Resource Your Church for Representation
I wrote this blog post last month for the NeoPraxis Blog, but I really wanted to have it posted here on my blog as well so I could refer some of my current and future readers who are in church leadership to it more easily. So, forgive me if you have already read it…
In the business world, you will be hard pressed to find a sales representative, marketer, or manager who does not carry a business card. Yet, in the church world, our pastors, leaders, and members seldom would even dream of carrying one. How did this happen? In the past five years, I would estimate that 80% of the pastors I meet do not have a business card and if they do, they usually have left them back at the office. Church members…never have one at all.
Tell Your Story
Marketing, simply put, is telling your story. The church has the greatest and most important story on the planet to tell…sadly we are the worst storytellers and the worst marketers, I have ever met. We are simply doing Jesus a major disservice in the way we represent Him. We are missing opportunities that come our way each and every day. In the business world, such a representative caught so unprepared, would surely be fired! Don’t you agree?
Pastoral Selling 101
Pastor, you meet many people every week through your visitation, counseling, funerals, hospital visits, and the like. You simply must have a business card. You are in the business of representing God through your church ministry. When you introduce yourself to someone for the first time you make an immediate impression within 5 seconds of that introduction. A principle of “Sales 101” teaches us that we must have our introductory “pitch” and our business card at the ready at all times. You never have a second chance to make that first impression…seize it. Who are you and what do your do in 20 seconds? Write it down, refine it, practice it…and then use it! Make your story so compelling so that the recipient is curious to ask you more. Please, have a business card so the people you meet can connect with you and your church afterwards.
Church Word Of Mouth Marketing
Churches should also equip their members with a ministry card. No, not one as personalized as a pastor would have, but one that essentially serves as an invitation. Churches have an army of people rubbing shoulders with friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family members throughout your community every week. What is a common conversation that happens when people bump into friends at the mall?
“So, what have you been up to lately?”
“Well, I have been getting more involved in my church…” (or something like that).
This is the perfect segue for a church member if equipped with a business card sized church invitation to let the conversation flow and if appropriate invite that friend or colleague to their church. An invitation card can easily be carried in the wallet, purse, or briefcase, so it goes with people wherever they travel throughout your community. Again, seize the opportunity. Capitalize on the enthusiasm already there in your church. Empower people to invite their friends.
It Simply Works
Yes, this sounds simple; especially in this day of technology integrated marketing (which I am all for by the way) but I promise you…it works! It is time to get back to basics. Word of mouth marketing is the best and most effective marketing your church will ever do. It is cheap, personal, and has measurable impact. My wife and I have been involved in the leadership of a church plant for the past four years and our most effective marketing tool by far for getting people to connect with our church and ultimately with God, has been our “Invitation Card”.
You Can’t Afford Not To!
I know church marketing budgets are tight. This tool however, is the most cost-effective, affordable, proven marketing system on the planet. A church can easily get 1000 high quality, professionally designed, and printed business ministry cards for under $250.00. That’s 25 cents per card! Isn’t 25 cents worth the price of having your people networking in their sphere of influence and being equipped and excited to invite their network of contacts to your (and their) church for your next outreach event…an event that can change that person’s life for eternity? When you look at it that way, you simply can’t afford not to do this!
So, Get to It!
Start your 2009 ministry year by resourcing representation. Resource your church members with an invitation card. Resource your pastor with a business card. Start networking in your sphere of influence and tell your story, your church’s story, and most important, Jesus’ story.
What do you think? Does your pastor have a business card? Would an invitation card work for your church? Please share your thoughts and comments so we can all learn together.
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http://www.egracecreative.com Brandon Cox
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Lyn
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