How to Put Your Church on Google Maps

The Internet is a powerful tool to share the Gospel and bring more people to your congregation. From social media to live-streamed sermons, there are many ways to use the Internet to your advantage. But one of the most convenient and most powerful methods is to literally put your church on the map.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything about putting your church on Google Maps. We’ll cover the ways to put your church on the popular database, the benefits of doing so, and a few ways to further build your church’s online presence.

What Is Google My Business? 

If you’ve ever checked Google Maps, you would know that restaurants and shops list not just their location but also information like opening hours, phone numbers, and even website links. These business profiles are created through Google My Business.

A Google Business Profile shows the essential contact details, customer reviews, and even busy times for a business or organization. Some benefits offered by Google My Business include:

• Improve customer engagement by allowing them to post reviews and chat with the business account
• Boost business visibility by making it easy to search on Google Maps
• Show business highlights like product promotions and photos

Benefits of Putting Your Church on Google Maps 

Google My Business is free, so there’s no reason not to put your church on Google Maps. If you’re still hesitating, however, here are several reasons Google My Business for churches is a good idea:

Promote Your Church For Free

Unlike online advertising, physical ads, or landing pages, Google My Business is free and only takes a couple of minutes to set up, but the results can be felt for a long time. Because of this, it’s one of the cheapest yet most effective ways to tell the world about your church.

List Important Information

Not everyone can look through your church website to get the information they need quickly. Your church’s Google Maps page should contain all the basic information so people can easily find what they need to know. 

Below are some examples of what to include:

• Church service times
• Contact number
• Photos of your church building and activities
• Link to your church website

Improve Your Church’s Legitimacy

Some people rely on Google Business profiles to determine whether a place is legitimate or not. A professional-looking Google Maps listing goes a long way in establishing your credibility because people can leave reviews about your church and its activities. If your congregation shares stories about great sermons and enjoyable activities, your church’s reputation will improve and potentially attract a larger congregation.

A legitimate online presence also makes people more inclined to donate and can even make it easier to get a bank loan for church activities. 

Attract More Newcomers

Newcomers to an area tend to look for the businesses and services they need via Google Maps, and churches are no different. Typically, the first thing people who are looking for church services do is type “church” on Google Maps and look at the top results. Then, they’ll choose whichever church they think best suits them.

A well-polished Google business profile works much like a lure when fishing. If the profile catches the eye of these newcomers, they may call a contact person or visit your website for more details and potentially join the congregation.

Engage With The Community

Google My Business provides many ways for the owner to engage with their customer base. One of the most common ways of interaction on a Google Business profile is through its reviews page, where congregation members can post stories about their church experience. Not only do reviews catch the eyes of people looking for a new church, but they also help you get feedback from existing church members.

There are other communication methods like direct messaging through Google as well as a Q&A section where you can answer questions about your church. 

How to Put Your Church on Google Maps 

Now that we’ve covered the reasons why you should put your church on Google Maps, it’s time to learn how. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to put your church on Google Maps:

1. Make a Google Business Profile

First, sign in to your church Google account. If you don’t have one yet, we recommend creating one to make it easier for your church staff to access the business profile. 

Once in, go to the Google My Business page and sign up for a free account.

2. Input Your Church Name

The Google My Business sign-up profile will ask for your church’s name. Use your church’s official registered name and don’t use any abbreviations. If your church is also known by a different name, add it in parentheses.

3. Fill in Location Details

Your location details should include the country, state, city, street address, and zip code. Make sure you enter this accurately and double-check before submitting. 

Once you submit the location, you’ll see a marker placed on the address you entered previously. If the marker is exactly where it should be, continue. If it’s not, move the marker to where your church actually is. 

4. Describe Your Church

GMB will ask what kind of business you are running. Write down a short description of what your church does, including whether your church is of a certain denomination. This allows people who are searching for a specific kind of church to find you.

5. Add Contact Details

Input the number of your primary contact person and church website, if applicable. People will be calling this number to inquire, so make sure it’s an active one and regularly manned.

6. Verify Your Church

Once everything is filled out, verify your account. Google offers verification through phone calls and mailed postcards.

Other Ways to Build Your Church’s Online Presence 

In addition to a Google My Business profile, there are other ways to expand your church’s presence on the Internet. Here are some popular methods:

Church Website

A good website is like an online version of your church. Your website should be the place that contains all the information potential churchgoers need to know about your church, and your entire online presence (e.g. social media accounts, live streams) should all link to and from your website.

You don’t have to pay professional web developers for a legitimate website. With Tithe.ly Websites, you can create and maintain a beautiful, SEO-optimized church website with a super-low cost and effort. 

Service Live Streams

Because of the pandemic, live streaming sermons has become a viable option for many churches. Streaming services with Tithe.ly is a great way to involve congregation members who are sick or otherwise can’t come to church. Enabling chat also helps congregation members stay connected and communicate during the service. 

Social Media Accounts

Having a social media account for your church is a must these days. A great social media presence makes it easier for you to announce church events, look for volunteers, and ask for feedback from your congregation. 

Every social media site has something different to offer. For instance, Instagram lets you share photos of church activities while Facebook provides an online gathering spot for your congregation to connect.

The good news is that creating awesome social media graphics for all your accounts doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. Tithe.ly Media provides you with free, customizable graphics for social media accounts, sermon slides, and more. 

Conclusion

Putting your church on Google Maps is a great way to boost its online presence. Your Google My Business profile won’t just help newcomers find a new church, but it’s also a great way to connect and sustain your existing congregation.