A national study shows that many churches are not taking advantage of online marketing opportunities. The owner of an internet marketing firm that focuses on faith-based clients says churches are missing opportunities by not being proactive with their online communications. The document provides suggestions for how churches can better utilize their websites, blogs, social media, and other digital platforms to communicate with both current and potential members.

1. October 28, 2010

2. A newly released national study*
shows that churches across America
are not taking advantage of the
online marketing phenomena that has
revolutionized interpersonal
communications in the 21st Century.
*BuzzPlant, a leading internet marketing firm focusing on the faith-based market
segment http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2010/07/20/36883/surveyresultschurchsm.pdf

3. "Thousands of churches are not
walking through the unprecedented
number of open doors Internet
marketing has provided them.
To NOT be proactive in online
communications today is to not be
communicating" says Bob Hutchins,
Owner of BuzzPlant.

4. *BuzzPlant, a leading internet marketing firm focusing on the faith-based market
segment http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2010/07/20/36883/surveyresultschurchsm.pdf

7. Therefore put up a nice Web
site, build a cool building
and hope people come to it
and make disciples of all
nations…?

8. • New people to find your church online
• Potential visitors to learn about your
church culture
• Potential visitors to know service times
and location
Outward:
• Discipleship and spiritual growth
• Sermon follow up and additional
resources
• Remind and inform about upcoming
events
• Volunteering and ministry opportunities
Inward:

9. “If we build it they
will come…”
“If I
email/say/post/print
it then people are
aware of it” = no news
is good news” = no
news is bad news.
Website/social
media/video is
something separate
then ministry, a perk
if we have time.”
“If we have really
great media then
people will grow
spiritually. If we have
really bad media then
people will leave our
church.”

11. What does our
Website
communicate
about us?
What are the
unspoken cultural
cues we’re using?
What does our
language say
about us?
Does our digital
culture match our
physical culture?
Are we attracting
or attempting to
limit users?
Are we oriented
toward left or
right brain?

13. A place to
start
conversations
and add
content.
A chance to
talk about un-
related but
important
issues.
Blogs help
keep our
Website fresh.
Blogs get
found on
Google.
Blogs are easy
to setup and
use.
They are free.

14. Paid ads
vs.
“organic”
Fresh
content,
clean code
Best
practices
of Web
design
Linking
(the more
the better)
Popularity
(traffic
volume)
Good stuff
people
want

15. Tel: (651) 731-0000 | (612) 741-1958 cell
E-mail: kmaswanson@comcast.net
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