Church Marketing 101: These 10 ideas will maximize
your church's outreach on the Internet.
- With the number of people online increasing by the minute, it's logical that growing numbers of people are also searching for God on the Internet. If you can find information on just about anything in Google, Yahoo or Bing,
why not do a search for God, churches, or faith?
So it would be a shame if people were looking for a church just like yours-but you weren't online. If somehow you've missed the fact that an online presence is vital to your church's growth and well-being, we're telling you right now. And to ensure that your church is using the Internet to reach as far as possible, here are 10 top ideas for maximizing your church outreach and marketing online.
Here's an example of what you will be receiving:
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Launch a blog to expand your ministry and find new friends.
A blog (short for weblog) is an interactive commentary that can be read and responded to online. A blog is a great way to minister to a diverse, even international audience. By posting your spiritual insights, sermon excerpts, or devotional thoughts, you can communicate powerfully and help readers grow in their faith.
In fact, so many people have discovered the power of blogging that there are more than 50 million blogs. So how do you prevent yours from getting lost in cyberspace? Several techniques can help ensure you reach your target audience. One of the best is to use Compendium Blogware. In a nutshell, the system will help you write a single blog post with keywords that your target audiences might search for. The software then compends, or populates, your content into multiple blogs with those keywords, reaching many audiences with little effort. It also automatically search engine optimizes (SEOs) your blog and each keyword blog for Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The goal is to get your blog to appear in the top search engine results for your keywords so people will find you. Examples:
- Dr. David Mains' blog is a 20-keyword compended blog rich in keywords and spiritual content.
- The Pathmaker Marketing blog is a 50-keyword compended blog system in action.
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Search engine optimize your website so prospective churchgoers can find you.
Unless your website shows up in the top search results, chances are it won't be seen. Search engine optimization is an excellent way to move your website into the top results. SEO techniques include modifying your site content and code to include keywords-targeted terms that your potential visitors would search for-and link building to establish your website firmly in local Internet searches.
Because SEO requires some technical expertise, consider hiring experts like Pathmaker Marketing with experience in keyword research and text/code modifications. This investment will pay off well if your website begins appearing in the top search results.
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Install an interactive prayer wall to expand your prayer ministry.
A prayer wall is an interactive site where people can post prayer requests or praise reports. This is a good way to expand your outreach to the unchurched and develop deeper fellowship among your members. Prayer walls should be easy to use and have features that block spam. Your church can use them to minister to people in need, share your congregation's prayer requests, and even plan programming as you stay in touch with your church members' concerns. Good examples of prayer walls are those of Gregory Dickow Ministries and the Presidential Prayer Team.
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Learn more about how to increase your church's effectiveness online. Schedule a meeting today with the experts at Pathmaker Marketing at 623-322-3334.