In this post, we show you how to create a website for your club in just a few minutes—or a few hours if you want to put in a little more effort—all on your own and without any technical expertise. First things first: the solution is Google My Business, which is ideal for clubs, associations, and small organizations.
Google describes Google My Business as a free, user-friendly tool for businesses and organizations to strengthen and manage their online presence on Google, including Google Search and Google Maps.
What’s exciting is that setting up and managing your club’s data can be done in just a few minutes and can easily be updated with new content, such as club news, events, or other activities, in the future.
My Business is not a website, but “merely” an online presence – though we won’t dwell on that for now. We will look at the difference in more detail in the next chapter.
Your profile will appear on the right side of Google search results. You can add, edit, delete, and share the following information in your Google profile—think of it as the modern-day business directory:
This can be just the club name or the name combined with a slogan. The ideal length is between 50 and 75 characters. Please make full use of this.
Show where your club is based and how to find it—your club will also appear on Google Maps.
Who is the contact person at your club and how can they be reached? Please provide the name of the responsible contact person at your club here.
A great profile needs great photos. You can also add videos—perhaps you have a short clip from your last club event. It works wonders for promoting the next one.
Never underestimate the power of reviews. You can find reviews for just about anything online these days. Encourage your members to rate your profile on Google—you’ll see, you’ll have plenty of great reviews in no time.
The key to a successful website is to consistently share useful and engaging content from your club's daily life. It has never been easier for clubs to run their own little "mini-blog."
As mentioned, My Business isn't really a website and doesn't replace one. But that doesn't matter—it provides exactly what your club needs: an online presence, or an online storefront, so to speak.
Think of My Business as the first step toward getting your club online. Long before your club actually needs its own website, it makes sense to look into free solutions. Don't forget that a simple website not only costs you 1,000 - 2,500 euros upfront, but also creates ongoing effort and expenses. Without regular updates, you can pretty much forget about having your own site, as nobody likes reading old, neglected content (especially not Google).
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One final point: if you already have a website, it makes double the sense to have a Google profile, because you want your website to be found, right? In the My Business section, you can also link your website or announce posts and events – more on that later.
Google My Business also gives you the option to "build" your own kind of website. While it comes close to a "real" website, customization is currently still very limited, though it is possible.
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Forget about an expensive website for your club when you can have a free profile on Google – we have summarized a few points here to help your club make an informed decision.
Setting up Google My Business only requires a personal Google account. If you already have one, simply sign in – otherwise, register first. All set? Great, then launch Google My Business and follow these steps:
Finally, one of the most important steps: once you have entered the required information and your profile is verified, you have the option to add posts, events, offers, news, or products. Posts remain visible on your profile for seven days and are then archived, remaining accessible to everyone.
Posts are a great way to appear on Google for specific topics. This naturally helps you generate reach for certain subjects. Imagine your sports club appearing on Google for topics related to your sport in your local area. There is nothing better than attracting potential new members this way.
It is perfect for any club struggling with its online reach—regardless of whether you have your own website or not. Potential members are increasingly using Google to search for clubs in their area. In this case, you have a significant advantage over other clubs in your vicinity that are not displayed.
"Play" with keywords in your description that you want to be found for. For example: "Musikverein Linz-Land – incl. youth band" or "Fußballverein Hinterdupfing – youth development, women's soccer team, and professional coaches." A description of your club's history, services, and goals is essential to get the most out of it.
Furthermore, you can easily create and manage events (club events, concerts, tournaments, etc.), courses (sports, fitness, learning, etc.), or match schedules. You can also use the post function to call for new members—who knows, you might find new members exactly that way?
Images are important—a large portion of Google searches now happens via images. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Below are the most important tips for suitable images:
Think of Google My Business as an opportunity to make your club a little more digital. You won't find a more cost-effective way to establish an online presence and gain significant reach as a club. Depending on how consistent you are, you can generate several hundred views of your profile per month via My Business.
It is one of many steps to bring your club into the digital age. We would, of course, be happy if you also took a look at Vereinsplaner as a tool for easier communication and organization within your club.
If you have any questions about our tool, you can reach us at any time in our Help Center. Feedback on this article is also always welcome. Good luck with setting up your club.
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Together with nine industry experts, we have written a 98-page ePaper on current topics related to club management. The ePaper contains 5 chapters and 15 subject areas covering key aspects of organization, members, funding, sponsors, taxes, and much more. You can download the handbook for free on the Vereinshandbuch website.
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