ACR Strategies - Increase Church Visitors

Increase Visitors - Target a CROWD!

How do we fill our pews?


The Condition of the Church in America - Key Statist icsCompiled by Andy McAdams

• Only 15% of churches in the United States are growing and just less then 5% of those are growing by conversion growth.

•10,000 churches in America disappeared in a five-year period.

•The number of people in America that Do Not attend church has doubled in the past 15 years.

•No more then 38% of the population attends church at all and that's in the Bible belt. The next highest is the Midwest at 25%, West 21% and the Northeast 17%.

•The vast majority of churches have an attendance of less then 75.

•In 70 % of the churches in America, the pastor is the only full-time staff person

•Leading church analysts Lyle Schaller, George Barna , and Mike Regele stress the alarming truth that over 80% of American Protestant churches are in plateau and/or decline.


To accomplish this we NEED more people in the pews!


How do we fill our pews?

INCREASE VISITORS by Targeting a CROWD!


CROWDS – Biblical?Matthew 4:25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns,* Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

Matthew 5:1 One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them.

Matthew 5:36 He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they

didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 13:34 Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds . In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.

Mark 3:20 When Jesus returned to the house where he was staying, the crowds began to gather again, and soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.

John 1:15 John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds , “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.’”

Luke 4:42 Early the next morning Jesus went out into the wilderness. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them.

Acts 5:14 And more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.


1

Implement strategies to close back door.

2

INCREASE the number of VISITORS.

3

Convert more visitors to members.

Which CROWD?


Which CROWD is your target?

People who regularly

attend church

People who occasionally

attend church“UNCHURCHED”

People who Do NOT attend

church


Which CROWD is your target?

Research from Media Audit for the Tampa/St. Petersburg marketamong Adults 18+ indicates …

People who regularly

attend church



People who Do NOT attend

church

= 36% = 34% = 30%Regular + Occasional = 70%


Target CROWD = UNCHURCHEDSource: George Barna



More likely than the norm of the population to be male, to have experienced a divorce, to have more education, and to

have a larger income.

Aggressive, energetic, and driven people.

They do not attend church largely because they do not

think it is worth the time and effort.

Hooks that will speak to them are notions of compassion to others, applied faith, love of

children, integrity, authenticity, and personal

experience.

Focused on the matters they believe to be important. For

example, God is vital, but the church is not. They tend to be

material first, spiritual second.

A huge explanation for their absence from church is that they have not been invited to participate. Successful church marketing strategies will be sensitive to

UNCHURCHED’S needs for control, perceived value and personal touch!


Target CROWD = UNCHURCHEDSource: Thom S. Rainer



Survey results; Extremely Important factors in selecting

church: Doctrine/Theology (58%), Caring people (53%),

Preaching (52%), Friendliness (45%).

We found that relationships were important in bringing the UNCHURCHED to the church.

But, not the overwhelming reason as most studies have

indicated.

The formerly UNCHURCHED are positive about and attracted to Sunday School. It was this

group that indicated the greatest allegiance to Sunday

School.

Almost one out of three of the formerly UNCHURCHED said

they returned to church for their children.

An important lesson that we learned from the UNCHURCHED is that churches should try to appeal to the UNCHURCHED person’s altruistic

motives.


Target CROWD = UNCHURCHEDSource: Media Audit Research



Upscale;Annual Household Income

$50,000+49% of UNCHURCHED

21% more than norm population

Educated;AT least one College Degree

22% of UNCHURCHEDAdvanced Degree

15% of UNCHURCHED

Plan within next year to:Buy a PC – 19%

Buy New TV set – 19%Buy New Furniture – 22%

Remodel Home – 24%Buy New Auto – 17%

Working Women – 33%Family Size – 5 or more – 20%

BIG SPORTS Fans!Rays – 59%Bucs – 62%

NASCAR – 31%

Own a cell phone(85%), Cell phone texting (43%), NOT Exposed to weekday newspaper (55%), Heavy exposure to radio (21%), Heavy exposure to internet (37%), Medium

exposure to Tv (36%), Logged on past month to – FACEBOOK (51%)


How to reach the“UNCHURCHED CROWD”

Own a cell phone(85%), Cell phone texting (43%), NOT Exposed to weekday newspaper (55%), Heavy exposure to radio (21%), Heavy exposure to internet (37%), Medium

exposure to Tv (36%), Logged on past month to – FACEBOOK (51%)


Conversations with the“UNCHURCHED CROWD”

Utilize Facebook, Texting, and Email to invite “UNCHURCHED CROWD” friends using communications insights from the various studies in this report. Invites to be personal and include appeals for Sunday School, doctrine, preaching, “making a difference”, etc.


Social Media …Do not do social media for social media’s sake. Mer ely having a Facebook page or a Twitter account does not help yo u. In fact, using social media the wrong way will hurt how people per ceive you.

You must add value.

Conversations with the“UNCHURCHED CROWD”


• He or she has a fresh point of view, but does not try to thrust it upon everyone else. • Speaks politely and respectfully.• Tells good stories to illustrate key points .• Is good at drawing other people’s views out and drawing them into the conversation. • Speaks intelligently on a variety of subjects, but is not afraid to admit areas of ignorance.• Avoids trotting out well-worn arguments that have been made time and time again .• Listens with genuine interest.

Adding Value is like a good conversationalist at a dinner party!

You Must add Value


Facebook Church IDEAS

“Unchurched CROWD” friendly church “page”

• Have conversations that “equip” and “lift-up” people. • Stay away from “church” terms.• Assume visitors to your page know nothing about your church.• Tell stories.• Post invites as if you were talking to someone in person. Not “You’re cordially invited to.”• Use video.• Post messages that can be used by others in your ch urch to send to their friends.• KEEP IT UPDATED!


Texting Church IDEA

•Engage your church family in the sermon.Church members can forward text to friends.

•Text bible verses to prepare for this weeks sermon.

•Early following week follow up question to last ser mon.

•Few days later text this week’s sermon Bible verses .

More and more people are choosing texting as their means to have conversations!


Email – Sermon Applications

•Email allows for longer conversations.•Use to keep the sermon alive.•Develop conversations about the life applications of the message.•Church members can forward email to their friends.


Engage the “Unchurched CROWD”

Using TV Advertising

Church advertising ideas and marketing should be the first thing on every church leaders mind. When you advertise your church you are not promoting yourself; you are advertising Jesus to a lost world in need of a savior.

Did you know that the average church will lose more members than they grow by this year?It may not be because no one wants to visit… they may just not know who and where your church is !



Using TV Advertising

Advertising on cable TV allows you to focus your message to people around your church.

Research tells us the following cable stations are some of the best for reaching the “Unchurched CROWD.”


Interactive TV Advertising allows

viewers to press a button on their remote control

and automatically have literature from your

church sent to their home.

Engage the “Unchurched CROWD”Using ITV Advertising


A GREAT way for churches to share the cost of TV advertising!

Engage the “Unchurched CROWD”Using ITV Advertising

Press A for South Lakeland Church, Press B for North Lakeland Church, Press C for Winter Haven Church


Your church can buy a half hour time slot from a

local Broadcast TV station and air your

church service


Put your service on Broadcast TV



while they are on the go - RADIO

Research tells us talk radio is a great vehicle for reaching the “Unchurched CROWD.” Especially strong are News talk stations and Sports talk stations.



When they are on the - INTERNET

Research tells us the following local web sites are a couple of the best for reaching the “Unchurched CROWD.”


Is Church Advertising

Effective ?


Since 1991, over 10,000 churches have effectively used faithHighway’s church commercials for outreach. An independent survey found that over 85% of the churches who utilized faithHighway church commercials showed measurable growth within the first six months of us e.

Mainstream churches take a leap of faith into TV ad vertising Methodists report a 6 percent increase in worship attendance where ads have run during high seasons for newcomers: Lent, Advent, and back-to-school time. Some in the church harbor hopes for the "open hearts, open minds, open doors" message to steer viewers toward a better way of life.

Church announces $2 million advertising push, ‘The Journey’Aug. 22, 2005NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church will begin airing its newest television commercial Aug. 29, inviting millions of Americans to join in a journey of faith.The spot, titled “The Journey,” is the newest element of the denomination’s advertising and welcoming ministry, said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive at United Methodist Communications.

Study: United Methodist TV Commercials Shifting Att itudes About Church; First-Time Attendance, Worship Attendance Increasing at Test C hurchesNASHVILLE � A new research study shows The United Methodist Church�s national television advertising campaign continues to encourage first-time attendance and build positive images of the second-largest U.S. Protestant denomination.

Church Advertising is Effective


The United Methodist Church launches $20 million 'R ethink Church' advertising campaignNASHVILLE, TENN. (May 1, 2009) /PRNewswire/ — Rethink Church, the next evolution of The United Methodist Church's "Open hearts" welcoming and advertising campaign, will kick off on May 5 and 6 with major launch events in New York City and Washington, D.C., and other cities nationwide.Audiences will see and hear more than $20 million in new advertising over the next four years on television, radio, print, and in new media, including banner and keyword advertising on major secular Web sites.

Church television ads prove surprisingly successfulWhile flipping through the channels on a Sunday morning, television viewers may not expect to see a message from the Catholic Church amidst the many advertisements filling the airwaves. But in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, TV audiences are getting a chance to see the Church portrayed in a new light through a series of commercials featuring Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien.The 30-second advertisements, which began airing last November, feature a variety of messages aimed at reaching out to fallen-away Catholics, encouraging increased participation from active Catholics and educating non-Catholics about the teachings of the Church.

Church Advertising is Effective


If you would like to learn more about how connecting with the “Unchurched CROWD” could

help grow your church please contact us:

Don Koehler, Founder & Chief Strategist(352) 363-9682 [email protected]

Marketing

ACR Strategies - Increase Church Visitors