Someone new moves to your town. They Google 'churches near me.' Your church doesn't appear. Not because your website is bad. Because you're not listed in the places Google actually checks.
Online directories like Google Business Profile, Bing Places, and Apple Maps aren't optional anymore. They're how search engines decide what's real and what's not. If you're not there, you don't exist.
This week: Claim your Google Business Profile at google.com/business. Add your church name, address, service times, and at least 3 photos. Takes 15 minutes. Verification postcard arrives in 5-7 days. This one listing will do more for your discoverability than any paid ad.
Next week: Why your church website loads slower than your members' patience.