The Doing Good Foundation and JX Strategy made significant strides in 2023 to expand the digital reach and impact of temple Visitors’ Centers worldwide. Through strategic digital initiatives, we’ve continued to foster connections, enhance online engagement, and invite individuals, members and friends alike, to learn more about the Gospel and visit sacred temple spaces.
2023 By the Numbers
- 4.26 million visitors to participating temple websites since 2020.
- 12 million digital touchpoints created since the project’s inception.
- 5,952 search terms ranked in the top 20 search results.
- 6,400 online reviews shared across Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor.
- 70,000+ invitations sent for the Festival of Lights at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center.
- 3.2 million people reached through social media channels.
- 376,242 Wikipedia pageviews across all temple-related pages since 2020.
A Digital Focus for Visitors’ Centers
Our mission continues to build a robust online presence for temple Visitors’ Centers, making them welcoming, educational spaces for individuals seeking to learn about temples, the Church, and the Gospel. By leveraging websites, articles, social media, and digital campaigns, we’ve enhanced visibility and engagement across Oakland, Mesa, Washington D.C., and Rome.
Key 2023 Highlights by Temple
Oakland Temple
- 22,275 event tickets reserved, with 30% (~6,500) of attendees being friends.
- 3565 search terms ranked in Google’s top 20, an 80.8% increase from 2022.
- Record attendance at events such as Cambodian New Year, the Nutcracker Ballet, and Christmas in Polynesia.
- A 78% growth in the email list, now totaling 10,514 subscribers.
- Maintained its position as the #1 ranked attraction in Oakland on TripAdvisor.
Mesa Temple
- 82,000 attendees at the Easter Pageant, with a record-breaking 163,000 website views.
- A 55.88% increase in Google search clicks to 83,904.
- Promoted FamilySearch Classes, driving 4,500 website visits and a surge in in-person participation.
- 96,299 visitors to Christmas-related web pages and 169,325 total in-person visits for the year.
- Awarded the Travelers’ Choice 2023 on TripAdvisor as the #1 attraction in Mesa.
Washington D.C. Temple
- Launched dctemplevisitorscenter.org, achieving 122,538 visits in December during the Festival of Lights.
- 103,292 email subscribers with a 53.5% average open rate.
- Awarded the Travelers’ Choice 2023 on TripAdvisor and ranked as the #1 attraction in Kensington, Maryland.
Rome Temple
- 60,000+ website visitors from across 15 languages.
- Articles like “What is the difference between the Catholic religion and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?” gained global traction.
- TripAdvisor ranking reached #32 at its peak in September, earning the Travelers’ Choice 2023 Award.
- Focused on multi-language engagement, including Spanish, Italian, German, and French.
Driving Digital Engagement
Content Creation
- TempleHill.org: 17 new articles with 16,886 views.
- MesaTemple.org: 16 articles with a staggering 113,040 views, led by “2023 Mesa Easter Pageant Dates Announced” with 68,983 views.
- Rome Temple: Maintained engagement through multi-language content, reaching 30,574 article views.
Social Media
- Oakland Temple: Reached 263,742 users on Facebook.
- Mesa Temple: Facebook posts garnered 595,951 impressions.
- Washington D.C. Temple: Social campaigns during the Festival of Lights reached 140,400 users.
Search Engine Optimization
- 5,952 keywords across websites ranked in Google’s top 20, ensuring consistent visibility and engagement.
- Increased presence in high-value searches like “Mesa Temple Christmas lights” and “Mormon Temple Festival of Lights.”
Email Outreach
- 727,210 emails sent from the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center alone, with a 53.5% open rate.
- Mesa’s email campaigns engaged 63,589 subscribers, driving event participation and donations to the Giving Machines.
TripAdvisor and Reviews
- The Oakland, Mesa, and Washington D.C. temples remained the #1 attractions in their respective regions.
- Travelers’ Choice 2023 Awards were secured for all major temple locations.
- Reviews increased significantly, including a 429% increase in reviews for the Washington D.C. Temple.
Looking Ahead: 2024 Vision
Strengthening Temples.org
As a central hub, Temples.org will unify digital efforts, providing a comprehensive resource for all temples. It will serve as a platform for outreach and education, inviting global audiences to learn about temples in their language.
Unified Efforts
From expanding content to refining digital campaigns, the mission for 2024 is to magnify our reach, align messaging across platforms, and connect with diverse communities worldwide.
Let’s work together to continue doing good, embracing the opportunities of the digital age to inspire, uplift, and invite.
