New visitors don't show up at your door first — they check your Google profile, your church page, and your latest social post. This guide is the shortest path to making those three surfaces work for you.
The 90/10 rule of church discovery
90% of new visitors find a church through three surfaces: Google Business Profile, a church directory listing, and a single active social account. The other 10% (word-of-mouth, your own website, paid ads) only compounds after those three are claimed and current.
Week 1 — Claim your three surfaces
- Google Business Profile. Free. Add hours, address, parking notes, 10+ photos (exterior, sanctuary, kids area, lobby, pastor), and post once a week.
- Faith Common church page. Free during early access — service times, location, livestream, sermons, prayer requests, visitor form, and giving link on one public page. Create yours here.
- One social account. Pick Instagram or Facebook based on where your congregation already is. Don't start three.
Week 2 — Fix the visitor basics
Your homepage and any directory listing must answer four questions above the fold:
- What time is service?
- Where is it (with parking)?
- What's it like for a first-timer (dress, length, kids)?
- Where do I park / how do I get in?
Week 3 — Start the weekly rhythm
- Monday: 60–90s sermon clip.
- Wednesday: a verse and one sentence of reflection.
- Friday: a clear invitation to Sunday with service time, address, and "what to expect".
- Sunday: livestream or live photo from gathering.
Week 4 — Add the conversion paths
Every public page should have these forms within one tap:
- Plan a visit (name, email, Sunday they plan to attend).
- Request prayer (name optional, request, confidential toggle).
- Give online.
- Find a small group.
What grows an online community (not just an audience)
Audience = followers. Community = recurring interaction. To grow community, focus on three repeatable moments:
- Public Bible discussion — invite the congregation to highlight and discuss the sermon passage on Faith Common between Sundays.
- Small group sign-ups — re-promote your groups every 6 weeks, not once a year.
- Visitor follow-up — a real human reply within 48 hours to every prayer request, visitor form, and DM.
What a complete church profile online looks like
- Church name, denomination, photo, one-line description
- Service times and location with parking notes
- Livestream and sermon archive links
- Leadership and beliefs
- Kids/youth/student ministries
- Small groups directory
- Events calendar
- Prayer request form
- New visitor form
- Giving link
A Faith Common church page ships with every item on this list, free during early access.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up a church online presence from scratch?
Claim three things first: a Google Business Profile, a free church page on Faith Common (service times, location, livestream, giving), and one social account where your congregation already spends time (Instagram or Facebook). That trio covers 90% of how new visitors find a church in 2026 — a full website can come later.
How do I help my church get discovered online by new visitors?
Three moves drive 90% of visitor discovery: (1) keep your Google Business Profile updated with hours, photos, and recent posts, (2) get listed on church directories like Faith Common and your denomination's locator, and (3) make sure your website's home page answers 'what time, where, what should I wear' above the fold.
What does a church need to grow its online community?
A simple weekly rhythm: one sermon clip (60–90s) on Monday, one verse + reflection on Wednesday, one invitation post for the weekend service on Friday. Add a livestream on Sunday and a prayer request form on every page. Consistency beats production quality every time.
What should a church profile online include?
Service times, full address with parking notes, what to expect for first-time visitors, what to wear, kids/childcare info, livestream link, sermon archive, leadership bios, statement of beliefs, giving link, and a way to request prayer or schedule a visit. A Faith Common church page includes all of these by default.
How long does it take to see new visitors from an online presence?
Most churches see their first 'I found you online' visitor within 4–8 weeks of a complete Google Business Profile, directory listings, and a weekly post rhythm. Sustained growth comes around month 4–6 once reviews, photos, and livestream consistency compound.