Marketing Your ChurchPractical Ways to Reach Your Community With the Gospel!

What Is Marketing?

matching a product or service with people who have a need for that product or service.

people need the Lord -- church marketing is a way of bringing people along to realize the need and find Christ.

Biblical Basis

Jesus’ presentation to the woman at the well – John 4:4-42

Paul in Athens – Acts 17:16-34

Or, Said Another Way…

church communications

community outreach

evangelism

First Things First

no level of public relations, promotion, advertising or image building can make up for a poor product.

put your primary focus on excellence in the way your church worships, provides education, ministers and makes newcomers feel welcome.

Getting Started

assign the task – “everybody’s” job becomes “nobody’s” job.evangelism committee.church communications work group.staff.somebody.

Finding Funds

look for areas in church budget that can be tapped for communication activities.printed items like stationery, newsletters,

bulletins, etc.special event budgets like VBS or

Christmas cantata.maintenance budgets related to signage

for buildings or vans.

Create a Written Plan

does not have to be long or fancy.

look at the calendar – be consistent throughout the year.

don’t overextend your resources – either budget or people.

better to do a few things well than to do a lot poorly.

Marketing Your Church

determine your church’s audiences. use church rolls to determine who you are

reaching now. look at your community’s demographics.

U.S. census data Outreach Marketing KBC’s Church Growth Team

trends in your community plant openings/closings new subdivisions

Ground Zero

develop a church logo and tag line in keeping with your church’s vision and its primary audiences.

establish graphic standards for all your marketing materials. invest in yourself by using a graphic artist.establish a pattern of excellence.

Basic Materials

church stationery/business cards.

signage for buildings and vans.

web site.

Free (or Almost Free)

word of mouth is free and is the most effective form of marketing.news releases for press, broadcast and cable.events.services your church offers.

news photos.digital cameras make this easy.

Free (or Almost Free)

web site – basic sites are free and easy to manage through LifeWay and other providers.host community service activities. blood drives, veterinary services, book clubs,

aerobics classes, support groups, “free” yard sales, “free” car washes.

call the radio stations and/or send news releases!

send letters to newcomers in your community. home sales listed in most newspapers.

Relatively Inexpensive

subdivision give-away.magnets with important numbers.microwave popcorn with “Jesus” video.

event sponsorships.concerts – patriotic, barbershop quartets,

etc. races & fun walks. job fairs.

Relatively Inexpensive

mass mailings.postcards can be very effective.

clothing items.design a shirt, t-shirt, hat or other clothing

item for your members to wear.

More Expensive

paid advertising.yellow pages.newspapers, shoppers, specialty

publications.

radio, TV, cable.ads.program sponsorships. live and/or taped broadcasts.

Final Notes

measure results. find out how they found out.visitor cards, surveys.

follow up with people.once people visit, it takes personal

attention to keep them coming back.

Thank You!