3 Things Your Church Can Do Today to Improve Its Online Presence

Your church’s online presence is often the first place someone goes when they are looking for a place of worship, checking out an invitation from a friend, or simply wondering what your church is all about. Before someone ever walks through your doors, they may have already visited your website, looked at your social media and searched for you on Google.

So let’s start with three simple steps.

1. Do a self-audit and update your information.

Start by pretending you know absolutely nothing about your church.

If someone found you online today, could they easily find your worship times, location, contact information and upcoming events?

Start with your website. Check the basics:

• Are your worship times correct?

• Is your address correct?

• Are your phone number and email current?

• Are your Sunday and Wednesday activities listed?

• Are upcoming events up to date?

• Do your links work?

• Is there outdated information that needs to be removed?

Then work your way through your other online platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

This can be especially important for churches because information changes frequently. New worship times, staff members, ministries, Bible studies and seasonal events can quickly make an online presence outdated.

Take a few minutes to look at every place your church has an online presence and make sure the information matches.

Start with your website and work your way out.

2. Create a simple posting schedule—and stick with it.

If your church social media feels inconsistent, don’t make the mistake of thinking you need a complicated content calendar.

Start simple.

For example, begin by consistently promoting your Sunday worship services and Wednesday night activities.

Your schedule might look something like this:

Thursday or Friday: Invite people to Sunday worship.

Sunday: Share a photo, short recap or reminder about the day.

Tuesday or Wednesday: Remind people about Wednesday night activities.

That’s enough to get started.

The goal isn’t to fill every day of the week with content. The goal is to start and stay consistent.

Once you have a rhythm, you’ll gain confidence. You’ll begin to see what your congregation responds to, what information people need and what stories are worth sharing.

Then you can begin adding to your content calendar—ministry highlights, volunteer stories, staff introductions, community outreach, Bible verses, testimonies, photos and more.

You don’t have to do everything at once.

Consistency matters more than quantity.

3. Give your Google Business Profile some attention.

Here’s one that is easy to overlook: your Google Business Profile.

When someone searches for your church on Google or Google Maps, your Business Profile can be one of the first things they see.

And if that information is outdated—or incomplete—you could be making it harder for someone to find you.

Take a few minutes to check your profile.

Make sure your:

• Church name is correct

• Address is correct

• Phone number is current

• Website link works

• Worship hours are accurate

• Holiday or special hours are updated when necessary

• Photos represent your church today

And don’t stop with the basic information.

If your church has recently changed its worship schedule, added a ministry or moved locations, make sure those changes are reflected on Google, too.

You can also use your Google Business Profile to share updates, events, photos and other information that helps people understand what is happening at your church.

Think about it this way: your website is your digital home, your social media shows what’s happening in your church, and Google helps people find the front door.

All three need to work together.

You Can Start Today

Improving your church’s online presence doesn’t have to become another overwhelming project.

You don’t need to redesign your entire website.

You don’t need to post five times a day.

And you don’t need to become a social media expert overnight.

Start with the basics:

1. Make sure your information is accurate.

2. Create a simple, consistent posting schedule.

3. Make sure Google can help people find you.

Then build from there.

Your church doesn’t have to have the biggest social media following or the fanciest website. You simply need an online presence that is current, consistent and easy to find.

Because for someone who doesn’t know your church yet, your online presence may be the first door they walk through.

Make sure it leads them somewhere worth visiting.