Marketing Template How to Market Your Church Workshop, May 9, 2012
Review Your Church Church of the Heavenly Secret, located in beautiful downtown Anywhere, USA Currently has 72 members, 40 regularly attend Average age is 62 Website needs work, communications (internal and external) are poor Active and engaged vestry Ready to invite and accept new members and change
Review Your Market The real estate commission is showing an increase in sales in single family homes near the church. The census reports an increase in young married couples in the area. A recent survey by the local seminary showed that what most people are looking for is an opportunity for spiritual growth.
Review Your Competition Its not the other Episcopal Churches in the area! Theres a mega church 20 miles down the road that packs them in every Sunday. The service most attended by young couples is the 8:30 or 9 a.m. time slot.
Goal and Objectives Goal: Grow the Church Objectives: – Increase the number of visitors by 40% to the 9 a.m. Sunday service – Target young couples, with and without children – Increase the attendance at adult education by 35% – Convert 15% of visitors to members
Strategies Strengthen the 9 a.m. service to be the most visitor friendly Bulletins explain Episcopal liturgical practices and include all of the educational opportunities at your Church Greeters at the doors Options for children Create a robust, interactive, and flexible adult education program Rectors and vestry are available for conversation after the service
Positioning Advertising Public Relations Direct Marketing Website Social Media
Advertising Online is the best value for reaching your target audience: Google Adwords, Facebook, Yahoo Get on the lists: Yellowpages.com, superpages.com, churchangel.com, your local CVB All advertising roads should lead to your website Use print ads for special services, programs, events, listings in the religion section
Public Relations Take your local papers reporter/editor out to lunch Provide accurate, brief releases that will appeal to their audience More (releases) are not better Press release template is provided
Direct Marketing Targeted Flexible Tangible Measurable Cost-Effective
Website The single most effective way to attract visitors Does not have to be expensive or complicated Does have to have a dedicated content manager Be aware of what content your audience wants, not what your staff wants wordpress.com, blogger.com, or the Episcopal Churchs template
Internal Communications Knowledge is powerful Creates a firm foundation when everyone is on the same page Empowers your membership Switch to e-newsletters where appropriate, they are efficient and cost-effective Again, drive everyone to your website
Social Media The new word of mouth Recruit ambassadors Blogs, Facebook, Twitter Think of it as your virtual coffee hour Photos and videos can give real, tangible insight to your Church
Action Plan Budget Volunteers/assignments Schedule/benchmarks
Evaluation Tracking your web traffic - Google Analytics