9 Channels for Church Marketing and Communications
When you build a church marketing strategy, you want to make the most of all the tools you have at your fingertips. A quarter into the 21st century, the number of marketing channels available is robust, and when you combine them thoughtfully, they can be very effective.
So, what are your options to market your church? Let’s count the ways.
Here are nine of the best channels you should be using in your church marketing and communication plan this year.
Your Website Is Your Hub
From sermon archives to staff bios, mission statements to “Plan Your Visit” walk-throughs, your website is your digital repository for all of your owned content. Don’t underestimate its power.
A website allows you to retain control over and manage a range of marketing assets. It also gives them a place to live on the internet as you use other channels to direct traffic to them.
Your Email List Is Your Internal Lifeline
Your email list may number in the thousands or even the hundreds compared to larger audiences elsewhere, but don’t underestimate the impact of email marketing for churches. That list is a highly curated, opt-in group of subscribers who want to hear what you have to say.
Use things like newsletters and announcements to keep this core audience up to date and in the loop with your church comms.
Your Social Media Platforms Are Your Link to the Outside World
Social media is the modern marketplace. It is where you can go to meet both your church and local communities on their turf.
Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and yes, even TikTok remain hyper-relevant for churches that want to stay in the larger conversation. YouTube also has an important place in the social media conversation, but we’ll get to that in a minute. Suffice it to say social media channels are a great way to engage with people, share information, and cultivate earned media and social proof through shares and comments, respectively.
Streaming Sites Get Video Content Out There
Video content is king, and streaming sites allow you to produce video content en masse. When we say “streaming sites,” what we really mean is YouTube. Yes, you can stream on other sites like Facebook, and embedding media players on your website is a good idea, but YouTube stands out as a premier marketing and communications channel.
Why? Because it has a massive audience. (Nearly half of all people with internet access use it at least once a month!) Optimizing your YouTube content is a great way to not just reach your core audience but attract new viewers and online community members as well.
Text Messaging and Mobile Apps Are a Straight Shot
Much like emails, church text messages and mobile apps give you a direct connection to people who have given you permission to send them marketing messages.
While you don’t want to abuse these channels (use them strategically and with purpose), the ability to send a message directly into the pocket of your target audience is a huge marketing win. Make sure it’s integrated into your larger marketing strategy if you can.
Printed Materials Still Have Power
A printed pamphlet, card, and other traditional, physical church promotional items are a powerful way to communicate with people once you have them on-site and in the building.
From a welcome packet in a “meet the pastor” meeting to presenting key information in a membership class, printed media still has its place as an effective marketing tool and can add an extra degree of personal engagement if you use it thoughtfully.
Paid and Local Ads Cut Through the Clutter
If your church is struggling to catch the eye of your local community, you can use traditional ad formats to cut through the white noise.
Paid ads can help you target local online traffic. Local ads in areas like radio and print can also be effective ways to get the word out and build awareness in your area.
Events Draw Attention
Events — both for your church and community outreach — are great marketing opportunities. They can stir up buzz and draw attention.
Larger events can also create opportunities for coverage from local news reporters. If you’re putting on an event, don’t overlook its marketing potential.
Word-of-Mouth Marketing Remains a Mainstay
Word-of-mouth marketing remains a highly effective way to get the word out for anything of value. As people talk about your ministry, it sparks interest.
The fact that it comes from a happy, loyal community member also provides an instant endorsement and fosters a greater sense of trust in your organization.
Building the Right Communication Strategy for Your Church
As a premier church marketing agency, our team at digifora has spent years experimenting with all of these channels. Our Christian marketers have seen the data. We’ve discovered which combinations of communication tools go together to create the most synergistic church communication strategies.
The key to success is applying this knowledge to the specific mission, goals, and vision of each church. If you’re looking for an experienced, church-focused partner to help you choose the right communication channels and create the best branding strategy for your ministry, we’d love to talk.
Give us a call or shoot us an email (heck, you could even send us a good, ol’ fashioned physical letter if you want to). From there, we can explore your options and develop the best church marketing plan for your ministry moving forward.
