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How To: Market Your Church

How To: Market Your Church

Written by: Rhema
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 Marketing a church is complex. Navigating a rapidly shifting culture, managing multiple channels and promoting weekly services, events and causes is overwhelming. If you’re juggling another job, working with volunteers and have zero budget, it can feel like an uphill battle.

‘How to Market your Church’ exists because we believe every church should have authentic, effective communication that impacts their community. In every episode we unpack the tools, skills and hacks you need to create marketing that reflects the heart and soul of your church and gives people an opportunity to get involved.

Host Jodie McEwen runs a creative agency called The Marketing Side in Newcastle NSW that helps organisations and businesses inspire action with clear marketing. After working in publishing, communications, web design and social media, she worked as the Communications Pastor at her local church for three and a half years. This podcast is the sweet spot where faith-based organisational experience and digital marketing collide. Subscribe today and learn how to market your church well.2026 Rhema Christianity Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
Episodes
  • Low Cost Ways to Promote a Church Plant

    Low Cost Ways to Promote a Church Plant
    Dec 19 2023
    Unlock the secrets of successful church marketing with Jodie and special guest Paul Whiting, pastor at New Vine Beaches Church in Jewels, near Newcastle. In this episode, Paul reflects on his journey, having co-founded New Vine Church 28 years ago and later launching New Vine Beaches in 2018.

    Key Insights
    • Prioritizing a healthy church over numbers.
    • Launching a website that serves not just the existing Christian community but also acts as a welcoming resource for those exploring faith.
    • Strategic wisdom on empowering church members to authentically connect with their communities, utilizing various online platforms like Facebook, Google Business, and their newly unveiled website.
    Join Jodie and Paul in this engaging discussion that unravels the strategies, obstacles, and triumphs of marketing and cultivating a thriving church community.

    Whether you're a seasoned pastor, a church leader, or someone intrigued by effective community outreach, this episode promises valuable insights into the dynamic world of church marketing.

    Resource
    If you would like to reach out to this weeks guest here.

    Here's some other episode resources we've made:
    Church Style Guide
    IT Audit Checklist
    Australian Radio Stations: Contact List

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    26 mins
  • Crisis Communications & PR Disasters: Why Churches Need a Plan

    Crisis Communications & PR Disasters: Why Churches Need a Plan
    Nov 2 2023
    Get practical insights into spanning the cultural divide, the potential pitfalls of not addressing past issues, and the importance of transparency. Join us and discover how to manage a crisis well as your church navigates the challenging waters of modern communication.

    In this episode, John Watson from Good Mahi in Auckland delves into the intricate world of church communications. John is a communications specialist and crisis comms guru, and has been helping churches, organizations, businesses and not-for-profits tackle pressing PR issues across Australia and New Zealand for more than 5 years.

    John explains the significance of assessing reputation risks, the necessity for issues and crisis comms plans, and the essence of bridging the perception-reality gap to safeguard a church’s reputation. Drawing from his real-world experiences, John discusses the potential consequences of mission drift, emphasizing the need for Christian organizations to stay true to their core beliefs even amidst external pressures.

    The essential elements of faith-based crisis response:
    • Control
    • Compassion
    • Credibility
    • Christ-like approach
    The right communication strategy can transform a crisis into a mission opportunity.

    With practical insights on managing diverging cultural beliefs, the potential pitfalls of not addressing past issues, and the importance of authenticity, this episode is a treasure trove for churches as they navigate the challenging waters of modern communication. Join us and discover the balance of managing crises, promoting good works, and always being prepared.


    Contact John at goodmahi.co.nz
    Connect with John on LinkedIn
    Mission Drift book

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    29 mins
  • Smart IT Tips for Churches

    Smart IT Tips for Churches
    Oct 5 2023
    The IT challenges are real for churches: with a remote workforce, shared folders, cybersecurity threats, financial data and sensitive pastoral records, it’s critical that you’ve done everything you can do to build a robust IT system.

    Without internal IT knowledge or a healthy budget for quality hardware/software, too often churches make do with a patchwork of free online solutions. Churches need virtual space for podcasts and online services, websites, sharing key information for upcoming events and storing financial records and Working with Children Check (WWCC) details. Then there are the inevitable iPads for sound, media or sign in, staff phones, laptops, printers, wi-fi and more.

    The risks are ever-increasing. We need to be good stewards of the data we hold and protect it wisely.

    Download the IT Audit Checklist to see how your church stacks up when it comes to IT and where you need to prioritise attention next.


    Topics covered in this episode include:
    • Domain- Your domain- yourchurchname.com.au- needs to be registered and maintained, annually or every two years. If this lapses, your email and website can stop working because they aren’t directed to the right place.
    • Emails- Avoid POP and iMAP emails, like Gmail, Hotmail and the ones that come with your internet provider.
    • Shared file storage- Gather all your files in ONE place so there’s a single source of truth.
    • Data recovery & backups
    • Hoaxes/phishing/spam/scams- How to spot dodgy emails.
    • Cybersecurity
    • Microsoft 365 Not-for-profit Solutions- FREE options
    • Setting up for success
    Be prepared to pay for expert help to get your IT system set up right, so you have the best possible chance of maintaining IT in-house. That way you have a trusted IT specialist you can call on if things go pear-shaped. Think of reliable IT support an insurance policy for the future, protecting your church from reputation cost, damaged relationships and even legal action.

    Where should churches start?
    Start talking about IT in your regular meetings.
    Bring your IT person into the discussion.
    Create an action plan: data, security, backups and start at the most crucial point.

    Resources
    Royal Commission Report: Record Keeping & Information Sharing
    Microsoft Non-profit Solutions
    IT Audit Checklist
    Gravity IT
    Essential Eight

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    36 mins
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