Rome Sweet Rome

There are many articles and tutorials concerning web design, strategy, and marketing, but very few focus on the niche of Catholic evangelization.  In this post, I am going to outline the strategy I used (and use) to develop, publish, market, and analyze content for CatholicTools. With using these simple techniques I have built a large Catholic blog in 3 months that attracts readers from across the country (and even the world).

As with all CatholicTools articles, this will give a good outline; however, feel free to customize each step for yourself.  I am going to use resources from other websites that I find very helpful.  Take note:  “Don’t get overwhelmed.” Read the article, bookmark it, and come back.

Develop an Idea

Ask your self 3 questions:

1. Why do I want to use the Internet to evangelize?
2. What unique niche or field could I develop or write about?
3. What are my goals?

Get a piece of paper and start brainstorming.  For CatholicTools, I originally wanted to test if I could develop something to be at the top of Google’s search results.  Well, I did that.  Now my unique niche is tools that help Catholic Parishes.  Specifically Catholic youth and young adult ministry.  I enjoy writing about my own past experiences and sharing ideas that could help spread the Gospel.

Try to think what keeps my readers up at night?  Why should a reader take the time to read my article?

More Resources

How to Choose a Niche Topic for Your Blog

Pope Suggests Blogging

Write Exciting Content

Love

But, Jason I want to buy a domain name.   Before a site can be launched it needs content.  Content that will be worth reading.  Now, I am a horrible speller, so I try and make up for it by writing awesome Catholic content.

1. Keep article length to 300-500 words (yes you can bend the rules)
2. Paragraphs should be no more than 3-5 sentences.  Short is GOOD!
3. Use beautiful pictures (make sure they are optimized)  How to Optimize a Picture for the Internet
4. Make the content personal and meaningful.
5. Develop 10 articles/post and write 10 more that are scheduled to publish once a week for the next 10 weeks.
6. Use headings, bullets, numbers, bold, italics, and underline.
7. Find someone to guest post and write some content for your site.
8. Follow simple Search Engine Optimization Techniques.
9. Don’t even dare worry about making money.  It will distract you.
10. Read other blogs/sites and mimic their style.

When I was first starting out I subscribed for 4 weeks to Copyblogger’s daily RSS feeds and Problogger.  They filled my inbox with quality articles, but over time I unsubscribed because I didn’t need them anymore.  However, I would suggest subscribing for the first 4-6 weeks.

5 years ago I did some work for a popular Catholic author.  I suggested he give his stuff away on his blog so his blog would be the hub of information regarding this Catholic topic.  The strategy worked extremely well.  Many people came to read his articles, hear talks, and see pictures from events.  People would leave comment, after comment on all postings.  Because of this strategey he further achieved the rank of guru of his field.

This technique is call Content Marketing or becoming the Authority in your field.  This is the way you should write.  Give away your tips, advice, and good thoughts.  Here is an excellent article on the subject.  Content Marketing 101

More Resources

Learn How to Copywrite – Great Articles!

Basic HTML Tags

Using Titles Effectively

WordPress Your Publishing Platform

Mary

Wordpress is a free platform that runs on a web server (we will cover later), which publishes content to the internet.  Content is edited through a web browser.

I like WordPress.Org to publish my content into a website because it is free, accessible anywhere, and expandable. This tutorial is designed to show you how to set up your own web site on your own server; however you could use WordPress.Com or Blogger.

A little Homework

Learn About Wordpress

Download and Install

Learn All About Wordpress

It is important to read the documentation if you want to learn how to use it…Or you need to hire someone to install, setup, and teach you how.  It is very easy once running, but it will require a little work.

Why is it important to learn about Wordpress?  It’s like reading the owners manual on your new car.

Buying a Domain Name

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In the past I would buy .com .org .net and Dot everything else for any project I was working on.  Now I just buy what I need.  However, at only 10 bucks each you can easily secure yourself.

I buy domain names at GoDaddy.com.  I don’t like their advertising, but they are cheap, reliable, and easy to work with.

1. Always use a promo code.  Google “Godaddy promo code.”
2. Never buy anything else they are selling.  “Just say No.”
3. Ask for help and be patient.

Hosting Company

Adoration

Now you need a home for your WordPress install and domain name.  Where to go?  I like www.site5.com.  I have used them for over 6 years and only once had a problem (which they fixed).  They answer your emails, plenty of space, and low cost.

Finding a Beautiful WordPress Theme

Now the search begins for an awesome site theme.  Since you probably read the documentation on Wordpress you realize it’s pretty easy to add a new design to your site.

I use Mystique (I have customized my installation).  Preview Here Download Here

More Themes

• Wordpress Themes
• 100 Free Themes
• 40 Themes

Search Engine Optimization

Rome is Home

Go to Google Adwords Search and search the word “Catholic” or any word pertaining to your Catholic faith.  The numbers are HUGE and give a solid example of why Catholics must be on the internet.

1. Register your website with Google Webmaster Tools.
2. Read about Search Engine Optimization
3. Track How People Find Your Content using Google Analytics.
4. Install the Google Sitemap Plugin.
5. Keep writing Content regularly.

These steps actually work.  If what you write is worthless and nobody reads it, your ministry isn’t working.  It needs to be improved.  In addition it takes time.  Yes, weeks, months, sometimes years.

RSS and Email Newsletters

An RSS feed is automatically generated from your site with your current publications and either emailed or downloaded to the person’s computer.  It is so your audience can receive your new updates with out always checking your site.

This is important to grow, because it ensures a regular audience of readers.  If you look around CatholicTools you can find strategically placed links asking readers to “Sign Up”

FeedBurner is the company that manages this service for free.

Another retention tools is an Email Newsletter.  The company I like the best is iContact.com.

More on Emailing

Emailing with Audacity

Email Newsletters for Catholic Parishes

Examples

As you look around CatholicTools.com take notice of all the listed practices in place.  Everything is place for a purpose.  Copy it (don’t copy my content and paste it on your site, but copy it’s style).

A few more good examples of sites practicing these techniques:

Signs of Contradiction

Janice Buck Design

Spirit Daily – Great content and Great niche

Popularity: 7% [?]