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Who Are You? Marketing and Branding for Congregations

This collection of resources is part of the Center for Congregation Season 3, Episode 5 podcast: Who Are You? Marketing and Branding for Congregations.

Pastor Manuel Corazzari joins podcast hosts Matt Burke and Ben Tapper to discuss marketing and branding for congregations including the importance of knowing your unique identity.

Resources

6 Resources
book
Less Chaos. Less Noise: Effective Communications for an Effective Church
Written by a communications expert, this book sharpens congregational practices to better...
web resource
Pro Church Tools
This hub for digital media provides training, tutorials, free templates and tools for...
organization
Storybrand
Led by bestselling author Donald Miller, this organization makes marketing clear and simple...
organization
Center For Church Communication
This organization provides coaching and mentoring for congregations to use communication as an...
organization
Girt Enterprises
This consulting group led by Rev. John E. Girton provides marketing services and media...
organization
Sharefaith
This organization provides template-based church websites with a suite of other helpful...

Guest Contributor

Contributor
Manuel Corazzari

Manuel Corazzari is the pastor of East Chicago Church and the founder/CEO of Crown Media Group. 

Church Marketing And Communications Resources

The importance of church marketing is something that perhaps cannot be overstated. Church communications can be critical because they let people know about the benefits of having a strong organization and community in which they can participate. In the past, religious groups might have engaged in traditional marketing strategies. For example, a lot of people would talk about the religious group in the community. Then, people would simply show up for services. Today, however, that is not exactly how marketing takes place.

When someone is looking for something, they will usually turn to the internet for help. This even includes religious organizations, along with churches. Therefore, if religious groups would like to have a strong impact on the local community, they may have to think about how they are going to market themselves using the internet. That is where digital marketing can be helpful. “Digital marketing” refers to the practice of using the internet to let people know about specific products and services. Even though religious leaders may not think they are well-versed in using the internet, it can still be good for them to learn how to use the internet to market themselves. That is where it might be helpful to take a look at a few of the resources that are available on the CRG. That way, religious leaders can learn more about the importance of marketing and communication for religious groups.

Digital Marketing for Churches

Digital marketing for churches has perhaps never been more important than it is today. Church digital marketing can be key because it allows religious groups to let people know about the benefits of their religious community. There can be a lot of important components when it comes to digital marketing for religious groups; however, the most important part is likely to have a strong website.

Because a lot of people tend to use the internet when they are looking for products and services they provide, the website of a religious group is likely going to be responsible for a lot of the impression that they give off. There is never a second chance to make a first impression, and so the religious leaders might have to make that first impression count. The best way to do exactly that is perhaps to use a website.

Because a strong website is often the cornerstone of digital marketing, it can be good for religious leaders to try and get this right. One of the ways they can help maximize the value of a website is to have it designed by a trained professional. That is where it might be helpful to work with a church marketing agency. If religious groups are able to partner with professionals, they will be able to help maximize the benefit of their online presence.

Church Marketing Agency

There are a lot of factors to consider when religious leaders are looking for a church marketing agency. Even though it might be difficult to find a nonprofit marketing agency, marketing professionals can still go through church ads examples with religious leaders. That way, religious leaders can learn more about driving organic traffic to a religious website.

What do religious leaders likely need to think about when they are trying to find the right marketing agency? Perhaps the first factor to consider is experience. Marketing for a religious group can be very different from marketing for a typical business. Therefore, religious leaders may need to find a marketing group that has experience working with religious clients. That way, they can design a digital marketing strategy that will portray religious groups appropriately.

In addition, religious leaders might need to think about the relationship they have with the marketing team. They may need to work with a marketing team that is responsive. Does the marketing team respond when someone sends them an email? Does the marketing team respond when someone calls them? It might be helpful to ask for a list of references. That way, it can be possible to learn more about the experience of working with that specific team.

These are just a few of the many factors that religious leaders might want to think about when they are looking for a church marketing agency. If religious leaders put in the time upfront, they will likely enjoy the rewards on the other side.

Church Communications Jobs

A lot of religious groups have their own marketing and communication plants. Therefore, it may be important to take a closer look at church communications jobs. Religious leaders may need to think carefully if they are putting together a church media director job description. That way, they can get the right applicants for the position. They should likely have someone who is experienced with social media, music, movies, and pictures, as all of these are key examples of media that could play a role in the church marketing strategy.

There are a lot of religious leaders who are also looking for a church communications director. This position can be important because they are going to interface with business partners and members of the congregation regularly. For example, it may be helpful to find someone who has experience writing press releases. It may also be important to find someone who has experience in putting together an email campaign. All of this can be key for placing the religious group in the best position possible to be successful.

Keep in mind that there is often going to be a specific church media department structure. The structure may change as the religious group grows. As the congregation gets bigger, it might be important to open up new positions, new jobs, and delegate responsibilities accordingly.

Church Marketing Consultant

Religious leaders often have a lot to do on a daily basis, and as such, they may not have time to think about the overall marketing plan. That is why it may be helpful to work with a church marketing consultant. A church marketing consultant is someone who can put together a church branding strategy for the religious community. A marketing consultant may start with a church marketing plan sample. That way, religious leaders will be able to tailor this plan to meet their specific needs. Every religious group is likely different, so every marketing plan is probably going to be different as well.

A church marketer likely has to have specific experience in working with religious groups. That way, they will be able to understand how to reach the target market. Keep in mind that every community can be different. Therefore, the pain points of specific people are going to tend to be different as well. That is why each marketing plan is going to be different, and why every religious group should perhaps at least consider working with a marketing professional.

Religious leaders who would like to learn more about church marketing may want to take a closer look at the resources that are available on the CRG. That way, they can learn more about the benefits of partnering with a professional. This can go a long way toward positioning the religious group as a cornerstone of the community.

Church Marketing Resources

There are a lot of church marketing resources that are available to a church communications department. For example, some religious leaders may be looking for a church graphic design company. This company is going to have access to a wide variety of resources that can help religious leaders get the most out of their marketing plans. It can also be a good idea to take a look at church communications resources. That way, religious leaders can learn more about how to interface with the congregation and the greater community as a whole.

Because the world is changing quickly, it can be good for religious leaders to do everything they can to keep up. With this in mind, it might be a good idea to take a closer look at the resources that are available on the CRG. That way, religious leaders can learn how other communities have been able to find success. Even though they might not be able to replicate these ideas exactly, there could still be opportunities to customize and build on the resources that are already out there. This could make a difference if religious leaders are looking for ways to reach specific segments of the population. This can represent a great way for religious leaders to grow the congregation, as well.

Church Marketing Strategies

Ultimately, there are a lot of church marketing strategies available. It can be a good idea to think about creative charge marketing because this could be a way for religious leaders to grow the congregation. Religious leaders often have a lot to do, and they may not have experience with religious marketing. Therefore, a lot of leaders are partnering with a church branding agency that can help religious groups to position themselves accordingly.

This can be a long process, and religious leaders are likely not going to be able to make inroads overnight. It is important to be patient, evaluate the marketing strategy from time to time, and make changes as necessary. It can also be prudent for religious leaders to partner with professionals who have experience in this area. That way, they can help maximize the return on their marketing investment.

Finally, all leaders should take a look at a few of the marketing resources that have been posted on the CRG. These resources may be able to help religious leaders figure out how they can reach their target communities and could make a difference in positioning the religious community to be successful in the future. Remember that there are professionals who can help religious groups develop a strong marketing plan.

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