Marketing to Churches

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Permalink Reply by CBNA Leadership on April 8, 2008 at 3:42pm

Andy go to the page of Troy Thompson and ask him about Jim Standish.

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Permalink Reply by Chet Cromer on April 8, 2008 at 10:15pm

I'm looking to do more work with churches in the next year with some software we're developing. Not sure yet how we will market / sell it yet, but this topic does interest me.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Howard Snyder on April 18, 2008 at 2:53pm

Andy,
We do quite a bit of work for churches, mission boards and missionaries. We have found several effective ways to approach and serve them. Of course, the absolute best way is through referral. We have found that if we give our customers, friends, and members of referral groups (like CBLG) tools to give to their contacts working on staff in churches, our receipt of referrals increased.
We also ship to churches, mission boards and missionaries throughout the country. That gives us another opportunity to educate our current clients in a specific market on other products/services that we feel would be of interest to them. We insert "sales ads" with their shipment to increase additional sales. The advantage here is that there is already a trusted relationship built between us and the client - we are just reminding or educating them that we can do more for them!
Identifying other service providers that market to your target and inserting your printed piece(s) in with their materials shipped can get your name in front of more prospective clients as well.
We have also found that a well designed series of post card ads sent to a specific niche only(like churches) in a chosen zip code(s) can be very successful! We have access to data bases that give us that specific information.
The key in every one of these options is that the pieces be well designed, with a specific result in mind, If it is not well thought out it can hurt growth instead of encourage it. Remember that when you use any of the marketing tools I've listed above it is most likely that this will be the potential client's "first impression" of you, your services and the quality that you produce. It can be very difficult to change that first impression.
We've done more, but I've gotta go!

Susan Howard Snyder
The Howard Print Shop

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Permalink Reply by Jacob Polsley on May 20, 2008 at 11:07am

It seems that a referral from another church or member is always the easiest way. I make attempts for referrals from everyone I speak to on a daily basis. If a church I call on has no need for our services they usually know a church that might, and they will always have a contact. Every one asks for referrals from the people they work with, but asking for a referral from someone that tells you no, is a great source!

Jacob Polsley
Eden Enterprises

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Permalink Reply by Lloyd Easters on June 5, 2008 at 8:36am

Jacob,
I've found that referrals are by far the best way to reach new churches. We and another colleague of mine have done direct mail and it used to be effective but the response rate has dropped off dramatically. I send an e-newsletter to pastors who have visited our website and that has produced some response. Feel free to send me an article on building tips or construction myths or whatever and I will include it in the next newsletter.

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Permalink Reply by Jacob Polsley on June 5, 2008 at 8:41am

I will do certainly do that. Thanks for the help!

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Stephenson on July 7, 2008 at 2:13pm

I find that the easiest way to market to a church is to start with your own. I advertise with both the Christian Blue Book as well as the Christian Yellow Pages. With the blue book your church gets a free advertisment listing. This opens a time for you to contact your minister and advise them to take advantage of the marketing and open a new topic of what you do and how you can be more helpful to your own church. You may find that by offering your time and assistance even if its with something that you dont do for a living but do very well that each church would be very receptive and open an oppertunity for you to do some marketing of your own.

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Permalink Reply by Ray Marsh on July 22, 2008 at 10:17am

Hey Gang.as ..
I have a business on the side marketing to churches who are interested in starting up or evaluating their current efforts in the area of Sports Ministry. My business is called "Sports Ministry Resource." While God has given me many awesome opportunities in this ministry I am fairly new at marketing it. I have an extensive marketing background so I'm sure I'll get up to speed with God's help. For now, I have sponsored a couple of Golf tournaments for the Fellowship of Christian Athetes and the Christian Professional Chamber of Commerce here in Indianapolis. I've inquired about getting a table at a large denominational convention, but can't find anything for much less than $1,000 and that is a little out of my range right now. Let me know if any of you would like a brochure or if there is something you wouldn't mind sharing as I try to get out there in front of folks.
Be Blessed...
Ray

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Stephenson on July 22, 2008 at 10:33am

yes I would love a brochure. Please feel free to send me one or we can meet so that i can learn more about you and your ministry. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Susan Young on October 7, 2009 at 3:22pm

On a related topic, I wrote an newsletter article a while back on what we can learn from churches in our marketing (so kind of a twist on this topic). Thought you all might be interested in reading:
http://www.aimfiremarketing.com/articles/faithfulmarketing0306.htm
Some of the tips may actually apply as you're marketing to churches too! :)
-Susan

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Permalink Reply by Andy Waggoner on October 7, 2009 at 4:24pm

Interesting, Susan. Thank you!

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