Media Outreach

A recent post on Church Marketing Sucks by Paul Hickernell talked about church marketing through it’s communication pieces: bulletins, invite cards, announcements, slides…etc. Using lots of fonts, words, colors and designs, isn’t always a good thing. A stop sign does its job because it’s simple and recognizable. Our brain is trained to react when it sees a red stop sign, not a green stop sign.

I found the following points particularly useful and interesting:

• Make sure content is clear and correct. Keep it free from clutter. Don’t let the main point get lost in the middle of a wordy paragraph.
• Keep the design of the bulletin, slide, card…etc. simple. Stay away from outrageous fonts and designs that draw the attention away from the content.

Some thoughts of my own on writing content for bulletins and other communication pieces:

• Write the content in a conversational tone.
• Have someone proofread the content to make sure it flows and is free from spelling errors.
• Most people will skim the bulletin. Key points/messages should stand out and away from a full paragraph.
• Balance pictures with texts. No one wants to read a text only bulletin.

Photo By: thecrazyfilmgirl

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A recent post on Church Marketing Sucks by Paul Hickernell talked about church marketing through it’s communication pieces: bulletins, invite cards, announcements, slides…etc. Using lots of fonts, words, colors and designs, isn’t always a good thing. A stop sign does its job because it’s simple and recognizable. Our brain is trained to react when it sees a red stop sign, not a green stop sign.

I found the following points particularly useful and interesting:

• Make sure content is clear and correct. Keep it free from clutter. Don’t let the main point get lost in the middle of a wordy paragraph.
• Keep the design of the bulletin, slide, card…etc. simple. Stay away from outrageous fonts and designs that draw the attention away from the content.

Some thoughts of my own on writing content for bulletins and other communication pieces:

• Write the content in a conversational tone.
• Have someone proofread the content to make sure it flows and is free from spelling errors.
• Most people will skim the bulletin. Key points/messages should stand out and away from a full paragraph.
• Balance pictures with texts. No one wants to read a text only bulletin.

Photo By: thecrazyfilmgirl

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The fall is just around the corner.

Careful…it might come right out and bite you.

Anyway, that means those huge back-to-school church kick-off events are also right around the corner.

Have you started the plans yet?

Now is the time.

Here are a few things to consider for your fall event.

1. Make sure the event is relevant to your audience. Just because some groups like a group movie night, families of young kids (i.e. toddlers and infants) will shutter at the idea of having to hold their squirmy child for two hours.   Let your audience dictate the event.  Throw out some options on your church facebook page to get a feel for what tickles their fancy the most.  Forego the eye-rolling – and head-rolling for that matter – and pick the right genre for your crew.
2. Start publicizing no later than August 1st. Which means your messaging is due…yesterday. Give your creative team (i.e. your graphic designer) some time to be…creative! Creativity is least likely achieved in harried situations.  Not to be confused with harry situations.
3. Get thinking outside the box. Maybe instead of having ONE event, take your budget from one massive back-to-school kick off and empower your members. Hand them the monies to host their own neighborhood events so they can invite the people they want to reach in a more intimate setting.  But, make sure there is ample resource for how to use the money on the website or on print pieces. And of course, be good stewards with who you give it to… I know some pastors are shuttering right now….
4. Follow up!! Follow up!! Get a system into place that can review the effectiveness of the event.  What was the turnout? What was the budget?  What was the best part? The worst?  Should you actually repeat it?  This also includes follow up with the new visitors.  If you can do a raffle to capture information, it’s a great opportunity to set yourself up for solid follow up. Not to be confused with lousy, shallow, stinky follow (i.e. none).

Good luck and God speed!!!  Don’t fall over though. Wow, I’m full of good ones today.

Photo By: *Micky

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I spent the last 4 weeks in a weight loss contest for the local radio station in town. I was pitted against 4 other contestants, most of whom weighed more than me, to see who could lose the most weight in 1 month. A supplement company supplied us with their latest & greatest, and we went after it.

Long story short, I didn’t come in first place. Frankly, I didn’t come in the top 4 places. Do you get my drift? But I really learned a lot about myself through the process and some things I find parallel in my life & the church.

Before I go much further, let me say this- I did lose 17 pounds in the contest, and now, 7 total weeks later, I have lost 10% of my body weight, or 27 pounds. So I wouldn’t characterize the fact that I didn’t win as “not being successful.” I am quite pleased, but my journey doesn’t stop here.

We’re often faced with challenges. Whether it be in personal life, working life, a contest, etc. It would have been extremely easy for me to not participate in this contest. I flew home from a family vacation before everyone else; I agonized over every calorie for 4 weeks, even while on vacation. Taking the path of least resistance is so easy.

Take count on your drive home today. How many fast food restaurants do you drive past? For me, that number’s near 30. Or how must faster can you fire off a half hearted email to your co-worker that just wastes everyone’s time than actually explaining the problems at hand and what you need? Or how much easier is it to stay in your cubicle rather than taking a moment to let someone else know that their hard work makes your life better?

I found in the day to day grind of things, it’s not about a massive change in the way I do things. If you would have told me “you can’t eat fast food for 1 month” I don’t think I would have done it. But focus on today, and know “here’s what I can do today” and soon a day becomes a week, a week becomes a month, and a month becomes a habit.

Look for that discipline in your daily life. Read your bible today. Focus on your tasks for today. Encourage someone today. Work out today. Then, do it tomorrow. See where you end up!

Photo By: alancleaver_2000

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I spent the last 4 weeks in a weight loss contest for the local radio station in town. I was pitted against 4 other contestants, most of whom weighed more than me, to see who could lose the most weight in 1 month. A supplement company supplied us with their latest & greatest, and we went after it.

Long story short, I didn’t come in first place. Frankly, I didn’t come in the top 4 places. Do you get my drift? But I really learned a lot about myself through the process and some things I find parallel in my life & the church.

Before I go much further, let me say this- I did lose 17 pounds in the contest, and now, 7 total weeks later, I have lost 10% of my body weight, or 27 pounds. So I wouldn’t characterize the fact that I didn’t win as “not being successful.” I am quite pleased, but my journey doesn’t stop here.

We’re often faced with challenges. Whether it be in personal life, working life, a contest, etc. It would have been extremely easy for me to not participate in this contest. I flew home from a family vacation before everyone else; I agonized over every calorie for 4 weeks, even while on vacation. Taking the path of least resistance is so easy.

Take count on your drive home today. How many fast food restaurants do you drive past? For me, that number’s near 30. Or how must faster can you fire off a half hearted email to your co-worker that just wastes everyone’s time than actually explaining the problems at hand and what you need? Or how much easier is it to stay in your cubicle rather than taking a moment to let someone else know that their hard work makes your life better?

I found in the day to day grind of things, it’s not about a massive change in the way I do things. If you would have told me “you can’t eat fast food for 1 month” I don’t think I would have done it. But focus on today, and know “here’s what I can do today” and soon a day becomes a week, a week becomes a month, and a month becomes a habit.

Look for that discipline in your daily life. Read your bible today. Focus on your tasks for today. Encourage someone today. Work out today. Then, do it tomorrow. See where you end up!

Photo By: alancleaver_2000

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