Does your church advertise?

Posted by Joe Thorn - 08/02/08

say what? (cameraphone)

Ok, so it’s nothing new, they’ve been talking about TV’s on top of gas pumps for a while now, but I haven’t seen them around here - until today. Gas Station TV sets up the boob tube at each pump of a gas station supplying local news content and limited advertising for all who are shelling out over 50 bucks to fill up the tank. I am sure there are plenty of people out there beating up American culture pointing at this as another way our restless souls are seeking distraction from our own reality. Or something like that. I tend to think of it more as an excuse to make money. Either way people seem to like it, and as an option for advertising it seems to do the job well. I am waiting to see what church shows up first on the gas pump.

It got me thinking about advertising/marketing. Where and how does your church advertise? Newspaper, TV, movie theaters, flyers, internet, mailers, door to door? Or are you opposed to any kind of marketing and only rely on the flag of joy flying high from the castle of your heart? And what about viral marketing and generating buzz? Steve and I had a chance to ask Mark Driscoll about some of his comments relating to preaching. He essentially said gospel-centered preaching that boldly and creatively confronts the culture is a biblical and effective way of generating buzz about the church. In other words, it’s the fruit of good preaching. I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts on the subject of ads and marketing the church in general. What are you doing? What works? What doesn’t? What are your convictions?

8 Comments

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  1. You didn’t take that picture with your cell phone, did you? ‘Cause you could have, like, caused an explosion or something.

    Comment by Matt Brown — February 8, 2008 #

  2. LOL. Urban myth. Nothing on advertising? Am I on my own out here?

    Comment by Joe Thorn — February 8, 2008 #

  3. It’s been my experience personally and through conversation that one of the most overrated means is the postcard mailer advertising an upcoming event or series.

    I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard something to the effect of “We dropped 4 large on a mailout and got a big bag of nuthin’ to show for it.”

    For us, the greatest means of advertising has been the miracle of the Internet. The vast majority of our visitors come because they “heard” about us there.

    The most elusive has been word of mouth, but that’s a good one as well.

    We still do our outreach efforts in the community, but I don’t see them so much as “getting our name out” or “advertising” anymore. Instead, I see those things as being agents of God’s grace as we try to help folks in the community.

    If we ever get any to our church, that’s just gravy. Otherwise, I would probably cease doing any of that due to such poor ROI.

    Comment by GUNNY HARTMAN — February 8, 2008 #

  4. I’m with Gunny. Our coaches told us to spend money on mailings, door hangers, etc. We did; no one came. Then we concentrated on generating buzz through WoM and the internet and saw people coming to everything from weekend services to pub theology meetings. Meetup.com has been a good one for us.

    I’m not as funny, witty, or smart as Driscoll so I don’t know if my preaching alone will generate the crowds he can draw, but I do agree with his comment. Keller’s stuff on preaching as if unbelievers are there so believers think, “My non-church-going friend needs to hear this” has been helpful as well” has been personally challenging.

    I just have a hard time spending thousands of our people’s tithe dollars on this: http://www.outreach.com/media/print/product/product_images/IC1430920_l.jpg

    Comment by Josh Montague — February 9, 2008 #

  5. Apart from preaching faithfully, creatively and boldly, I would say that the church community, transformed by the word of God, is out there relating with their friends and family, it is they that should be “advertising” the gospel in every day relationships and conversations. It´s my experience that this is what brings more people in: “Why did you come?” I ask. “a FRIEND invited me,” they say.

    Comment by Felipe — February 9, 2008 #

  6. Joe, this is something I struggle with CONSTANTLY! I am in a upper class suburban context that is saturated with marketing. It is saturated with all kinds of marketing including church marketing. The churches doing the marketing are what you would picture as suburban mega-churches (they have all the flash anyone could want).

    So, our struggle has been trying let people know that we exist, since we are only a little over one year old. Honestly, the only thing that has truly “worked” is word of mouth. I do believe you have to market with your church culture in mind. Our church culture is drastically different from the suburban mega-churches around us… So, a postcard advertising a great children’s event, etc, would look like a lemonade stand setting next to Sonic.

    We know that our vision is seeing families transformed by the power of biblical preaching, life in community, and life on mission. So, we are trying to figure out how to really use word of mouth marketing which fits well with our “community” focus and feel.

    As a pastor though this is very hard because I know (from past experiences on staff at those mega churches) that I come up with a great event and market it that we will have a big crowd - and my flesh will feel very affirmed and proud (for a bit). But, this word of mouth thing is much more organic and has been harder for me. Well…. I could go on and on and on and on… but you hit a topic close to my heart and on my desk of struggles.

    Comment by Matt — February 9, 2008 #

  7. Serving in a small community in Central Illinois, our church is using a new approach. Our budget for advertising is being used to rent a building on the town square with high visibility in order to engage our community. We will do three things out of this building. We will do school tutoring (free advertisement to 800 children and parents along with teachers and administrators), offer our building to the local AA and NA groups, and we will give free food to anyone who is need. We believe this will have the greatest impact on our community. It’s outreach and advertisement all in one. We’re not advertising our church, we’re shining the glory of God to our community. We’re giving them Jesus.

    Comment by Brent L. Williams — February 10, 2008 #

  8. Quite interesting. I’d love to see what a church commercial there might look like

    Comment by Ariah Fine — February 15, 2008 #

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