • How to Develop a Weekly Creative and Communications Rhythm in your teams

    How to Develop a Weekly Creative and Communications Rhythm in your teams

    Have you ever found yourself feeling overwhelmed with all the tasks and responsibilities you have on your plate? Or have you ever noticed that you tend to procrastinate on certain tasks and projects, leading to last minute rushes and less than optimal results? If so, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. But there is a solution that can help you save time, increase productivity, and build momentum for your organization: developing routines and habits. We all know how it goes, new ideas, new vision boards, new decor and stage elements and at a crazy pace.

    In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the benefits of establishing routines and habits, as well as providing tips on how to create and maintain them. By implementing these strategies, you’ll be able to streamline your daily tasks and make progress on your long-term goals with greater ease and efficiency. So if you’re ready to take control of your time and boost your productivity, keep reading!

    This is a no-brainer for some things.

    Think about the chaos that would ensue if every week, your church had to ask everyone if they could come to worship on Sunday and what time would work best for them. Based on the responses, the leaders would then decide on a time and let everyone know. Can you imagine the extra work that would involve? And the uncertainty of not knowing when you should show up would likely lead to inconsistent attendance. Instead, churches establish a routine of meeting at the same time(s) every week until further notice. This allows people to easily incorporate the weekly gathering into their schedules. So, by having a consistent routine, everyone benefits!

    This same principle can be applied to almost all church communications.

    Save time and energy by deciding on a weekly communication routine and sticking to it. This can include what goes on your website, what you post to social media, and what emails you send out. This way, you won’t have to make these decisions every week. Having a consistent routine will help you stay organized and keep your communication channels running smoothly. Make sure that you and your team are on the same page from the get-go.

    Not only will a weekly communication routine help you stay organized and keep your communication channels running smoothly, it can also improve your church’s search engine optimization (SEO). This means that your website will rank higher in search results, bringing more visitors to your site. This is because search engines love fresh content, and the more consistent you are in producing and sharing it, the more people will see and share it. So, by developing a routine for your communication efforts, you can benefit both your internal organization and your online presence.

    5 Things to Include in Your Weekly Creative Communications Rhythm

    Every church is different. The resources, staff, volunteers and types of communication that work best for each church will vary. But somehow we all keep get the same message of DO MORE DO MORE! Slow down, take a deep breath and set it all out before you. It would be impossible to create a weekly communications rhythm that would work for every church. Instead, I’m going to propose some options or ideas to consider and build on for yourself and or your team. None of this is fool proof, we can only plan so much and we can only be so proactive, but I hope this helps…

    1) The Message

    I recommend sharing audio, video, notes, resources, and action steps from your weekend message as soon as possible after the gathering. Ideally, this can be done on Sunday afternoon if you’re crazy enough, I remember editing photos and videos during the sermon to get stories and visuals out before the end of the service, I was crazy enough to try test myself to see if I can finish editing and then still get to the front of the stage to pray for people, but Monday morning works too.

    It’s best to create a separate post or article for each week’s message (instead of adding to an existing page). This way, you can easily share the post on your social channels and make it easier for people to find and access. By sharing this content, you’ll be able to engage with your community and provide valuable resources for them to continue learning and growing.

    2) Newsletter

    It’s important to keep your community informed about what’s happening at your church. We recommend sharing news and announcements on your website and via email. To make things easier, try doing this the day after you post your sermon to the website. That way, you can mention and link to the sermon materials in your newsletter. This will help your congregation stay in the loop and stay connected to the happenings of your church. By keeping everyone informed, you can foster a sense of community and keep your church running smoothly.

    3) Devotionals (and even groups materials)

    One way that churches can help their congregations stay focused on Jesus and the weekly theme is by writing and sharing daily devotions. Some churches do this for a short season, while others make it a regular part of their routine. You can also use devotional materials written by others. These devotionals can be shared on your website, via email, and on social media channels. This is a great way to keep your community engaged and connected, and to provide spiritual nourishment on a daily basis. Whether you write your own devotionals or use materials from others, we hope that these resources will help you grow in your faith and strengthen your connection with Jesus.

    The Bible App is an amazing tool that’ll assist you and your local church do this really well.

    4) Mid-week nugget

    If your church is not publishing daily devotions, another option would be to post something in the middle of the week to encourage, inspire or challenge your congregation. This could be:

    • A blog post by the pastors
    • A short, 1-2 minute audio or video clip from the weekend message
    • A testimonial from a member of the congregation
    • Pictures, video or story of the people of your congregation living out their faith, responses from the weekend, kids church appraisal etc.

    5) Weekend teaser

    Want to build excitement for your upcoming weekend service? A great way to do this is by posting a question related to the message on your social channels. Friday afternoon is a good time to do this, as it gives people time to think about their response and engage with the content. When crafting your question, try to make it something that is easy for people to respond to. If it’s too personal or too theological, you may not get much engagement. By asking a thought-provoking question, you can spark conversation and interest in your upcoming service.

    In conclusion, developing a weekly creative and communications rhythm can greatly benefit your church team. By establishing routines and habits, you can streamline your tasks and make progress on your long-term goals with greater ease and efficiency. Some strategies to consider include deciding on a weekly communication routine, sharing audio, video, notes, resources, and action steps from your weekend message, keeping your community informed about what’s happening at your church, writing and sharing daily devotions, and posting thought-provoking questions on social media. By implementing these strategies, you can foster a sense of community, stay organized and on track, and effectively communicate with your congregation. We hope that these tips will help you develop a weekly creative and communications rhythm that works for your church team.

  • 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

  • Let’s show some gratitude online…

    Let’s show some gratitude online…

    Less grumpy, more gratitude.

    Gratitude is a powerful emotion that has the ability to transform our lives and relationships for the better. It can help us to appreciate the people, experiences, and things that bring joy and meaning to our lives. In this blog post, we will explore the many benefits of cultivating gratitude, and provide tips for how to make it a daily practice. By learning to express gratitude regularly, we can improve our mental and physical well-being, strengthen our relationships, and lead more fulfilling lives.

    How to show gratitude online

    One way to show gratitude to people online is to simply say “thank you” when they do something that you appreciate. This can be as simple as thanking someone for answering a question or providing a helpful suggestion. It’s important to be sincere and specific when expressing gratitude, so be sure to mention what you are thanking the person for and why you appreciate it.

    Another way to show gratitude is to express your appreciation for someone’s character or actions. For example, you might say something like “I really appreciate your kindness and generosity” or “I’m so grateful for your support and encouragement.” By focusing on the person’s positive qualities, you can show that you value them as an individual and not just for what they have done for you.

    A third way to show gratitude is to offer a small gesture of appreciation, such as sending a virtual gift or sending a handwritten note. These gestures can be especially meaningful if you are unable to be physically present with the person.

    A fourth way to show gratitude is to simply be there for someone when they need it. Whether it’s offering a listening ear or providing practical assistance, being a supportive presence can mean a lot to someone who is going through a difficult time.

    A fifth way to show gratitude is to make an effort to stay in touch with people, even when you are busy or live far apart. A simple message or phone call can go a long way in letting someone know that you care about them and value their friendship.

    A sixth way to show gratitude is to celebrate the achievements and milestones of the people in your life. Whether it’s a big accomplishment or a small win, taking the time to acknowledge and celebrate someone’s success can mean a lot to them.

    Finally, a seventh way to show gratitude is to simply be grateful and express your appreciation for the people in your life on a regular basis. This can be as simple as telling someone “I’m so glad to have you in my life” or sending a message to let them know that you are thinking of them. By expressing your gratitude frequently and consistently, you can strengthen your relationships and build deeper connections with the people in your life.

    So let’s break it down…

    1. “Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate it.”
    2. “I can’t thank you enough for your advice and guidance.”
    3. “I’m grateful to you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.”
    4. “I appreciate your willingness to lend a helping hand.”
    5. “Thank you for being such a great support and encouragement.”
    6. “I’m grateful for your kind words and encouragement.”
    7. “Thank you for always being there for me and for your ongoing support.”

    There you go, copy and paste these into a few chats…

    Let’s have an attitude of gratitude, together, online.

    Grace and peace

    Dean

  • 25 Ways to Promote your Church’s New Years Vision on Social Media

    25 Ways to Promote your Church’s New Years Vision on Social Media

    Vision Sunday is around the corner isn’t it? What’s the word? What’s the statement that’s being plastered everywhere? Where are we going as a church this year? Whats the plan? Here a couple of ideas to try and nudge you and your team in the right direction…

    Right away… Let go!

    1) Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp etc to recruit a virtual DREAM TEAM, people in your church who are engaged in social media and will help lead efforts to promote the Christmas production. Call them your social media INFLUENCERS (LOL) if you will…

    2) Create a social media promotional schedule in Google Docs. Share it with your dream team, get their input, add to it & improve it based on their input. Make a WhatsApp group if you want to share details quickly…

    3) Create a Facebook event for your activation or the start of your years service(s).

    4) Post the event to your church’s Facebook page, invite guests, invite your friends. (Your church does have a Facebook page, right?) Right? See more here.

    5) You & your virtual dream team share the event on your personal Facebook profiles & encourage others to do the same. Share. Share. Share.

    6) Post the event to any other social media profiles your church may have (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    7) You & your virtual dream team share your church’s post promoting the event on your personal profiles (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    8 ) Run a Facebook ad to promote your Christmas production. Boost or promote the post and get more engagement

    Create a promotional video for your Christmas service, and…

    9) Put the promotional video on YouTube, TikTok and Facebook, see number 10.

    10) Share the YouTube video on your church’s Facebook page.

    11) You & your virtual dream team share the YouTube video on your personal Facebook profiles and encourage others to do the same. Send the link on your WhatsApp groups and get as many people sharing…

    12) Share the video to any other social media profiles your church may have (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    13) You & your dream street team share your church’s video promoting the event on your personal accounts on those same social platforms (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    Reach out to other local organizations

    14) Find local online guides that have an event calendar. Submit your event, embed or link to the YouTube video. Local churches in PE will be familiar with http://pechurchnet.co.za/

    15) Find the Facebook pages for your city, chamber of commerce, & other local community organizations. “Like” their page. Then post the Facebook event to their wall if you can do that in a non-spammy way. Make friends. Be nice. Get the word out…

    16) Find on other social platforms (Twitter, Instagram, etc) profiles for your city, chamber of commerce, & other local community organizations. Send them a DM & ask if they would share your post about your Christmas production. Really make it a community event.

    If your Activation or Vision Sunday services span more than one Sunday…

    17) Post pics from the first day/night to your church’s Facebook page. Be sure to tag as many people as you can. Tagging will cause those pics to show up on those people’s profiles for them and their friends to see.

    18) You and your dream team share those pics on your Facebook profiles. Tag tag tag.

    19) Post some of the pics to your church’s other social profiles (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    20) You and the dream team, share those pics. Personally.

    21) Create a video that includes footage from the opening day & short comments from people afterwards saying good things about it. Post the video to YouTube.

    22) Share the opening day/night video on your church’s Facebook pages and groups…

    23) You & your virtual dream team share the opening night video on your personal Facebook profiles & encourage others to do the same.

    24) Share the opening night video using your church’s other social accounts (Twitter, Instagram, etc).

    25) You & your virtual dream team share your church’s posts of the opening day/night video on other social accounts (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok etc).

  • Why is SEO important for my local church?

    Why is SEO important for my local church?

    I started in the Methodist Church as a bight eyes bushy tailed 19 year old, for 9 years being a youth, young adults and worship pastor in Johannesburg and then here in Port Elizabeth (South Africa). I then changed jobs a little and then found myself in a non-denominational church for 5 years being the Online Church Pastor. (A video for another day – LOL). One church had 1000 members a service, other services we were hoping for 20 people to arrive, yes, 20! and then pre pandemic we had 2000 people per service 3 times a Sunday…

    It doesn’t matter if you’re a large church or a small church—if your website isn’t getting traffic, it’s not going to be successful. And unfortunately, getting people to visit your website is not as easy as it used to be. Search engine optimization (SEO) has become more important than ever in order for churches to get the attention of their target audiences. That’s why I’ve put together this list of five reasons why SEO is essential for churches and online churches today:

    SEO is important for increasing traffic to your church website

    Search engine optimization is important because it helps you to rank higher in search engines, like Google. This will increase the amount of traffic your website gets, which is the most effective way to drive more sales and leads. Having a high ranking on Google can also help you get more exposure through organic traffic and social media channels.

    If you want to grow your church and online church, SEO is one of the best ways to achieve this goal. Because it takes time for results, it’s an ideal long term strategy for any church pastor and creative team who doesn’t want their success dependent on short term gains from promotions or paid advertising campaigns. (So much money spent on Facebook Ads, and sometimes even more now port pandemic)

    SEO provides a higher ROI than traditional marketing

    SEO is a long-term strategy, so it’s more cost effective. SEO provides better ROI than traditional marketing. Printing 5000 flyers at the robots or local mall will only go so far. There are only 5000 of them, we don’t know who actually sees these flyers and it ends there. We have all had that one post that goes a little viral, and it just goes much further than we ever thought it could’ve.

    SEO is more targeted than traditional marketing: When you use SEO to target your audience, you can reach them when they are ready to buy and convert on your website. This is not possible with other forms of advertising, which means that the people who see your ad are much more likely to visit your church or event in the future.

    Local Church SEO is more measurable than traditional marketing: Because Google Analytics tracks all of the information about how users interact with websites, it makes sense for us to know if our efforts are paying off or not! and here we can then innovate and pivot if we need to.

    SEO builds trust and credibility

    Search engines are known for their good taste. If a website is well-known and respected, it’ll rank higher in search results. This means that you will be rewarded for the time and effort you’ve put into building trust with your audience.

    After all, if you’re an established church that built a good reputation online, why would people not trust you and your team?

    SEO helps build credibility among potential congregation or community members and helps them see that you’re trustworthy—a church they can rely on.

    SEO increases your market share

    So terrible to think like this but, Jesus has called us to go fishing, and let’s catch so much fish that the nets break… Search engine optimization is a long-term strategy. You can’t expect to see results overnight. That said, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, SEO can increase your market share—and the amount of fish you catch. Peter, Paul and John spent many nights on the water… How many nights you spending online?

    It helps you reach new members through organic search engine placement. Not only do unique visitors come from local searches, but those who visit your website will be more likely to actually check you out online for a church service or visit you in person.

    Search engines help drive traffic back to your site so that visitors stay on it longer—which means they’ll get more value out of their experience with you and are more likely to return again later on down the road, online or in person.

    SEO has the best ROI over time

    SEO has the best ROI over time. We in ministry for the long run, yeah?

    While PPC can be a great short-term strategy, it’s important to understand that with SEO, you’re investing in your church online presence for the long term. In other words, as you grow and invest in your church online, so too will your investment in SEO grow and pay off over time. So if you’re looking for a quick win that’ll help you get started on this journey, look elsewhere—SEO is a long game that requires patience and dedication but will eventually reap rewards if you stick with it.

    There are many benefits to using search engine optimization (SEO) in your church.

    Search engine optimization is an essential part of every churches marketing strategy. It is the best return on investment (ROI) and has many long-term benefits to your church.

    SEO is a low cost marketing strategy that increases your “market” share, which will lead to more people attending church and getting connected to community in the long run.

    Conclusion

    As you can see, SEO is an essential part of any local churches’ marketing strategy. It provides many benefits that other types of marketing don’t have—including higher returns on investment and greater trust in your “brand”. If you still aren’t convinced that SEO is right for your church, then consider the fact that it has the best ROI over time because there are no upfront costs involved! That means you can start seeing results right away without having to spend big bucks first. So what are you waiting for? Start implementing these strategies today!

    Church leaders (and maybe even business owners), I hope this helps…

    Contact me if you have any questions about SEO and other online presence management things.

    Much love

    Dean