Market Effectively
Marketing any church program must compete with other marketing efforts around us. It doesn't need to be a slick or hard sell. But it does need to show purpose and confidence.
In general, we need to stop relying on verbal announcements on Sunday morning and notices pinned to bulletin boards. Those are low-impact tools.
Instead, use targeted e-mails and your e-mail newsletter to market programs. Maintain categorized member data, to support targeted marketing.
In marketing a program, be sure to include:
- Intended audience
- Intended benefits from participation
- Schedule
- Leadership
- Cost (if any)
- Prerequisites (if any), such as daytime availability, special skill, prior experience
- Provide an easy way to ask questions (such as e-mail reply link)
- Provide an easy way to register (such as via web site)
Afterward, use e-mail tools to solicit feedback on the suitability of this offering, on execution, and on needs for further offerings. Engage in dialog with members, rather than trying to guess how they responded and what they will support next time.
