How a Local Church's Website Traffic Grew 1700% with Digital Marketing

- HubSpot
- March 26, 2025

Located in Pembroke, New Hampshire, Grace Capital Church (GCC) has been a spiritual cornerstone for over two decades, fostering community connection and faith in the Greater Concord area.
But by 2021, GCC faced a new challenge: stagnant online growth. Their website was underperforming, social engagement was minimal, and their ability to attract new visitors was waning.
Grace Capital came to media junction with two key goals: increase website traffic to 1,500 visits per month and fill their 9 AM service. What they didn’t expect was a transformation that would exceed their goals—and completely reshape their digital outreach.
“By October 2024, we were amazed—our website traffic soared to over 21,000 monthly visitors, a staggering 14-fold increase! Not only did our 9 AM service fill up, but we also had to open an 11 AM service to accommodate the influx of attendees,” said lead pastor Mark Warren.
How did Grace Capital achieve these incredible results? Let’s dive into their journey.
The Challenge: Facing Digital Roadblocks
Grace Capital Church has always been deeply rooted in its local community, known for creating meaningful connections and offering a place of belonging.
But while their in-person presence thrived, their digital presence told a different story—one of stagnation and missed opportunities.
Externally, their challenges were glaring:
- Low Visibility: Simply put, Grace Capital was difficult to find online. Their website wasn’t ranking well on search engines, meaning people searching for churches or spiritual guidance in the area weren’t seeing them in results. For a church with a mission of connection, being invisible online was a serious problem.
- Outdated Web Experience: Once visitors did make it to their website, they weren’t sticking around. The site was clunky, lacked essential features, and didn’t reflect the welcoming experience people had come to expect from Grace Capital in person. Without an inviting digital front door, potential newcomers were slipping away.
- Underutilized Digital Channels: The church had a Facebook page, but content was inconsistent. Email campaigns were few and far between. They weren’t actively promoting their events or sharing their story across platforms that could broaden their reach.
Internally, the team felt the weight of these struggles. The church’s message was powerful, but their online efforts weren’t making an impact.
Volunteers managed their digital presence with the best of intentions, but without the expertise or tools needed for sustainable growth.
Pastor Mark Warren summed up the sentiment perfectly:
“We knew we had something special to offer, but we needed expert guidance to connect with our community in new ways.”
The stakes were high. They needed a partner who understood both digital marketing and their mission—someone who could help bridge the gap between their inspiring message and a disconnected digital world. That’s when they found media junction.
The Solution: Crafting a Digital Strategy That Empowers
At media junction, we knew that sustainable growth for Grace Capital would require a strategy built on long-term empowerment and collaboration—not quick fixes.
Here’s what we delivered:
1. A Content-First Strategy
We began by crafting a content strategy designed to attract both local and national audiences. Understanding that many people start their spiritual search online, we focused on answering common questions they might have.
Topics such as “6 Tips for Choosing the Right Church for You” and “3 of the Best Churches in the Greater Concord Area” were designed to rank highly on search engines, helping Grace Capital show up when it mattered most.
These types of articles didn’t just drive traffic—it positioned Grace Capital as a helpful guide, a church that truly understood the needs of both new seekers and long-time believers. It gave visitors a reason to trust the church before ever stepping foot through their doors.
2. Training an In-House Content Manager
Sustainability was key to Grace Capital’s success, so we focused on empowering their team to take ownership of content creation.
We helped them identify Cheryl Mortimer, a passionate member of their church who deeply believed in their mission. Cheryl was eager to learn and take on the role of in-house content manager—someone who could carry the torch long after our direct involvement.
Our training program provided Cheryl with the tools and knowledge to succeed. We covered everything from SEO fundamentals and keyword research to best practices for writing engaging, search-friendly blog posts.
But training wasn’t where it ended. We continued to support Cheryl by editing and refining content, providing strategic guidance, and ensuring her work aligned with long-term goals.
Through this collaborative approach, Grace Capital gained more than just content—they gained a capable leader in Cheryl, who now spearheads their digital efforts with confidence and consistency.
This move empowered Grace Capital to maintain a steady flow of high-quality content that speaks to the needs of both their local and growing online audiences.
3. Overhauling the Website
Grace Capital’s old website wasn’t doing them any favors. Visitors found it outdated and difficult to navigate.
To address this, we started with incremental improvements to their WordPress site while planning a complete overhaul. In 2024, we transitioned them to a HubSpot website, a more powerful and flexible platform that could better support their growing needs.
We approached the redesign with a focus on storytelling and user experience. Visitors needed to feel welcomed and inspired the moment they landed on the homepage.
The site was structured to make important information—such as service times, events, and blog content—easy to find. By aligning the design with Grace Capital’s mission, we created a digital experience that truly reflected the warmth and sense of community they offer in person.
4. Expanding Community Engagement
We helped the church strengthen its email marketing strategy to promote events like Easter services and their annual Christmas festival.
Additionally, we optimized their presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to increase visibility and foster stronger connections with their congregation.
Pastor Mark praised this approach, saying, “media junction’s innovative content strategies and expert SEO insights have been critical to our success.”
The Results: Achieving—and Exceeding—Every Goal
Grace Capital Church experienced transformational growth, surpassing every goal they set at the start of their partnership with media junction. Here’s a closer look at their results:
Website Traffic
Visits to Grace Capital’s website soared by 1,762%, climbing from 1,158 monthly visits to over 21,000.
This wasn’t just a temporary spike—it was sustained growth driven by a combination of better search visibility, fresh content, and improved user experience.
People who once struggled to find the church online were now arriving in droves, exploring resources and events on the new site. The increase in traffic significantly boosted both awareness and engagement with their mission.
Organic Search Visibility
The church’s presence on Google saw a dramatic turnaround. Initially, they had only 11 keywords ranking on the first page of search results, making it difficult for new visitors to discover them.
After implementing a robust content strategy, Grace Capital now ranks on the first page for over 800 keywords—a staggering 7,000% increase.
This visibility brought in visitors not just from New Hampshire but from across the country, helping the church extend its reach well beyond local borders.
Content Engagement
The church's blog became a powerful tool for both discovery and engagement. Since launching their content-driven strategy, Grace Capital’s articles have collectively generated more than 182,000 page views.
Individual posts such as “Which Christian Denomination is Right for Me?” and “5 Benefits of Spiritual Fasting” became major traffic drivers, with over 30,000 views each.
These articles answered key questions for faith seekers, earning the trust of readers and building meaningful connections with new audiences.
Attendance Growth
Grace Capital’s goal was to fill their 9 AM service—a reasonable expectation for a church of their size. But what happened next caught everyone by surprise. The 9 AM service quickly reached capacity, prompting them to add an 11 AM service to accommodate the growing demand.
Today, both services are regularly packed, and the church is even considering adding a third. Pastor Mark described the success as beyond anything they had envisioned:
“Not only did our 9 AM service fill up, but we also had to open an 11 AM service to accommodate the influx of attendees. Now, we’re even considering a third service to meet the growing demand,” he shared.
New Contacts and Social Media Growth
Organic search traffic became a reliable driver of new contacts. What used to be a rare influx of leads is now a consistent flow of new people engaging with the church each month.
On social media, Grace Capital saw a significant rise in impressions and interactions across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Videos of sermons and community updates reached more people than ever before, further deepening engagement with their online audience.
These results didn’t just meet Grace Capital’s goals—they far exceeded them. With a thriving digital presence and a steady influx of new members, the church is now poised to continue expanding its mission both locally and nationally.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Their Digital Reach
With their Sunday services packed to capacity, Grace Capital Church isn’t slowing down. Instead, they’re shifting their focus to reach even more people—this time, through digital channels.
The plan? Take their most popular blog content and bring it to life on YouTube. Imagine faith-based video series that answer real questions seekers have, making Grace Capital a go-to resource online.
The church aims to connect with both their local community and a growing national audience.
These videos won’t just be sermon recordings; they’ll offer helpful, engaging content that inspires new connections.
The goal is simple—boost their YouTube subscribers and live-stream attendance, continuing to expand their mission without being limited by physical space.
“We look forward to continuing this journey together, impacting even more lives,” Pastor Mark shared with optimism.
The future is bright for Grace Capital, and their reach is only just beginning.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
After seeing Grace Capital’s transformation, you might be wondering: what could a stronger digital presence do for your organization?
Whether you’re struggling to attract new audiences, engage your community, or grow your reach, the right strategy can change everything.
At media junction, we specialize in helping businesses and organizations unlock their potential. From building websites that work hard for you to creating content strategies that bring in steady traffic, we craft solutions designed for long-term success. Just like Grace Capital, you can go from being invisible online to becoming a trusted resource for your audience.
So, what’s your next step? Let’s talk about your goals and how we can help you achieve them. Reach out to media junction today and let’s get started on your success story. The journey is just beginning.

Meet Kevin Phillips, your go-to expert for making digital content that gets noticed. With a decade of experience, Kevin has helped over 150 clients with their websites, messaging, and marketing strategies. He won the Impact Success Award in 2017 and holds certifications like Storybrand and They Ask, You Answer. Kevin dives deep into content creation, helping businesses engage customers and increase revenue. Outside of work, he enjoys snowboarding, disc golf, and being a dad to his three kids, blending professional insight with a dash of humor and passion.
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