4 Types of SEO Most Helpful to Churches and Non-profits

February 22, 2022

With so many churches in the United States, how do you reach the people looking for their true spiritual home? Many of them look online for churches close to them, so your church needs to show up in their search results to attract new members. You can achieve this through implementing search engine optimization (SEO).

First, it's essential to know what SEO is and why it's so important. Put simply, SEO is one of the best ways to reach potential customers when they're looking for what you offer. It includes several strategies and targeting specific people based on their interactions with your site. It also produces more accurate data than other forms of Internet marketing do.

Let's discuss the main types of SEO that are most helpful to churches and other non-profits.

1. On-Site SEO

On-site SEO is when people are looking at your website, and you have laid out the elements of your site to make it easy for them to find the information. You have included things like meta tags, descriptions, and listings in the right places so search engines can easily recognize what your site offers to them.

For example, if you list your events in a calendar, you can tell search engines what the calendar is, who the event is for, and the date. That will help the search engines show it to more people looking for your circumstances.

2. Internal Linking

Internal linking is when you connect two pages on your site to link between them, and you can tell the search engines that they are connected. That makes it easier for them to find information about your church quickly. The best way to help with internal linking is to use the parent-child relationship in your website design.

For example, suppose you have a child page under a parent page and link the child page back to the parent page. In that case, you are telling search engines that the child page is associated with the parent page. That makes it easier to improve the ranking for both of them.

3. Social Media

Today's social media is one of the most-used places to look for businesses and people to interact with. For churches, it is essential to stay connected to your social media networks to reach out to the people who are looking for your services.

There are many different ways to use social media. Still, the most effective form is to share your most meaningful events and topics on your social media sites. That way, people can find your church when they look on social media.

People search social media for many different things, including:

A specific event, such as a concert,
A topic related to your church, such as parenting or your pastor's sermon
A place to get together, such as a community center

You can make the most of their search by using social media marketing to share your events and services.

4. Targeted Keywords

Targeted keywords are words you use to describe your church, the event, your pastor, or other specifics of your church. To determine the correct keywords to employ, you must first understand what people seek while looking for a church. Often, people are looking for specific people and specific events. Those are the best keywords to use.

You can find out what people are using through keyword research. Then, use your keywords consistently on your site, social media posts, and other digital content.

Conclusion

The four types of SEO discussed here are the most effective ways to reach out to new people looking for your services. They can be done through a website design professional, or you can automate them through an online program to make it easier. Either way, they're an important part of your church's website.

Do you know how important SEO is for your church? Make sure to learn more about how it can help you grow your church. Contact us to learn more about our church marketing solutions.

If you are looking for a church marketing agency, Faithworks Marketing is here for you. We provide mobile-friendly web design, social media management, local search, and google ad grant services for churches and nonprofits. Call us or book your appointment today!

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For many pastors today, ministry is both a calling and a financial challenge. As the cost of living rises and church salaries remain modest, more pastors are turning to side hustles and creative income streams to provide for their families. This trend is shaping what many believe will define the next generation of church leaders: bivocational ministry. In a recent episode of The Pro Church Marketing Podcast, host Luke Clayton sat down with Jono Long , founder of Faithworks Marketing, to discuss their parallel journeys from ministry to entrepreneurship. Together, they shared practical strategies for church marketing, candid lessons from business, and encouragement for pastors who feel caught between calling and provision. Ministry Meets Entrepreneurship Both Luke and Jono began in full-time ministry, but financial realities forced them to adapt. Jono, a youth pastor in Georgia, found himself with five kids, a wife at home, and a salary that wasn’t enough to make ends meet. Out of necessity, he turned to social media management for local businesses. What started as a $300-a-month side hustle eventually grew into Faithworks Marketing , an agency serving churches across the country. Luke’s path was similar but marked by burnout. As a communications director at a large church and school, he was responsible for everything creative—websites, graphics, video, and media. With no budget to outsource and a workload that never stopped, he eventually hit a breaking point. Stepping away cold turkey, he launched his own creative business, Increase Creative , which now helps churches with websites, branding, and podcast production. Their stories reflect a growing trend: ministry leaders are often entrepreneurs at heart, using their creativity and problem-solving skills to build businesses that support both their families and the church. Why Bivocational Ministry is the New Normal While many pastors once saw bivocational work as a backup plan, it is quickly becoming the new reality. Church salaries often fall short of providing financial stability, especially for families. Meanwhile, the American cost of living continues to rise. This creates tension for pastors who want to devote themselves fully to ministry but also need to provide for their loved ones. Luke and Jono both noted the guilt factor many pastors feel when pursuing side income, as if it means they are less committed to the church. In reality, bivocational work can be freeing. As Jono shared, when pastors are less dependent on their church paycheck, they can lead with boldness, making decisions based on conviction rather than fear of losing their job. Unlocking the Power of Google Ad Grants One of the most practical tools for churches that Jono highlighted is the Google Ad Grant , which gives qualifying nonprofits up to $10,000 per month in free advertising . Many churches don’t take advantage of it, or they try but see little success. The most common reason: their websites lack content. “Church websites often have only a few words, a mission statement, and service times,” Jono explained. “That will never work for the grant.” Practical tips for churches to maximize the grant include: Create content-rich pages : Google rewards sites with valuable answers to common questions. Leverage sermons : Transcribe and summarize sermons into blog posts to boost SEO. Target felt needs : Ads about prayer, anxiety, or salvation resonate deeply with people searching online. By building a content-driven website and strategically using the grant, churches can expand their reach far beyond Sunday morning. SEO, AI, and the Future of Church Marketing The digital landscape is changing fast. With Google’s AI Overviews now answering many search queries directly, fewer people are clicking through to websites. For churches, this makes content strategy more important than ever . “Good content still wins,” Jono said. “Whether AI-generated or human-written, Google rewards sites that provide thoughtful, helpful answers.” For churches, this means focusing on practical, biblical content that speaks to real needs in their community. Lessons from the Trenches of Business Both Luke and Jono were quick to admit their mistakes. For Luke, the biggest was hiring too fast, taking on employees before his business could sustain them. For Jono, it was diving into websites and SEO without fully understanding them, learning through trial and error. Their honesty underscores an important truth: entrepreneurship is messy. But both emphasized that failure is part of the journey, and perseverance often matters more than a perfect business plan. Creative Side Hustles for Pastors Pastors and ministry leaders often have more marketable skills than they realize. Jono shared how he started a DJ and photo booth company, hiring youth pastors and worship leaders to serve at weddings and proms. Their stage presence, comfort with sound systems, and ability to engage people made them natural fits. Luke, meanwhile, has leaned into podcast production, helping churches launch and manage their shows. Both are examples of how ministry skills—communication, leadership, problem-solving—translate into entrepreneurial ventures. From web design to coaching, from content creation to event services, pastors have opportunities to create side income streams that complement their ministry instead of distracting from it. The conversation between Luke and Jono highlights a new reality: bivocational ministry is here to stay. Pastors no longer have to choose between serving the church and providing for their families. By embracing entrepreneurship, leveraging tools like Google Ad Grants, and using their transferable skills, pastors can thrive both spiritually and financially. The message is clear: you can do ministry, build a business, and serve God faithfully—all at the same time. 🔗 Learn more about Faithworks Marketing: https://faithworksmarketing.com 🔗 Connect with Luke Clayton and explore coaching for bivocational pastors: https://jlukeclayton.com/