Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

They're Searching, So Help Them Find Us
by Tom Goodman
January 18, 2012

When someone uses the Internet to search for a church, we want Hillcrest at the top of the search results. You can help.

A web search is the main way people end up at Hillcrest these days. So, it's important that Hillcrest get to the top of everyone's search results. I've got a couple of ways that you can make that happen.

Write a Review

First, write a positive review of your Hillcrest experience on our "Google Places" page. Go to http://ow.ly/8ryBz (I shortened the link). Click on the red button that says "Write a Review." Several of you have already written very kind things about your Hillcrest experience!

Whether you're a long-time member or you've just started visiting, you can help us reach people by reporting on your Hillcrest experience. Even if you have visited Austin from out of town, you can still write a review.

This helps us in three ways. First, when someone is doing a web search for a church, it's impressive to see a large number of reviews about a church. Second, when they start reading about specific things you appreciate about Hillcrest, it raises the likelihood they'll come check us out. And, third, sometimes certain things you say in your review raise the position that Hillcrest ends up on the search results page. If they're looking for the same things you mentioned in your review it increases the likelihood that Google will send them to our website.

You may have other places to leave a review, such as Yelp or the "Recommendations" section of our church's Facebook page. Every time you make a positive mention online, it helps us!

Link Your Social Media to Our Website

Here's a second homework assignment: Link your social media to our website. If you're on Facebook, "like" our church's Facebook page. If you're part of Google+ you should "+1" our website when you find it in the search results. When we're promoting an event on our website that you're excited about, share the link on Facebook or Google+. If you have a blog, add www.HillcrestAustin.org to your recommended links.

Help Them Seek and They Will Find

Since we placed a little ad with Google, the ad has been viewed about a thousand times a day, and five people per day have clicked through the ad to our website. If you'll take a few minutes right now and complete this "homework assignment," you'll make it easier for these people who are looking for a church home to find us!

--Tom

Have you signed the petition? Go to BeFairAustin.info to ask the city to make some much needed changes in the proposed energy rate change. Every Austin church will be impacted: The new rates will cost Hillcrest Baptist Church $15,000 per year more (1.5% of our budget). Sign up and share this link with all those in your circle of influence, and encourage them to sign it, too.

Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here.

Check out my weblog here.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org

LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here.

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.

Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
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They're Searching, So Help Them Find Us by Tom Goodman January 18, 2012 When someone uses the Internet to search for a church, we want Hillcrest at the top of the search results. You can help. A web search is the main way people end up at Hillcrest these days. So, it's important that Hillcrest get to the top of everyone's search results. I've got a couple of ways that you can make that happen. Write a Review First, write a positive review of your Hillcrest experience on our "Google Places" page. Go to http://ow.ly/8ryBz (I shortened the link). Click on the red button that says "Write a Review." Several of you have already written very kind things about your Hillcrest experience! Whether you're a long-time member or you've just started visiting, you can help us reach people by reporting on your Hillcrest experience. Even if you have visited Austin from out of town, you can still write a review. This helps us in three ways. First, when someone is doing a web search for a church, it's impressive to see a large number of reviews about a church. Second, when they start reading about specific things you appreciate about Hillcrest, it raises the likelihood they'll come check us out. And, third, sometimes certain things you say in your review raise the position that Hillcrest ends up on the search results page. If they're looking for the same things you mentioned in your review it increases the likelihood that Google will send them to our website. You may have other places to leave a review, such as Yelp or the "Recommendations" section of our church's Facebook page. Every time you make a positive mention online, it helps us! Link Your Social Media to Our Website Here's a second homework assignment: Link your social media to our website. If you're on Facebook, "like" our church's Facebook page. If you're part of Google+ you should "+1" our website when you find it in the search results. When we're promoting an event on our website that you're excited about, share the link on Facebook or Google+. If you have a blog, add www.HillcrestAustin.org to your recommended links. Help Them Seek and They Will Find Since we placed a little ad with Google, the ad has been viewed about a thousand times a day, and five people per day have clicked through the ad to our website. If you'll take a few minutes right now and complete this "homework assignment," you'll make it easier for these people who are looking for a church home to find us! --Tom Have you signed the petition? Go to BeFairAustin.info to ask the city to make some much needed changes in the proposed energy rate change. Every Austin church will be impacted: The new rates will cost Hillcrest Baptist Church $15,000 per year more (1.5% of our budget). Sign up and share this link with all those in your circle of influence, and encourage them to sign it, too. Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here. Check out my weblog here. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.