Further, nothing should be announced in service that doesn’t apply to the supermajority of people sitting in the service. Consistently presenting information that is irrelevant to those hearing it actually trains your people not to listen.
Each announcement should be story driven, demonstrate impact, and inspire those sitting in the congregation to take their next step.
6. Your Website Is Where You Make Your First Impression
Research tells us that a person emotionally decides whether they will make a return visit to a church within 15 minutes of exiting their car. As such, churches rightfully expend a great deal of effort ensuring that they create a welcoming environment from street to seat. But equally important is working on ensuring the steps that a person took before even entering the parking lot were just as welcoming.
Your church’s website is vital for your effectiveness in reaching new people.
When a person comes to your website, they should be able to easily find important information, such as your church’s location and service times. They should also get a glimpse into what life at your church is like. Your website should feature lots of videos and pictures of your people, your buildings, and the types of things your church does.
Your vision and beliefs should be front and center on your website, inspiring people and making them feel as though they will be welcomed onto your campus.
7. Tie Everything Back to Your Vision
As marketing expert Donald Miller has said, good marketing is simply an exercise in memorization.
While the mission of the Church is universal—to love God, love others, and make disciples—your church has a unique vision and DNA for accomplishing that mission in your particular context. Every part of your marketing and communication plan should reinforce that particular vision.
Ideally, the way that your church selects which ministries it will offer, what events it will hold, and which initiatives it will engage in would be through the grid of your church’s vision. The work of good marketing is to make the connection between any one event or initiative and the broader vision of the church as clear and compelling as possible.
The Work of Church Marketers Is Important
Church marketing and communication isn’t all about creative assets and KPIs—even if it isn’t less than that. The work you are doing is eternally important.
As you strive to introduce people to your church and the ministry opportunities it offers, you are introducing them to an opportunity to encounter God himself.
