How to do search engine optimization on your website by yourself

If you're DIY-ing your website or you just want to try your hand at a tune-up, follow the steps below to start to improve your own SEO (Search Engine Optimization). We do these things so that Google can understand what your site is all about. The ultimate goal is that Google knows how to recommend your site to people who are looking for an organization like yours!

#1: Write custom page title and descriptions.

This is the most important, most universally available, & easiest way to boost your SEO.

Your page title should be between 50 and 65 characters.

Ex: Home | Church Name in City, State

Your page description should be between 70 and 155 characters.

Ex: Church Name in City, State | Worship and Bible Study for Adults and Kids on Sunday Mornings | Located in Neighborhood

Above almost all else, be sure to include your location.

Secondarily, include the most relevant keyword(s), such as Worship, Bible Study, Children's Ministry, After School Care, Private School, Christian School, etc.

See below for tutorials on common web builders:

• Instructions for SquareSpace (titles and descriptions)
• ​Instructions for Showit​
• ​Instructions for Wix​
• ​Instructions for Finalweb (sort of?)
• ​Instructions for Tithely (sort of?)

#2: Compress your images and, while you're at it, change their file names.

Use this tool to compress all of the images currently on your site. It won't affect their quality, but it will help your site load faster.

When you export them off of TinyPNG, go ahead and rename the files to describe the image. Then, re-upload them to your site.

#3: Create at least one internal link per page.

Find at least one spot on every page to create a button that links somewhere else on your site. Don't stop at one—the more internal links the merrier.

Ex: On your About page, it would make sense to create a button that links to your Meet the Teachers page. Simple as that!

#4: Publish original content.

If you write a weekly devotion or publish your sermon transcript, find or create a place to publish that written content on your site to max out the keyword benefits.

Some builders have a built-in blog feature that makes this easy. Otherwise, create a new page and throw some backlogged content up on it.

Update as you're able.

#5: Compare your heading tags to the text on your page. Edit accordingly.

(Only available on some web builders & only for the adventurous)

See this newsletter for instructions. If you get overwhelmed, don't worry—this is where SEO starts to get a little complex. Shoot me an email if you get stuck!

What do you think? Doable?

Honestly, you'll get about 50% of the way there by simply completing #1: page titles & descriptions.

If you take on the challenge, remember I'm always available to coach you through! Just reply.

Until next week,