Q: We have a small church with a small budget. What’s our first step, and how much will it cost?
A: When young people need a phone number, they don’t use a phone book. They Google it. Luckily for you, your church already shows up in Google’s free listings. But too often, the information is out of date.
How to update that listing:
- Go to http://www.google.com and type the name of your town followed by the word “churches.” Hit return. Google shows a map, with generic listings of nearby churches.
- Click on the map. (Not on your church’s listing!)
- Now you have a map on the right, and listings on the left. If there are too many listings, double click on your neighborhood to zoom in until your church’s listing appears on the left (you may have to scroll down the list to find it).
- Click the words “more info” next to the name of your church.
- If you’re a church member just trying to help, click “Edit this place.” If you’re a member of the church staff or a lay person tasked with keeping this info up to date, click “Business Owner?” (They will call the church’s phone to confirm, so you can’t do this part from home. Verification gives you more customization options for the listing.)
- Is the marker in the right spot? If not, click “Move marker.” Is the listing accurate? If not, click “Edit Details” and correct them. Before you can move the marker or edit the details, you will be prompted to sign into your Google account with your e-mail address and password. If you don’t have a Google account, you can get one for free by clicking “Create an account now.”
- Rest! Enjoy knowing that anyone searching for a new church will find directions to your church, a working phone number, and your Web site (if you have one). Your church’s updated listing will answer people’s questions at any time, day or night—and it cost you nothing but a little time.
Extra credit: Now that you’re the local expert, recruit a friend to write a positive review for the church’s Google listing. Then, when people search for new churches, not only will they be able to find you, they’ll know why they should.
