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An online presence for your church is so impactful.
Shortly before Christmas, we had a young man visit our church for the first time. He came alone and knew no one from the church.
When asked how he found our church, he told us something surprising:
My family is spread out all over the country. I don’t really know anyone other than my girlfriend in town. My grandma lives in Hawaii, but she encouraged me to start going to church. She found your church online and told me this is the church I’m supposed to attend, so here I am. I’ll be back next week.
Our church is 4,000 miles from Hawaii. We aren’t even close to being the biggest church in town (we average somewhere around 65 on a Sunday). But because we have an online presence, she was able to find us, learn about us, and help pave the way for her grandson to join us.
If you don’t have an online presence for your church, it’s time to start making one. It’s no longer an option to not be online in today’s digital world. If you’re online but it’s not much of a “presence,” it’s time to build it. It may seem daunting, but it’s totally worth it.
What’s An Online Presence Anyway?
An online presence simply means your church can be found and recognized online. It might be through a website, social media accounts, or even just showing up on Google Maps when someone searches for “churches near me.” For smaller churches, it doesn’t need to be elaborate. A simple, welcoming website and one or two active social media accounts can make a big difference.
Why does it matter? Because your online presence is often the first impression people have of your church. It’s where potential new members learn who you are and current members stay connected. Most importantly, it’s a way to share the love of Christ beyond your church walls.
5 Ways To Start Building An Online Presence For Your Church
1. Create Or Update Your Church Website
Your church’s website is your digital front door. It’s where people go to find service times, contact information, and learn what your church is all about. If you don’t have a website, now is the time to create one. If you do have one, make sure it’s up-to-date and easy to navigate.
Here are some things your website should include:
- Service details: Make your service times, location, and any special instructions easy to find.
- Contact information: Include an email, phone number, and even a contact form.
- Upcoming events: A calendar or announcements section helps potential visitors know what’s happening.
- “About Us” Section/Page: One of the most-visited pages on our website is the “About Us” section. People want to know who we are, what we believe, etc. Especially in today’s world where even churches that are part of a denomination can have some variance in what they believe or what makes them unique, letting people get a taste of who you are with your online presence is vital.
- Mobile-friendly design: Many people will visit your site on their phones, so ensure it works well on smaller screens.
Paying a professional to build your website can be a really good use of funds that will have a great return on investment. However, if paying someone is out of the question (or budget), platforms like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress offer many templates that you can use to help you make an eye-catching, cohesive site.
2. Leverage SEO: Make It Easy For People To Find You Online
Pause your reading and go Google “churches near me.” If your church doesn’t show up, you’re missing out. Search engines like Google are a primary way people discover churches. You can improve your visibility with just a few simple steps:
- Claim your Google Business Profile: This ensures your church appears on Google Maps and local searches.
- Use keywords: Phrases like “church in [your city]” or “community-focused church” can help search engines connect people to your website.
- Keep your information current: Make sure your address, phone number, and service times are correct everywhere they appear online.
- Encourage reviews: Ask members or visitors to leave a Google review. Positive reviews can boost your visibility. Then, you can take it a step further by responding to those reviews so that you can demonstrate your responsiveness!
SEO (search engine optimization) might sound intimidating, but it’s a powerful tool. These small changes can make a big impact. If you need more tips on making your website SEO friendly and how to figure out which keywords and other steps are most helpful for optimizing your site, check out the article “8 Tips To Make Building Your Church Website Easier” for more details.
3. Use Social Media To Stay Connected
Social media is where people are already spending their time, so it’s a great way to connect with your church community and beyond. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are perfect for sharing updates, encouraging posts, and even streaming services.
While we’ve talked about your social media presence and how to build it well in previous blog posts, here’s a brief overview of tips to make your social media presence a success. If you want more details, check out some of the suggested articles at the bottom of this post!
- Be consistent: Posting regularly keeps your accounts active and engaging.
- Share meaningful content: Post photos from church events, reminders about upcoming services, and uplifting messages.
- Respond to comments and messages: Interaction shows people you care and value their time.
- Promote events: A quick post or event invite can go a long way in spreading the word.
Start small. Focus on one or two platforms where your church members are most active and build from there.
4. Get Your Congregation Involved
Your church community is one of your greatest assets for building an online presence. Encourage members to share your church’s online content and invite their own circles of friends to connect with your platforms. Word of mouth—both online and offline—can make a huge impact.
Here’s how you can involve your congregation:
- Ask for shares: Encourage members to share posts about events, services, or uplifting messages on their own social media accounts. Many people don’t necessarily understand how social media works – just because it’s showing up on your page doesn’t mean it’s showing up for others. Encourage likes, comments, and shares to help your presence spread!
- Create shareable content: Post photos, videos, or quotes that are easy for people to share with friends. If you need help making sharable content that looks good, check out Canva! If you need more information on Canva, check out this blog post.
- Highlight member stories: Share testimonies or stories from members (with their permission) to create personal, relatable content. Added bonus – people like seeing themselves and their friends, so they’re more likely to interact with this content!
When your church family gets involved, it extends your reach and strengthens your message.
5. Make It Easy For People To Reach You
When someone visits your website or social media, they should immediately know how to contact you or get involved. Think of it as rolling out the welcome mat online.
Here’s how you can do that:
- Include a contact form: Make it easy for people to send you questions or prayer requests. On your website, you can include a “contact us” button in your footer or at the bottom of each web page. On social media, make it easy for people to message you, and be sure to respond to those messages!
- Highlight your service times and location: Don’t make people hunt for the basics. Put them on your home page on your website, in your Google Business Profile, and in your “About” section on social media.
- Add links to your social media accounts and website: Encourage people to follow you on each social media platform that you have an account for, so that they can stay the most up-to-date. On every social media platform, be sure to link back to your website so that people can easily search for specific information.
- Offer multiple ways to connect: Some people prefer email. Others prefer phone calls. Still, others will want to message you on Facebook. If you have a texting account (check out this blog post if you want more info on some great options), you can even offer a texting option.
The easier you make it to connect, the more likely people will take the next step to visit or get involved.
Start Small And Stay Consistent
Your church’s online presence is more than just a checklist; it’s a tool to share Christ’s love and welcome people into your community. By creating a simple website, being findable online, using social media, involving your congregation, and making it easy to connect, you can start building an online presence that makes a real impact.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Start small and stay consistent. Even small efforts can open doors for people—sometimes even from 4,000 miles away—to find your church and join your community.
Read More:
11 Effective Social Media Content Tips For Small Churches
