Church Marketing Sucks

From a recent post in the lab:

Hello all… I am new to this board, although I have been frequenting Church Marketing Sucks for quite some time. We have been in existence for a year and are just getting off the ground.

As it is, we really have no one in the church with marketing/graphic design experience but I would like to do more of it myself. My background is in dramatic arts, so I have a experience with stage/theatrical design.

Where do I begin?

This is quite common in the church, where you’re brought onto staff as the youth pastor, secretary, etc. and then someone finds out you know how to use a computer and poof you’re the communications person.

So what do you do?

Find Community
Though it may feel like it at times, you are not alone. There are many that are in the same boat as you. Join a local lab, jump into the Church Marketing Lab, reach out to surrounding churches. Surround yourself with people who are doing it well and are struggling to find their way. This is an opportunity to receive encouragement, learn the craft and speak into others.

Become a Sponge
Creativity is not an on/off switch. If you are not creating a habit of constantly soaking in creative inputs, you can’t be surprised when the well is dry when you go looking for a new idea. Step outside and take in new things. The greatest creativity comes when two unrelated thoughts, ideas, inputs collide. That means looking outside of the church walls, looking at things from different perspectives … become a sponge. This includes people, look at the fringes, engage in those who have different interests than you. Soak it up!

Attend a Conference
A great way to learn and grow is with concentrated effort. A conference is a concentrated way to charge your system, learn from leaders in the industry and connect with others from across the globe. Two conferences that are great for those starting out are MinistryCom and DIRT. (See our Events Calendar for more.)

Look Outside
The Bible tells us that Kenaniah was put in charge of the singing “because he was skillful at it.” Sometimes you may need to reach outside of your current pool of talent and find someone whom God has blessed with the right skills. This might mean hiring someone on staff or bringing someone in for a particular project. The Freelance Board, Job Board and Church Marketing Directory are good places to start.

Church marketing and communications is not easy work … but be encouraged and remember that God tells us that if we do the work, He will finish the task!