Do you want to grow your Christian church, school, ministry or business?
Do you want to reach more people and have a greater impact for the Kingdom of God?
Today, people start their search for just about everything using search engines.
If you want to reach people in your community across the nation or around the world, you not only need a website, but you need a website that ranks well in search engines so people can find it.
This month we are publishing a series of SEO Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) video blog articles.
They are designed to help you understand things like…
- What is SEO? (all the tasks and elements involved)
- Why is SEO important?
- How do you decide whether to do your own SEO or hire an SEO company?
- If you hire an SEO company, how do you choose a good one that’s right for you?
These articles are applicable to church SEO, SEO for Christian schools, SEO for Christian ministries, and SEO for businesses.
SEO FAQs:
- What is SEO?
- What is technical SEO?
- What is keyword research?
- What is on-page optimization?
- What is link building? (backlinks)
- What is content marketing?
- What is local SEO?
- Do I need an ongoing SEO service?
- Is SEO still important?
- What does it take to rank well for my keywords?
- How long does SEO take?
- Is SEO an expense or investment?
- How much does SEO cost?
- Should SEO companies have guarantees?
- Should I do Google Ads or SEO?
- 3 things to know before contacting an SEO company
- What questions should I ask an SEO before hiring them?
- What is black hat SEO?
- Should a Christian organization hire a Christian SEO Company?
Why is SEO important? Because…
A website without SEO is like a car with no gas. -Paul Cookson
SEO FAQs: Search Engine Optimization Questions Answered
1. What is SEO?
We kick off the series by addressing the most fundamental question, “What is SEO?”
SEO encompasses a range of tasks and strategies aimed at boosting a website’s ranking in search engines when users search for specific keywords or phrases. But why do we do this? It’s simple – we want more people to discover a website, click on its search listings, and visit it. The ultimate goal is to increase a website’s visibility and, subsequently, its traffic.
SEO is a multifaceted field, and it’s impossible to cover all aspects of it in a single video. So, in this first video we address the question by providing an overview of 7 key aspects of SEO.
Check out: What is SEO?
2. What is technical SEO?
Technical SEO is all about ensure a website can be read by search engines, loads quickly, and can be properly indexed. Without good technical SEO, your website could be excluded or penalized by search engines.
In this article and video we look at 5 components of technical SEO.
3. What is keyword research?
Everyone wants better search rankings, right?
But getting better search rankings for the wrong keywords is worthless! It’s a big waste of time, effort and resources.
Many people think they know what keywords they want to rank better for in the search engines. However, more often than not, those assumptions are way off the mark. The last thing you want to do is invest your valuable time, energy, and resources into optimizing a website for the wrong keywords.
For more on how to target the right keywords, see What is Keyword Research?
4. What is On-Page Optimization?
On-page optimization involves making changes and improvements directly to your web page to enhance its search engine rankings.
Usually, when people hear the term “SEO,” they think of using keywords on a web page as much as possible. But there is much more to on-page optimization than you may realize, including Google’s latest effort to evaluate the quality of a web page through what is known as E-E-A-T.
For more on this, including how to optimize for E-E-A-T, see What is On-Page Optimization?
5. What is Link Building? (Backlinks)
Link building is the process of getting other websites to link to your website. Beyond simply what link building is, it’s important to understand…
Why is link building important? and What are the best ways to get more backlinks?
Find out in What is Link Building? (Backlinks)
6. What is Content Marketing?
According to the dictionary… Content marketing is a type of marketing that involves the creation and sharing of online material (content) that does not explicitly promote a brand but is intended to stimulate interest in its products or services.
But with so much content being created these days (especially with AI), content must stand out to be effective. In this SEO FAQ video and article we look at 6 characteristics of good content marketing.
Check out What is Content Marketing?
7. What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is vital for locally-focused organizations like churches, schools, and local businesses. It helps them rank higher in local search results, including map listings and local packs.
Getting listed in the local search results and maps doesn’t happen automatically or by accident. You actually have to register, verify, and optimize with each map/local search engine. Beyond that, there are a few other important things to do, so we cover 4 Key Aspects of Local SEO in our next SEO FAQ video…
Watch/read What is Local SEO?
8. Do I Need an Ongoing SEO Service?
The internet is a dynamic and ever-evolving space. Search algorithms are in a perpetual state of change, websites are continuously being updated, and competitors are constantly vying for better positions. If you optimize your website just once and then check that off your list, over time any progress you’ve made in your search rankings will gradually erode due to these changes.
In this SEO FAQ video we share 6 Things Your Ongoing SEO Should Include.
Check out Do I Need an Ongoing SEO Service?
9. Is SEO still important?
With the growing popularity of social media and AI, people ask us all the time, “Is SEO still important?”
To answer this question, its important to look at how people use search engines, social media, and AI. What are people asking each of them? What do they do after they use them? And then, is your organization and your website in position to provide the information people are looking for when they’re looking for it?
We address these questions and more in, Is SEO Still Important?
10. What Does It Take to Rank Well for My Keywords?
We get this question a lot. Usually, the person asking wants a specific answer – a specific number of links, a specific amount of content, a specific amount of time.
To figure that out, it’s helpful to start by understanding this general formula: Relevance x Authority = Search Rankings
From there, we can look at 5 Things That Impact What It Takes to Rank Well for a Keyword.
That’s what we do in the video and article: What Does It Take to Rank Well for My Keywords?
11. How Long Does SEO Take?
Everyone wants better better search rankings… and we want them now!
But realistically, how long should you expect SEO to take? How long will it take before you actually see improvements in search rankings and an increase to visitors to your website from search engines?
First, it’s helpful to understand the SEO tasks that must be completed to improve search rankings and roughly how long each task takes. In addition to that, there are a several other factors that impact how long it will take.
Learn what they are in, How Long Does SEO Take?
12. Is SEO an Expense or Investment?
First of all, let me be honest with you. This is not really a Frequently Asked Question. Nobody actually calls or emails saying, “Hey, I have this burning question… do you think SEO an investment or an expense?”
What happens is people contact us because they’re interested in SEO, we discuss the financial aspect of an SEO service, and some of them say, “I can’t afford it.”
This response indicates they have an expense mindset.
In this article and video we discuss why having an investment mindset matters, and how it impacts the way you budget for SEO and measure ROI. Check out Is SEO an Expense or Investment?
13. How Much Does SEO Cost?
If you start researching Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services, you’ll quickly discover that there is a wide range of prices for SEO services, from under $100 to several thousand dollars a month. Why is there such a big disparity?
In this SEO FAQ article and video we explain 4 things that impact the cost of SEO services.
14. Should SEO Companies Have Guarantees?
Some SEO professionals think that SEO companies shouldn’t guarantee specific search rankings because they have no control the search results produced by Google and other search engines. They argue that guaranteeing results might seem like an attempt to deceive people.
It is true that no one can control search results, and therefore no one can say with 100% certainty they can get specific rankings in the search results. But we have a different perspective on what a guarantee means.
Check out Should SEO Companies Have Guarantees?
15. Should I Do Google Ads or SEO?
Search engine results pages contain two types of search listings: paid ads and organic (free) listings. Therefore, to improve your visibility in the search results and get more visitors from search engines, you have two options:
- pay for ads on a pay-per-click (PPC) basis, or
- invest in search engine optimization (SEO) to improve your position among the organic search listings
Find out how to determine which is best for you as we address the question Should I Do Google Ads or SEO?
16. 3 things to know before contacting an SEO company
If an SEO company does their job well, they will ask you questions so they can recommend the SEO services that are the best fit for your organization.
You can and should be prepared for those questions.
Check out 3 Things to Know Before Contacting an SEO Company
17. What questions should I ask an SEO before hiring them?
There are many search engine optimization (SEO) companies out there. But which company is right for you?
To find out, you have to ask the right questions.
Read/watch What questions should I ask an SEO before hiring them?
18. What is black hat SEO?
The term “black hat” harks back to the old Western movies where the good guys wore white hats and the bad guys sported black ones. This distinction made it easy to identify the heroes and villains.
In the late ’90s and early 2000s, the world of SEO was like the Wild West, and people were experimenting with various techniques – some ethical, and some not so ethical – to boost their search engine rankings. Those unethical tactics that search engines frowned upon became known as black hat SEO.
In this article and video we look at 4 Black Hat SEO Techniques to Avoid
19. Should a Christian organization hire a Christian SEO Company?
There are lots of SEO companies out there to choose from. Here are 4 benefits you experience when you work with a Christian SEO company.
Check out Should a Christian organization hire a Christian SEO Company?
Additional Resources
Share your feedback and perspective on SEO in this month’s Listening Post survey.
From DIY SEO to DIWU SEO
SEO is a complex, ever-changing endeavor. You can try to do it yourself, but will you know if you are doing it well? Is it really the best use of your time to not only learn and implement SEO best practices, but continue to re-learn and re-implement best practices as they change?
Instead of do-it-yourself (DIY) SEO, consider the benefits of do-it-with-us SEO (DIWU, I think we just invented that 😀 ).
If you’re interested in saving time while also reaching and serving more people through church SEO or Christian SEO for your business, school or ministry, we’d love to talk with you!
Fill out the consultation request form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop)
Post a Comment and Discuss:
- What questions do you have about SEO?
Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com
Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.
An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.
Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication.
4 Comments
I Like it!
Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords
but I’m not seeing very good results. If you know of any please share.
The Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress is very helpful for generating a sitemap and giving the user the ability to set the title and meta description tags. But it can’t do keyword research to determine which keywords to target and it won’t optimize your website for you.
The church SEO videos that you’ve shared here are great, and the FAQs have answered all the questions I had in my mind. It would benefit me if you shared more useful videos like this. Cheers.