Christian Internet Marketing

“Check my website for errors?“, you ask. What does that have to do with internet marketing or search engine optimization? It is very important because Google looks and observes the errors you have on your website!  These errors play a part of the decision search engines use to determine if your website should be in search results. If you are a website owner, this fact is crucial for you to note and correct.  So, what should you do?

The two main websites we recommend to check is Google Webmaster Tools and WC3. These websites will actually point out errors for you to fix! You might not even be aware of the errors, but they will count against you. Don’t procrastinate fixing website errors! If possible, fix errors early so you don’t have a lot of work.

There are 3 main website errors I will mention that you should repair:

1. 404′s – Many times you might go to  someone’s website and land on a 404 web page. Webmasters can create a cute template for 404′s but they are not good to have. Google will look down on them. What are they? They are webpages that can’t be found. Although there is a technical explaination, we won’t go there in this blog post. 404 errors are often returned when pages have been moved or deleted.  If it’s a mistake, fix it. If you moved the page, use a 301 (moved permanently response) instead which will be accepted by search engines. If this is too technical for you, contact us (or your webmaster) and make sure you resolve these website errors! Either way, as a user of the web, don’t you dislike landing on one of these website pages?
2. Duplicate Content – If you have any duplicate content on your own site or from another website, these errors will count against you. Google views duplicate content as plagerism even if it’s your own work. Make sure your content is unique and if you find duplicate content, correct the errors on your website!
3. Meta Tags  Errors – Meta tags are important to have on every page you want Google to see, but you also need to make sure they are not too long or too short or these will be considered as errors. Although search engines vary on the exact number of characters, keep an eye on limiting your title tags to 60 characters and your description to a maximum of 160 characters.  Once again, Google will notice if you have duplicated any of these meta tags and it will be viewed as errors on your website.

Here are 10 things about Christian internet marketing you might not be aware of:

10. Understand Christian internet marketing – Whether you want to share your faith on the web or you want to get your product, service or business name onto websites and social media, this type of marketing is very different from the old styles of print or tv marketing. Writing, content, visual graphics and processes are not the same. Start with a fresh outlook and see what it’s all about!

9. Don’t give up – Sometimes when people first start on the web they can expect immediate results. Whether it’s traffic, sales or leads, have some patience. Don’t give up because if Christian internet marketing is combined with good SEO, you can see results (depending on the niche) from weeks to months!

8. What’s your goal? – Do you want to sell a product? Share your faith in God? Brand your business name? Get consumers to your store? Keep faithful long term clients? Get new email addresses? Brainstorm first and figure out what the goal is before you proceed any further.

7. Focus - With a huge array of marketing on the internet, you can get lost in your time or your efforts and not get much done. Focus on how much time you spend in an area but at the same time don’t limit your focus to only one area of marketing.

6. Be constant – Your audience wants to know what to expect from you.  Let your audience know what is anticipated and be constant with your style.

5. Know facts and figures – Online marketing continues to evolve because it’s a part of technology and what society is doing. Know what sites you should be familiar with and where your targeted audience is at.

4. Who are you? – Whoever handles your social media is who is representing your organization or company. Make sure this voice knows what your values and beliefs are and how they should represent you.

3. Open your eyes – There is another world on the internet.  Be aware of the many different methods of internet marketing that are available to you and the new opportunities that await you.

2. Know the basics of SEO – Whether you want to market your video, a graphic or an article, know the basics how to optimize for search engines to get your best results.

1. Anticipate – Christian internet marketing allows you to market your faith or your business service or product to a world of people searching for what you want to share or sell. Millions of people are looking every day on websites and search engines! Grasp the huge possibilities and anticipate great things!

Question:  How Much Does It Cost to Have a Website?

Answer: This is a huge question because there are many other aspects to owning a website. The cost for the website alone can range from $0 to literally a $100,000! Let’s look a little deeper at the question at what specifically you are looking for in your website.

Here are a few questions you need to consider:

• Do you want to build it yourself?
• Do you want to maintain it yourself?
• Do you want it to appear in search engine results?
• What is the purpose of your website? It is for business, personal or private use?

Once you can determine these answers, it will help to answer the question, “How much does it cost to have a website?” You need to purchase a domain name. (the website address) This can cost approximately $10 a year. You also need somewhere to hold the files. Hosting costs approx. $100 a year.  Have you considered internet marketing? (Getting traffic and sales.) In addition, search engine optimization (SEO) will help get your website viewed on the first page of Google and other search engines.

I’ve known people to spend $10,000 and more for a website that doesn’t even appear in search engines. How does that happen? Having or creating and building a website alone will not get you the results you most likely want. In other words, a pretty website alone won’t bring in revenue.

Before you purchase a domain or pay someone to build a website, learn the basics of internet marketing. Don’t overpay a company to have a website. Lay a good foundation and be successful with your website!

Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. ~Proverbs 4:13