Show neighbors that your church is alive and welcoming
Google lets you publish short updates directly on your Business Profile. They appear on Google Search and Maps, in the "Updates" or "Overview" tab on phones and in the "From the owner" section on computers.
Google says that when people find your latest updates on your profile, it helps them decide to visit. For a church, posts are a simple way to show that faithful preaching and real fellowship happen here every week, not just on a website nobody has updated since 2019.
Posts also help with the busiest search seasons of the year. Many people look for a church at Christmas and Easter. A clear post with service times, published a few weeks ahead, meets them right where they're searching.
Know the types of posts
| Type | What it's for | What you add |
|---|---|---|
| Update | General news: a sermon, a new series, a welcome to visitors. | Text, a photo or video, and an optional button with a link. |
| Event | Anything with a date: Christmas Eve, Easter, VBS, a conference. | A title, start and end dates and times, plus a description, photo, and button. |
| Offer | Built for sales and discounts. Churches rarely need it. | Skip this one. |
Posts older than 6 months are archived unless they have a date range, so keep posting regularly.
How to create a post
- Sign in and open your Business Profile (search Google for my business).
- Select Posts, then Add post.
- Choose Update or Event.
- Add your text, a photo, and a button such as Learn more linking to the right page on your website.
- To publish later, turn on Schedule this post and choose a date and time. To repeat a post, choose how often from the Repeats menu.
- Select Post.
Google reviews each post. It shows as Pending until approved, then Live. To change or remove a post, select Posts, then More next to the post, then Edit or Delete.
Google may reject posts that include a phone number, email address, or social media handle it can't verify. Add a Call now button instead, which uses your church's verified phone number.
What to post
Your church already produces plenty worth sharing. Most weeks, the easiest post is the sermon you just preached.
| Idea | Example | Button |
|---|---|---|
| This week's sermon | The title, the passage, and one sentence on the main point. | Learn more, linking to the sermon page |
| New sermon series | "This Sunday we begin a study of the Gospel of Mark." | Learn more |
| Plan your visit | Service times, where to park, and what to expect. Set it to repeat monthly. | Learn more, linking to your visitor page |
| Holiday services | Christmas Eve, Easter, Thanksgiving, and any other special services, as Event posts. | Learn more |
| Community events | VBS, an ESL class, a concert, a community meal. | Sign up |
| Schedule changes | A weather cancellation or a change in service time. | Call now |
Write posts that invite
- Lead with what matters. The first line may be all someone reads. Put the event, date, or sermon title first.
- Write for a newcomer. Use everyday words. If you mention something like "catechism class," add a few words explaining it.
- Invite, don't hype. A warm, plain invitation fits a church better than exclamation points and superlatives.
- Include the details. Date, time, place, and whether childcare is available.
- Add a real photo. Your own building and people, not stock images.
- Check spelling and keep it professional. Google may reject posts with errors, extra characters, or text that adds nothing.
"The Good Shepherd" (John 10:1-18)
This Lord's Day, Pastor Tom preached on Christ's care for His sheep, and the comfort of knowing we are known by Him. Listen online, or join us Sunday at 10:30 AM. Visitors are always welcome.
Button: Learn more, linking to the sermon page
Christmas Eve Service · December 24, 5:00 to 6:00 PM
Join us for Scripture readings and carols telling the story of Christ's birth. The service lasts about an hour and is suitable for the whole family. Nursery available.
Button: Learn more, linking to your Christmas page
A simple posting rhythm
Aim for one post a week. If that's too much, every other week is still far better than none. Batching makes it easy: set aside 30 minutes at the start of each month and schedule everything at once.
| When | What to post |
|---|---|
| Every Monday | Yesterday's sermon, with a link to the recording. |
| Once a month | A "Plan your visit" post. Set it to repeat monthly and it takes care of itself. |
| Early November | Thanksgiving services and any special December services. |
| Early December | Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, as Event posts. |
| A month before Easter | Easter services (and Good Friday, if you hold one), as Event posts. |
| As needed | Community events, new series, and any schedule change. |
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Why it causes trouble |
|---|---|
| Typing the church phone number in the post | Google may reject it. Use a Call now button. |
| Posting holiday services the week of | Many people plan ahead. Post two to four weeks early. |
| Insider-only announcements | "Session meeting moved to Tuesday" means nothing to a visitor. Post for newcomers. |
| Linking the button to your home page | Send people to the exact page: the sermon, the event, the visitor page. |
| Posting in bursts, then going quiet | A steady rhythm shows a church that is active all year. |