The more we can automate, the less we have to remember, and the more likely we'll actually get 'er done!
There are 6 "upkeep" tasks we can do to keep our website looking great, working smoothly, and showing up in search.
Month 1: Look at your Google My Business page to ensure everything is up-to-date, add new photos and update description
Month 2: Eliminate any "Orphan Pages" that have piled up (pages that are no longer relevant)
Month 3: Update content seen by the user: staff pictures and biographies, tuition costs, sermon series or Bible study archive, calendar events
Month 4: Google "(Church/School) in (my city)" in an incognito tab. Do you rank where you'd like? If not, choose one of the options below based on how much time you have:
1) GOOD - Add a keyword to each page of your site.
2) BETTER - Take 5 images on your site and change their file names to a keyword. Upload them to your site.
3) BEST - Re-write your metadata and page titles/subtitles (if your web host makes this easy) to include more keywords.
Month 5: Freshen up your homepage. What's new around there? Make any changes you've been procrastinating.
Month 6: Check all links - do they go where they're supposed to? Especially check links to outside websites or files. Make sure you're not getting any "404 - Page not found" errors.
| Click here to copy these tasks to your own Google Calendar |
Are you joining ONE WEEK from today for my free Google Ads webinar? I sure hope to see you there! Get in on it using the link below.
Until next week!
I offer digital marketing education written with ministry in mind. Subscribe to my free, weekly newsletter to learn something new every Friday.
You don't have a system if it's not written down. Let's start 2026 strong with a clear direction and system for communicating online and in print! Take 45 minutes to sit down with my new Brand Direction template. This is NOT just a brand guide: there may be some sections you aren't expecting ๐ I created a one-page template for you to use as you refresh your approach in the new year. It's similar to my old brand guide with a few new (and critical) sections added. Click here to make a copy on...
I've been putting in hours on this tool over the past few weeks. As a part of this project, I've visited a. lot. of church websites. Unless I can figure out how to automate this process, I'll be getting around to all 1,200. Maybe yours is next ๐ I've noticed: many, if not most, of the websites I've visited are relatively empty. There is usually a homepage with less than 25 words of basic info, a single sentence or graphic for an upcoming special event, and a Contact page. I don't fault anyone...
I've mentioned this concept in the past, but it's time to deep-dive. I'm calling it: The Long Conversation Method. Catchy, I know. Reply with better ideas, please. ๐ Let's start here. Think about all the ways the outside world can find you: Social media Your website Online ads A booth at festivals & farmer's markets Outreach events Print marketing: mailers, flyers, brochures, posters... What do all these channels have in common? They're all momentary. Someone visits your website for 2...