Recently, we had the privilege of working with Glenn Morris from First Steps Preschool, located in Holiday, FL, to improve their visibility and enrollment through effective SEO services. Today, we’re excited to share the story of our collaboration and the incredible journey we embarked on together.

About First Steps Preschool

First Steps Preschool, led by Glenn Morris, has long been dedicated to nurturing young children in a caring and structured environment. With over twenty years of experience in elementary education, Glenn is committed to fostering both the academic and social development of children. The school offers programs for infants up to school-age children, with a special focus on preparing them for kindergarten. The accredited preschool is proud to hold the Gold Seal of Excellence in Florida, which reflects its commitment to high-quality standards.

Glenn shared a bit about the history of the preschool:

“First Steps is actually my third school. I started my first in 1990, and over the years, we’ve expanded to serve infants through school-aged children. We’re proud to be accredited and hold the Gold Seal of Excellence in Florida.”

The Challenge

Before reaching out to us at OurChurch.com, First Steps Preschool faced a significant challenge with enrollment, especially after the pandemic and changes in government funding. As Glenn explained:

“Our main challenge was maintaining full enrollment after federal support post-COVID dwindled. It’s crucial to have full enrollment to sustain payroll, which is about 95% of our costs.”

This situation created a pressing need for better visibility online to attract more families to enroll their children.

The Solution

When Glenn connected with OurChurch.com, we immediately understood the importance of increasing First Steps Preschool’s web presence to help boost enrollment. Through our tailored SEO services, we worked to ensure the preschool’s website was optimized for search engines and easily accessible to potential families in the area.

Glenn appreciated the improvements, mentioning:

“We recently had a parent who found us through the website, and that was affirming. It’s great to see new families coming in because of our increased online visibility.”

Key aspects of our solution included:

• Keyword Research and On-Page Optimization: Improving search engine rankings to ensure local families could find First Steps easily when searching for relevant keywords.
• Local Search Listings: Creating, verifying and optimizing local search listings like a Google Business Profile, so people can find the preschool in Google Maps, Bing Maps, Apple Maps, and Yelp.
• Blogging:  To build First Steps’ authority and relevance for even more keywords, we have been writing, optimizing, publishing and sharing helpful blog articles.

The Impact

Since launching the updated SEO strategies, First Steps Preschool has already started to see positive changes. More parents are finding the preschool through online searches, and enrollment inquiries have been on the rise.

Glenn noted:

“We’re just starting to see the numbers improve, and I’m excited to continue monitoring the impact of our improved web presence. It’s definitely a learning curve, but I can already see the benefits.”

Some of the highlights of the updated SEO and web strategy include:

• Increased Enrollment: Early signs of growing interest as more parents are discovering the school online.
• Enhanced Online Presence: A stronger digital footprint that makes the school more accessible to potential students.
• A Modernized Website: A site that better reflects the professionalism and warmth of the preschool.

A Word of Recommendation

When asked if he would recommend OurChurch.com to other schools or businesses looking to improve their online presence, Glenn was enthusiastic:

“I would absolutely recommend OurChurch.com. They’ve been incredibly helpful and responsive, and I’m confident that as our web presence continues to grow, we’ll see even more positive results for our school.”

Conclusion

Working with First Steps Preschool was a rewarding experience for us at OurChurch.com. We are grateful for the opportunity to help Glenn expand the school’s reach and support its mission of providing quality early childhood education.

If you’re a school or business leader considering a new website or SEO service, we invite you to experience the same dedication and service that we provided to First Steps Preschool.

Learn more about our Christian web design and Christian SEO services to see how we can help your organization grow or complete the consultation request form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop) to schedule a call to discuss your organization and its goals,

What Do You Think?

• What inspires you most about the collaboration between Glenn and OurChurch.com?

Erica Couture

OurChurch.Com Member Support Specialist

Erica is a seasoned writer and digital content expert with a talent for helping organizations tell their stories online. As a Member Support Specialist at OurChurch.Com, Erica has crafted engaging blogs and web content for faith-based organizations and small businesses, contributing to websites like AProperFarm.com, HolyTrinityTampa.org, and her own platform, MrsEricaandBoydee.com.

With an MFA in Media Design Management from the International Academy of Design and Technology, Erica combines creative storytelling with strategic communication. Her leadership as Owner and Creative Director of CornerStoneFaith.com (2010–2016) showcased her commitment to faith-based content and community engagement, building meaningful connections through her work.

Known for her personable and relatable writing style, Erica translates complex ideas into practical, inspiring insights. Beyond her professional pursuits, she shares glimpses of her life and passions on YouTube at Mrs. Erica and Boydee. Erica’s blend of expertise, creativity, and authenticity makes her a trusted voice in the digital space.

MrsEricaandBoydee.com

The post How First Steps Preschool Boosted Enrollment with SEO appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

The Problem:

Their online presence in the search engines was not strong. This meant many parents searching for Christians and private schools in Tampa weren’t finding Bayshore. Even worse, their reputation faced a significant challenge due to previous issues from the past that resulted in negative online reviews on influential platforms like GreatSchools.com and Niche.com. The issues had been fixed, but the reviews remained giving a false reputation of this excellent school.

The Path to Success:
Recognizing the impact of the lower rankings and the negative reviews on enrollment, Bayshore Christian School sought the assistance of OurChurch.Com, a trusted partner specializing in local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Reputation Management Services. With a shared determination to turn the tide, Bayshore Christian School and OurChurch.Com embarked on a transformative journey.

Together, we carefully evaluated Bayshore’s existing online reputation, examining the ratings, reviews, and their direct influence on enrollment numbers. This included noting that Google no longer allows people to post reviews to schools’ Google Business Profiles. So, we would need to focus on other websites like Niche.com and GreatSchools.com, the two most influential review sites for schools.

OurChurch.com also performed an SEO Audit, did keyword research, and examined their local citations to determine strategies to improve rankings. We found blogging and linking opportunities to increase the school’s authority in the search engines and found more ways to be helpful and informative for prospective parents.

Armed with this valuable insight, we devised a customized strategy to rejuvenate their online presence and attract prospective parents who would appreciate Bayshore’s exceptional educational offerings.

OurChurch.Com’s dedicated team optimized their website for the search engines, created helpful blogging content, and initiated a proactive campaign to engage the parents of Bayshore’s current students. We emphasized the importance of the parents’ voices and encouraged them to share their positive experiences and testimonials. As passionate ambassadors for the school, these parents became instrumental in reshaping Bayshore’s online reputation.

The impact was astounding!

Results:

1. Greatly improved ratings on GreatSchools.com: Bayshore Christian School’s rating on GreatSchools.com saw a significant improvement with their rating increasing to 4.2 (out of 5). The number of reviews increased 87%, reflecting a substantial boost in positive feedback from parents.
2. Enhanced ratings on Niche.com: Bayshore Christian School’s rating on Niche.com increased to 4.33 out of 5 with the number of reviews rising 18%. This provided a more accurate and positive representation of the school’s quality and reputation.
3. Greater Rankings and Visibility: Bayshore’s rankings for terms like, “Christian schools in Tampa” and “private schools in Tampa”, started to dominate the search results with nearly 70 top ten rankings, including 38 #1 rankings.
4. Increased Online Traffic: Organic search traffic grew by over 154%. This means more parents were finding Bayshore, more parents looking to send their children to a Christian school.

The transformation didn’t stop there. Bayshore Christian School’s greater rankings brought more parents into contact with them and their renewed reputation resonated with prospective parents, who were now drawn to the school’s positive online presence. This brought about amazing real-world results.

1. Full enrollment: The efforts to improve the school’s online reputation had a direct and tangible impact on the following year’s enrollment. Bayshore Christian School transitioned from struggling to fill classes to having every class filled, with some even having a waiting list.
2. Increased inquiries and applications: The results of the reputation management campaign were evident in the numbers. Inquiries for the upcoming school year rose from 189 to 278, showcasing a 47% increase. Additionally, the number of applications surged from 55 to 128, marking a substantial 133% rise. Bayshore indicated that many of the prospective parents specifically mentioned the positive online reviews.
3. Enhanced relevance and specificity of inquiries: The quality of inquiries also improved, with prospective parents demonstrating a higher level of relevance and specificity in their communication. This indicated a greater interest and alignment with the values and educational offerings of Bayshore Christian School.
4. Growing waiting list and Google Maps interactions: The positive impact continued to unfold as Bayshore Christian School experienced a growing waiting list with 60 individuals. Google Maps messages from prospective parents also increased, further solidifying the positive perception and interest in the school.

Bayshore Christian School‘s success story serves as a testament to the power of OurChurch.Com’s Local SEO and Reputation Management Services. By effectively increasing search presence and managing online reputation, we helped Bayshore overcome their challenges, attract prospective parents, and elevate their enrollment to new heights.

If you too are facing reputation challenges or struggling to attract prospective parents to your educational institution, OurChurch.Com’s marketing for christian schools and Reputation Management Services are here to help. Together, we can reshape your online presence, harness the power of positive reviews, and guide your institution toward a future filled with growth, success, and a thriving enrollment.

Comment and Discuss

• What do you think about the impact local SEO and online reviews had on Bayshore’s applications and enrollment?

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season

Paul Steinbrueck

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. 

steinbrueck.org

The post Bayshore Christian School’s Amazing SEO Case Study appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Especially for Christian schools.

7 Ways Blogging Helps Your Christian School

1) Blogging helps others.

The main reason people blog is because they want to help others. A Christian school’s teachers and administrators have have an abundance of insight into helping kids develop – academically, spiritually, physically, and relationally. Sharing this insight through blog articles can help parents and students who are a part of your school as well as those who are not yet connected with your school.

2) Blogging builds credibility.

Sharing information, insight, and inspiration though a blog helps to establish your authority and credibility. Every school claims to be an expert in education and child development. By sharing your insight through a blog, people can read your perspective and see for themselves you are credible and worth listening to.

3) Blogging shapes culture.

The topics you choose to blog about, the issues you address, and the tone you use all contribute to the culture of your school and your community. Do you address controversial issues or avoid them? Do you address real-world concerns or focus on education theory? Are you argumentative or gentle with those who see things differently from you?

4) Blogging fosters engagement.

If you allow commenting on blog posts, they can be a great opportunity to build relationships and facilitate discussion among your school’s parents.

5) Blogging amplifies social media.

Social media continues to be an effective way to connect and engage with people online.  Blogging and social media compliment and amplify each other. Blog posts make great social media content. And in turn, when you and others share blog posts on social media, that helps to build your blog audience.

6) Blogging tells Stories.

A blog is a great platform for sharing the stories of what God is doing in your school. The most obvious stories are about your school’s achievements – gaining accreditation, winning academic or athletic competitions. The remarkable accomplishments of individual students also make for great stories.

In addition to that, look for personal stories you can share – stories of answered prayers, student baptisms, parents or students coming together to help one another. People love to hear stories about kids who are not just excelling academically but are impacting their community and the world!

7) Blogging improves search rankings.

Search engines love fresh content. Additionally, people tend to share and link to insight, inspiration, and stories far more than general info you might put on your web pages. These shares and links help to improve your search rankings.

To sum it up…

Blogging helps schools tell their stories, build community, help others, and improve search rankings.

Do you want to experience the benefits of blogging but are not sure where to start?

• If you’re looking for a new custom-designed school website with blogging capability, our team can help with that.
• If you’re a teacher who would like to communicate better with your class with a class website with a blog, our WP-EZ Website Builder is an easy-to-use, affordable option.
• If you want better search engine rankings to increase enrollment, our school SEO marketing services can make that happen for you. Our SEO services include taking care of the most challenging aspects of blogging for you.

Complete the form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop) to schedule a call – no pressure, no obligation – just a friendly conversation about your goals and options.

Comment and discuss:

• Does your school have a blog? If so, what benefits have you experienced? If not, what’s stopping you?

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season

Paul Steinbrueck

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. 

steinbrueck.org

The post 7 Ways Blogging Helps Your Christian School appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

Those changes to the old site were sufficient for a while, but eventually Justin reached out to us about building a brand new website for their Christian school.

I asked Justin if he would share with us his thoughts on their old website, the website building process, and how their new website has impacted their school.

Q: Please provide a 3-4 sentence description of your organization.

A: Ignite Academy is a growing Christian elementary school. The mission of Ignite Academy is to ignite boundless growth in all of our learners by immersing them in an environment of real health (mental, physical, and spiritual health). Through a health focused educational environment, learning comes naturally as we help our kids to reach their potential in Christ.

Q: Tell me about the issues you were struggling with before you contacted OurChurch.Com.

A: Our biggest issues were finding new potential families and properly conveying our value as a school to these families.

Q: What was the process like working with OurChurch.Com?

A: The team at OurChurch.Com was great to work with in the creation of our website. The first iteration of our website was not what we were looking for and they worked hard to make it how we wanted. So we ended up with the website having the look, feel and functionality we were hoping for when we started the process of creating a new website.

Q: What has the impact been on your organization after the website has launched?

A: We have had a large increase in the number of potential families we have connected with through our website. With the help of our website connecting us with new potential families and better conveying our value as a school, we have increased our enrollment from 14 learners last school year to 37 learners this school year.

You can check out Ignite Academy’s website at https://igniteacademy.education.

Is your website in need of a redesign? Do you want to work with someone who can guide you through the process so you don’t need to embark on it solo? OurChurch.Com is a leader in Christian web design, SEO services, and Google Ad campaigns.

Take the first step… Complete the form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop) to schedule a call!

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season or 25 Stories from 25 Years. 

Paul Steinbrueck

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. 

steinbrueck.org

The post New Website Helps Ignite Academy Dramatically Increase Enrollment appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

When looking for a new school, parents usually start with online search.

In this article, we’ll delve into the advantages of using Google Ads to promote your Christian school and the impact it can have on filling student openings in classes.

Enhanced Visibility and Targeting for Your School

Google Ads presents a powerful avenue for reaching potential students and their families who are actively seeking a faith-based education. With options to choose specific geographic locations and target specific search terms, you can ensure that your ads are seen by individuals who align with your school’s values and aspirations.

• Geographic Targeting: Reach families within a certain radius of your school, ensuring your ads are seen by those who are most likely to enroll.
• Search Term (Keyword) Targeting: Connect with individuals interested in faith-based education, fostering a community that resonates with your school’s ethos.

These parents are already searching for what your school offers. Google Ads helps them to find you.

Cost-Effective School Outreach

One of the standout benefits of Google Ads is its cost-effectiveness. You have control over your budget and can set daily limits, ensuring you never overspend. This flexibility enables your Christian school to reach a wide audience without draining your resources.

Furthermore, when considering the expenses associated with adding a student to a class, such as textbooks and classroom materials,  are not very high, the investment in Google Ads becomes even more appealing. The minimal additional costs involved in accommodating a new student can be easily offset by the potential revenue generated through effective Google Ads campaigns.

In other words, there’s not much cost difference between a class of 15 students vs a class of 20, but the revenue difference is enormous. So, why not try to fill every desk?

Measurable Success and School Enrollment Impact

The data-driven nature of Google Ads provides invaluable insights into the performance of your campaigns. These insights allow you to assess the effectiveness of your strategies in real-time and make informed decisions to improve your enrollment efforts.

• Click-Through Rates: Track the number of clicks your ads receive, indicating how engaged your audience is with your content.
• Conversion Tracking: Measure the number of prospective students who complete desired actions, such as filling out an inquiry form or scheduling a campus visit.

You can know for sure that your campaign is working and growing your school.

Tailored Messaging

Crafting compelling ad copy allows you to convey the unique benefits of your Christian school. Highlight your commitment to academic excellence, character development, and spiritual growth, showcasing what sets your institution apart from the rest.

You also control where the prospective parent lands on your website. By creating dedicated landing pages, you ensure parents are shown the exact information they need to see and you can have a compelling call to action to get more inquiries.

What are you waiting for?

Promoting your Christian school through Google Ads can dramatically improve your enrollment numbers. By targeting the right audience, managing your budget, and focusing on measurable results, you’re not only filling student openings but also establishing a robust digital presence.

Are you ready to leverage the power of Google Ads to boost enrollment at your Christian school?

Google Ads are a great way to reach parents in your community, but they can be complicated to set up and manage.

Learn more about how our team can keep things simple and help your school with Google Ads Management. 

Then complete the form below to schedule a call, so we can answer any questions you might have and explore how Google Ads can help you achieve your enrollment goals and support your school’s mission.

Comment and Discuss

• Have you considered Google Ads for your school before? Why or why not?

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season

Kurt Steinbrueck

OurChurch.Com Director of Marketing Services

Kurt serves as OurChurch.Com’s Director of Marketing Services, bringing over 20 years of expertise in search marketing, and has developed numerous marketing services and served hundreds of churches, schools, ministries, and businesses.

He has authored more than 500 articles on the subject, contributing to platforms like the Christian SEO Guys blog and Church Marketing University, and is an active participant on LocalSearchForum.com.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Kurt is an ordained minister, serving as pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL, demonstrating his commitment to both faith and community. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree from Georgia Southern University. He also holds a Specific Ministry Pastor Certificate and a General Pastor Certificate from Concordia Seminary.

www.ourchurch.com

The post Maximizing Enrollment: The Impact of Google Ads for Your Christian School appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

The first person that came to mind is my favorite teacher of all time.  She taught second grade at Immanuel Lutheran School in Brandon, Florida for more than 20 years (30 years teaching overall) and managed a website for her class for several years.  So, I gave her a call…

and fortunately my mother, Judy Steinbrueck, came through for me and agreed to an interview.

I think you’ll find the interview insightful.

If nothing else, the little nugget about how she has gotten her parents to read the online newsletter each week is gold.  That alone is worth the read, and the principle can be applied to other, non-education websites.

Paul Steinbrueck: How long have you had a website for your second grade class?

Judy Steinbrueck: About 5 years.

PS: Could you describe the purpose of the site and what’s on it?

JS: The main purpose is to communicate with my parents and students.  It’s updated weekly with lesson plans and homework.  It has a newsletter every week.  Bible verses for the year are up there.  Vocabulary, spelling words, and links to other useful sites for them to go to.

PS: What was your motivation for starting the website?

JS: I wanted to have information available to parents without them having to call me.  Not that I don’t want to talk to them, but for when students lose papers – their bible verse, spelling words.  Plus I wanted to provide other resources, like places to practice math flash cards.

PS: Prior to creating this website what experience did you have with computers or websites.

JS: Not much.  I just figured if it was easy I would try it.

PS: What’s the response been like from your parents?

JS: They love it!  They absolutely love it!  Parents often tell me they hope the 3rd grade teacher does the same thing.  It’s really helped to get the other teachers to create their own websites.

PS: What percent of parents visit the site on a regular basis?

JS: It’s grown every year.  Last year it was 100%.  Even those who don’t have access at home check the site at work.  Now I do provide a little incentive.  I send them an email every week that says “Let me know when you’ve check the plans for next week and I’ll give your child a coupon for the ‘superstore,’” which has little toys and games the kids like.

PS: That’s a great idea!

JS: Yeah, it really works.  The kids make sure the parents check the site because they want the coupon.

PS: I know your school, Immanuel Lutheran School in Brandon, FL , has a website.  Does it not give you the capability to keep pages for your own class?

JS: Apparently not, but I do link to the school site and the school site links to the class sites during the school year.  Several other teachers have sites for their classes, some with OurChurch.Com some with other school website services.

PS: Is there anything new you plan to add to your site or anything you’d like to add?

JS: I just add new things as things come to mind.  The vocabulary words were something I added last year.  It’s come a long way.  It started much simpler than it is now.

PS: Do you have any advice for teachers who might be interested in creating a website for their class?

JS: I would recommend every teacher have one.  It’s not hard to do.  But if you’re going to do it, you have to keep it up to date.

PS: Yeah, you just have to commit to doing it.

JS: Yes, if you want it to be useful to your kids and their families that’s important.  The other thing is that most parents who are looking for a school look on the web, so that’s another important reason to have it up to date, plus have interesting information, and have it organized well.

PS: That’s great advice.  Thank you very much for your time, and keep up the good work.

If you’re a teacher looking for an easy way to build a website for your class, check out our WP-EZ Website Builder. If you’re a part of a school looking for school website design or school search marketing, complete the form below to schedule a free, no-obligation phone call.

Comment and Discuss

• Do you think of online marketing as an expense or an investment? Why?

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season

Paul Steinbrueck

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. 

steinbrueck.org

The post Teacher: How to Use a Class Website for Students and Parents appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

I’ve included in this article key points from the workshop:

We started by talking about the current situation schools were facing.

• One person mentioned that lower enrollment hurt their ability to bring in new students since prospective parents wondered why there were so many open seats at their school.
• I asked about teacher pay and another person mentioned that annual raises had to be withheld because of the budget.
• I also asked them to consider what would happen if they lost more students next year due to the economy.

What about your school?  What issues are you facing due to budget issues from low enrollment?  What would happen if next year you loose students?

Let’s talk about the differences between search engine marketing and just about every other kind of advertising (newspapers, direct mail, radio, TV, etc)

How can your school can get a strong online presence in search engines?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is making your school’s website search engine friendly (so search engines can easily read the site) and telling the search engines what your site is about or what search terms (keywords) they should list you for.

This increases your search rankings allowing more people to find your school website.

School SEO Tips

• Ranking #1 when people search for your school by name name is good, but that’s not what most people are searching for when they are looking for a school.  Brainstorm to think of search terms (keywords) people would actually use to find a school, terms like “schools in [your city]” or “Christian schools in [your city]”.
• Use the search terms (keywords) in the text on your site, but make sure it makes sense.  Remember, people are going to see your site, so you want it to make sense to them.  Don’t just stuff keywords into your site’s content.
• Use search terms (keywords) in the Title and Meta tags of your website

Those are some basic tips that can get you started.  I encourage schools to find someone who understands Christian school SEO and have them help, so you get the best results and avoid any potentially dangerous mistakes.

Local Search Engine Optimization

Local SEO is getting your organization to rank well in the maps and local search engines like Google Maps, Bing Maps, and Yelp.

In addition to getting your school in front of people using the local search engines themselves, local search also has the added bonus that local search results are often displayed within the regular search results, above the regular search results.

For example, the screenshot below shows Google’s “local 3 pack” embedded within the a Google search.

Local SEO Tips for Schools

• Display the school’s physical address on every page of website
• Setup listings in the maps/local search engines
• Setup listings in Local Review sites (like Yelp)
• Setup listings in School Locator sites (like GreatSchools.org)
• Tell students/parents about the listings and ask them to write positive reviews and rank the school well.

Those are some basic tips to get you started.  I encourage schools to find someone who understands local school SEO and have them help, so you get the best results and avoid any potentially dangerous mistakes.

Is Online Marketing an Expense or an Investment?

One additional thing to address is the cost of search engine marketing for schools.  Here are three perspectives.

1. Marketing Is an Expense

This is a misunderstanding of marketing.  Marketing should not be considered an expense like books, carpets, or other line items on the budget. Once that money is spent on an expense, you never get it back.

2. Marketing Is an Investment

When you invest for your retirement and put money into an IRA, you expect to get your money back.  You also expect to to get a return (interest) on the money you invest.  Similarly, when you put money towards marketing, you expect to not only get that money back, but also get additional money, a return on that investment.

Consider what your school charges for tuition.  The average private school tuition in the US is more than $10,000.

Next, consider how much additional cost your school has for adding that one student.  For the example let’s say it’s $1000 for books and other supplies.  (Payroll, utilities and mortgage all stay the same with or without the new student).  That gives you $9,000 for every new student that enrolls that goes towards your general budget (programs, payroll, utilities, building fund, etc.)

So, if you invest $8,000 in marketing and get even one new student ($9,000) you are still $1,000 ahead. And that’s getting only 1 new student!

If you get two new students, you are $10,000 ahead.  If you get 10 new students, you are $82,000 ahead. Twenty new students, and you’re $172,000 ahead! Imagine what you can do with and additional $172,000?!?

3. Cost of NOT Marketing

Let’s say you have a board meeting and one person wants to spend $8,000 on marketing and another person wants to spend $8,000 on new desks and chairs.  It’s discussed, and the board decides to spend the money on new desks and chairs.  What happens?  You have some newer desks and chairs… end of story.

Now, let’s say the board decides to spend the money on marketing.  What happens?  You spend $8,000 on marketing and let’s say you get 10 new students (modest results).  You then have made back the $8,000 you spent on the marketing and have an additional $82,000.

As a result, you are still able to get new desks and chairs, and you still have $74,000 of additional money to spend on other things!

By not marketing, it kept your school from getting the new students (who, by the way, next year and each year after brings in another $9,000 as long as they stay) and cost you $74,000 in additional money for the budget.

Take Your School to the Next Level

One of the participants in the workshop commented that his school has always done well simply relying on word-of-mouth advertising.  But it now struck him, “Where could we be if we had done some marketing of the school?  We may have been able to expand.”

A great point!  Even if you are doing well, could you be doing better?

The bottom line is…

Don’t think of online marketing as a cost but as an investment in your school and your community.

If you would like to discuss how OurChurch.Com can help your school with school SEO, complete the consultation request form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop).

Comment and Discuss

• Are you currently investing in SEO for your school? Why or why not?

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season

Kurt Steinbrueck

OurChurch.Com Director of Marketing Services

Kurt serves as OurChurch.Com’s Director of Marketing Services, bringing over 20 years of expertise in search marketing, and has developed numerous marketing services and served hundreds of churches, schools, ministries, and businesses.

He has authored more than 500 articles on the subject, contributing to platforms like the Christian SEO Guys blog and Church Marketing University, and is an active participant on LocalSearchForum.com.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Kurt is an ordained minister, serving as pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL, demonstrating his commitment to both faith and community. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree from Georgia Southern University. He also holds a Specific Ministry Pastor Certificate and a General Pastor Certificate from Concordia Seminary.

www.ourchurch.com

The post Using Google To Achieve Full School Enrollment appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

I really enjoyed the chance to speak to the room full of teachers and school staff, and I hope I was able to spur them on towards making better use of their websites, giving them guidance on how to do that.

The interaction in the workshop was also fantastic!

Many of the ideas shared below came from workshop participants.

Online Tools for More Effective School Communication

With any team, good communication is essential.

What happens when communication fails? The team fails. For example, check out these classic NFL football bloopers…

The impact of poor communication isn’t limited to sports. Here’s a funny commercial that highlights a communication failure in education.

Benefits of using your website to improve communication

There are many benefits to using your website to improve communication, here are 6 that stand out:

1. Prevents miscommunication (misunderstandings)
2. Prevents missed communications (lost papers)
3. Save time – parents can get the info themselves.
4. Saves money – less paper copies.
5. Strengthen relationships. When communication is good and people are “in the loop” they feel more connected, more a part of the team.
6. Increases retention. When people feel connected, they don’t want to leave.

12 Ways to Use Your Website to Improve Communication

Let’s start with school-wide communication. (Then we’ll look at class-specific communication.)

1) Put all info for prospective students on the website

• Calendar
• Tuition
• Test book and curriculum info
• Uniforms
• Extra Curricular activates
• School rules
• Lunch Menu
• Staff directory
• Email for teachers
• Pictures of activities
• School philosophy
• Location
• Contact info
• Scholarship info (red text indicates these were suggestions from Paul)
• Application form
• Admissions process
• History of school
• Introductory video
• Virtual tour of school/map
• Commonly asked questions

2) Put all forms and policies on the website.

• Handbook
• Dress code
• Emergency form for athletics
• Permission forms
• Acceptable Use for  (photos and computers)
• Lunch menus
• Field trip
• Driver form
• Insurance forms for parents (field trips)
• Background check form

3) Put all school-wide communications on the website.

• Parent Teach Partner meeting forms
• Special day announcements
• Any paper you send home with students should also be on the website before they leave the school.

4) Email all school-wide communications to parents.

5) Have a calendar on your site and make sure it’s ALWAYS up to date.

• Must be up to date.
• Must include everything.
• If its not up-to-date or doesn’t include everything, people will not trust it and won’t use it.

6) Post & email a weekly note from the principal. Perhaps a blog.

7) Online event registration

• Sign up for extra curricular activities.
• Parent volunteer sign-ups.
• Allows parents to sign up anywhere.
• Helps to organize all sign-ups in one database.
• Prevents handwriting/reading mistakes

8) Pay for tuition, lunch online

Now let’s look at class-specific communication…

9) Maintain a class web page.

• Update at least once a week.
• At the very least put each week’s homework assignments and test schedule on it.  Other things can include…
• Syllabus
• Spelling list/memory verses/reading assignments
• Field trip info
• Links to outside resources
• Photo gallery
• FAQs
• Kids blog
• Podcast
• Course Description
• Research paper formats
• Class policies
• Daily schedule
• Teacher/classroom needs list
• Tests online
• Patrol list
• Weekly newsletter
• Phone extension

10) Put all class-wide communications from each teacher online.

11) Email all docs or a link to them to parents

12) Private student pages for grades & progress reports

• These are usually done through a special school portal rather than the website itself.

Changing the Communication Culture

If your parents and students are used to paper hand outs, paper sign-up forms, calling teachers and administrators for info, etc, they’re not going to adapt to new communication overnight…

• It takes consistency.
• It takes communication.
• It takes time.
• Creative incentives help. (Giving students points/prizes when their parents engage in communication)

Eventually it will catch on because your website will save parents time.

The two biggest reasons schools don’t do these things?

1. Money.
2. Time.

However… not putting all the info parents of prospective students are looking for costs you time and money.  Not putting all forms and policies on the website costs you time and money.

A better website will SAVE you MONEY and TIME.

The bottom line…

Education is a team effort. With any team, good communication is essential.

If a better website would help your school (or church, ministry or business) improve communication, check out our website design services.

And if you want to increase school enrollment, we have had tremendous success bringing in new families with school SEO and Google Ads!

Take the next step… Complete the form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop) to schedule a free call.

Comment & Discuss

• Which idea shared above resonates most with you and why?

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season

Paul Steinbrueck

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. 

steinbrueck.org

The post Online Tools for More Effective School Communication appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

No, we’re not talking about Christmas.

Remember this classic commercial by office supply store, Staples?

August is the month most children, teachers, and school administrators go back to school (or at least begin planning for it).

When school starts back up in the fall, there is a major change in the schedule of every family that has school-age children or a school employee.

This change in schedule is an opportunity…

not just for schools, but also for every church, ministry or business that serves these families.

• Parents are open to new, better ways to communicate with their children’s teachers and schools.
• Some parents discover in the first week of school, the school their child is attending is not a good fit and start looking for other options.
• Many families look to connect or reconnect with a local church, youth group, or small group.
• Parents are looking for after-school care, tutoring or extra curricular activities for their children.
• With schedules getting busier, some families look for business or services that can help free up time or make life easier like lawn services, cleaning services, restaurants, and shopping services.

OurChurch.Com’s theme this month is “Back to School Month”

We’ll be talking all month about how schools can communicate better online, and reach parents in their community to grow their enrollment. We’ll also be talking about how churches, ministries and businesses can can connect with and serve families better!

If you aren’t directly involved in a school or ministry to reach families, would you text or email this info to someone who is?  … For the children.

More helpful Back to School Month articles:

• • 12 Back to School Ideas for Church Outreach Events
  • Online Tools for More Effective School Communication
  • Using Google To Achieve Full School Enrollment
  • Teacher: How to Use a Class Website for Students and Parents
  • Maximizing Enrollment: The Impact of Google Ads for Your Christian School
  • New Website Helps Ignite Academy Dramatically Increase Enrollment
  • 7 Ways Blogging Helps Your Christian School
  • Showcasing Hand of the Master Ministries: A Journey with Lynn Sommers
  • Bayshore Christian School’s Amazing SEO Case Study

Back to school… It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

We’d love to get your feedback in this month’s Listening Post survey

We would also love to talk with you about your unique communication goals, challenges and opportunities and see if our website builder, website design or search engine marketing can help you better live out your mission online. Complete the form below (mobile) or to the right (desktop) to schedule a call!

Comment and Discuss

• What challenges and opportunities do you see for your organization during “Back to School” season?

Paul Steinbrueck

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. 

steinbrueck.org

The post Making the Most of “Back to School” appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.

This transition can be a big challenge for many families. But its also a great opportunity for churches and followers of Jesus in our churches to provide the support, encouragement and friendship many in our communities need.

So we put together…

12 Back to School Ideas for Church Outreach Events

1. School Supply Drive/Giveaway: Organize a campaign to collect school supplies and back packs for students in need. Then organize an event, in which you give away the school supplies you’ve collected.

2. Back-to-School Bash: Throw a fun event with games, music, and food to celebrate the new school year and build community among families. You could combine this with the school supply giveaway event.

3. Prayer Service: Designate a specific weekend worship service in which you pray for students and teachers.

4. School Prayer Walk: Arrange a prayer walk around local schools to pray for students, teachers, and administrators as they start the new year.

5. Tutoring Program: Create a tutoring program where church members can volunteer to help students with their homework and studies. Schedule specific afternoons or evenings where tutoring is available.

6. Tutoring Option 2: If organizing a tutoring program within your church doesn’t seem like the best option for your church, another option is to encourage church members to participate in existing tutoring programs in local schools.

7. After-School Club: Start an after-school club where kids can gather for snacks, games, and a safe environment while they wait for their parents to pick them up.

8. Parenting Workshops: Hold workshops for parents on topics like effective communication, setting routines, and managing stress during the back-to-school period.

9. Parent Activities and Support Groups: This is a great time to start a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPs) group at your church, moms bible study, or life groups for parents that have kids around the same age.

10. Community Clean-Up: Coordinate a neighborhood clean-up day where church members and local families work together to clean up school grounds and surrounding areas.

11. Adopt Classrooms or Teachers: Teachers and students don’t just need help and encouragement one time at the beginning of the school year, but throughout the entire school year. Some schools have “adopt a class” programs, in other cases you may be able to support specific teachers you already have a connection with. It’s an opportunity to pray for them, volunteer, and provide classroom supplies when needed.

12. Pack-a-Sack: Most schools provide free or reduced cost breakfasts and lunches, but some of those students end up going hungry over the weekends or holidays. Churches can organize a “pack a sack” program, which gives students a back of snacks to take home each Friday.

Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the children, parents and teachers in our communities.

No matter which Back to School church outreach events your church chooses, you’ll also want to promote those events online. Rather than share the same strategies at the bottom of every church outreach ideas article we write for every season and holiday, we’ll just point you to…

7 Ways to Promote Your Church Outreach Event Online

And if you’d like some help with a church website builder, church web design or church SEO so you can have your best Back to School outreach ever, fill out the form below to schedule a call.

Comment and Discuss

• What Back to School outreach event(s) is your church planning?

Want more church outreach ideas?  Church Outreach Ideas & Events for Every Holiday and Season

Continue reading: Making the Most of the “Back to School” Season

Paul Steinbrueck

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. 

steinbrueck.org

The post 12 Back to School Ideas for Church Outreach Events appeared first on Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO.