Have you ever heard someone rave about a “hole in the wall” restaurant? You know the kind. Tucked between a gas station and a laundromat, with a faded sign and a cracked parking lot. But inside? Pure magic. The food is incredible. The service is warm and personal. You walk out thinking, How is this place not packed every single night?
That’s the mystery, right? Something so good, so worth experiencing… and yet, so hidden.
Some of those restaurants might like flying under the radar. Maybe they’re just fine being a local gem. But for many businesses, churches, or nonprofits, staying hidden isn’t the goal. They want to be known. They want to grow, serve more people, and make a greater impact. The problem? It’s not what they offer—it’s that people can’t find them.
The same thing might be happening to you.
You could have the best mission, the most welcoming community, or a product that genuinely solves problems. But if no one knows you exist online, you’re invisible.
That’s where SEO comes in.
What Is SEO and Why Should You Care?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is how people find you online. It’s what helps you show up when someone searches for “nonprofits near me,” “church with youth programs,” or “best family photographer in [your city].” It’s how you go from being a hidden treasure to a visible, trusted solution.
And here’s the good news: SEO doesn’t have to be scary. You don’t need to be a tech wizard or hire a high-priced agency to start seeing results. The fundamentals are straightforward. Let’s walk through six practical strategies you can start using today to boost your visibility online.
1. Speed Up Your Site
Site speed matters—a lot. We’ve all bounced from a website that took more than a few seconds to load. In fact, every additional second of load time can hurt your engagement, conversions, and credibility.
Here’s how to speed things up:
Compress your images. Keep file sizes under 1MB—ideally closer to 500KB. Don’t sacrifice quality, but avoid uploading giant 5MB files.
Use quality hosting. If your site is sluggish, your hosting provider may be the culprit. Consider upgrading to a faster plan.
Minimize plugins. Especially if you’re using WordPress, too many plugins can bloat your site. Keep only what you need.
Enable caching. Caching stores versions of your site so repeat visitors don’t have to reload everything from scratch.
2. Build Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. Think of them like digital referrals—each one tells Google, “Hey, this site is trustworthy.”
Two types to focus on:
External backlinks: Earn these by writing guest posts, partnering with other organizations, or getting listed in local directories.
Internal links: Link related pages within your site. If your blog post on “overcoming anxiety” links to your counseling page, that helps users and search engines.
Action steps:
Link blog content to your services or resources.
Create a clear navigation menu.
Ask partners to link to your site in their own content.
3. Get More Google Reviews
One of the most powerful (and underused) SEO tools? Google reviews. They boost your local search visibility and build trust with potential visitors or customers.
Encourage happy clients, members, or donors to leave a review. And make it easy! Share a direct link to your review page. Don’t just say, “Leave us a review”—walk them right to the doorstep.
Pro tip: Automate your review request process. Build it into your workflow after a project wraps or an event ends.
4. Publish Keyword-Rich Blog Posts
Every blog post is a new doorway into your website. It’s a chance to answer real questions and connect with people searching for help, insight, or resources.
Not sure what to write about? Start by thinking about what your audience is Googling.
Examples:
For churches: “What does the Bible say about anxiety?”
For nonprofits: “Best food banks near [your city]”
For small businesses: “How to create a budget that works”
Each post makes your site more valuable—and more likely to rank in search results.
Bonus: Blog content isn’t just for SEO. It builds trust, adds value, and helps people see that you’re really here to help.
5. Optimize Meta Tags and Descriptions
This one sounds technical, but it’s simple. Meta titles and meta descriptions are the little previews you see in search results.
Make sure every page has:
A unique and clear title
A helpful description that invites people to click
Your website builder (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, etc.) likely has a space to enter these. Don’t let them auto-fill. You want to be intentional here—describe your organization clearly and include keywords people might be searching for.
Avoid this mistake: letting a random event or outdated promo be your homepage’s default meta description. Instead, make it timeless and informative. Think: “Grace-filled community church in Dallas focused on family, faith, and mission.”
You’re Worth Finding
You already believe in what you do. Whether you’re leading a church, running a nonprofit, or growing a business—you’re making a difference.
Don’t let all that heart and hustle go unnoticed.
You don’t need to be the best-kept secret in your city. You just need the right tools to help more people find you, trust you, and take the next step with you.
Start with SEO.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just intentional.
Because when people can find you, they can be helped by you.
