Are Your People Personally Inviting Others to Church? How to Create a Culture of Inviting

all right everybody Welcome to session all right everybody Welcome to session two and we're doing a crash course on two and we're doing a crash course on two and we're doing a crash course on Church marketing we're primarily talking Church marketing we're primarily talking Church marketing we're primarily talking to pastors right you're not a marketing to pastors right you're not a marketing to pastors right you're not a marketing expert you didn't go to college for expert you didn't go to college for expert you didn't go to college for marketing but you have to do marketing marketing but you have to do marketing marketing but you have to do marketing you have to do Outreach you have to you have to do Outreach you have to you have to do Outreach you have to reach people as part of our calling and reach people as part of our calling and reach people as part of our calling and so today we're talking about Word of so today we're talking about Word of so today we're talking about Word of Mouth marketing this is one of my Mouth marketing this is one of my Mouth marketing this is one of my favorite topics yeah this is and really favorite topics yeah this is and really favorite topics yeah this is and really just quick explanation this is the most just quick explanation this is the most just quick explanation this is the most important influencer in people's in your important influencer in people's in your important influencer in people's in your community's decision to visit your community's decision to visit your community's decision to visit your church obviously you if you've been church obviously you if you've been church obviously you if you've been around church for a while you know this around church for a while you know this around church for a while you know this that if people are inviting that's the that if people are inviting that's the that if people are inviting that's the best way of actually getting people to best way of actually getting people to best way of actually getting people to show up online or in person so this is a show up online or in person so this is a show up online or in person so this is a big one and I think we've got a lot of big one and I think we've got a lot of big one and I think we've got a lot of great content for you here to unpack how great content for you here to unpack how great content for you here to unpack how to make this a part of your culture your to make this a part of your culture your to make this a part of your culture your church and how to make the most of this church and how to make the most of this church and how to make the most of this with how it works with every other area with how it works with every other area with how it works with every other area of marketing that we're talking and of marketing that we're talking and of marketing that we're talking and that's what I love about and what we're that's what I love about and what we're that's what I love about and what we're talking about today this one's almost talking about today this one's almost talking about today this one's almost like this one will work but it'll make like this one will work but it'll make like this one will work but it'll make the other ones work yes even better this the other ones work yes even better this the other ones work yes even better this is like that fuel that you add on the is like that fuel that you add on the is like that fuel that you add on the fire and the the other reason I love fire and the the other reason I love fire and the the other reason I love talking about this is for for the most talking about this is for for the most talking about this is for for the most part what we're talking about is free part what we're talking about is free part what we're talking about is free yeah like you don't have to spend money yeah like you don't have to spend money yeah like you don't have to spend money to do this yeah free and highly to do this yeah free and highly to do this yeah free and highly effective that's lead pastors lover effective that's lead pastors lover effective that's lead pastors lover right come on it's like so you guys are right come on it's like so you guys are right come on it's like so you guys are you guys are leaning in taking notes so you guys are leaning in taking notes so you guys are leaning in taking notes so let's jump into this as you know we're let's jump into this as you know we're let's jump into this as you know we're doing an aha moment on this and the aha doing an aha moment on this and the aha doing an aha moment on this and the aha moment for this one is that keep in mind moment for this one is that keep in mind moment for this one is that keep in mind while word of mouth is the number one while word of mouth is the number one while word of mouth is the number one driver of people deciding to visit your driver of people deciding to visit your driver of people deciding to visit your church that is true you all see always church that is true you all see always church that is true you all see always see that on any sort of data but keep in see that on any sort of data but keep in see that on any sort of data but keep in mind there's always going to be multiple mind there's always going to be multiple mind there's always going to be multiple things that are influencing somebody's things that are influencing somebody's things that are influencing somebody's decision even if there is a personal decision even if there is a personal decision even if there is a personal invitation there so we've done a lot of invitation there so we've done a lot of invitation there so we've done a lot of Assessments at Summit Park Church we're

Assessments at Summit Park Church we're Assessments at Summit Park Church we're a church plant about seven years in at a church plant about seven years in at a church plant about seven years in at the time of this recording and so early the time of this recording and so early the time of this recording and so early on we wanted to know everything that was on we wanted to know everything that was on we wanted to know everything that was influencing people's decision to visit influencing people's decision to visit influencing people's decision to visit the church so we could double down and the church so we could double down and the church so we could double down and invest yeah what's working what's not invest yeah what's working what's not invest yeah what's working what's not working and so we did 300 visitor working and so we did 300 visitor working and so we did 300 visitor surveys where we got back to that and we surveys where we got back to that and we surveys where we got back to that and we we didn't say hey tell us the number one we didn't say hey tell us the number one we didn't say hey tell us the number one reason we said Mark everything that reason we said Mark everything that reason we said Mark everything that influenced your decision to visit Summit influenced your decision to visit Summit influenced your decision to visit Summit Park church and here's what we found we Park church and here's what we found we Park church and here's what we found we found that most everybody who's visiting found that most everybody who's visiting found that most everybody who's visiting the church there's multiple things that the church there's multiple things that the church there's multiple things that is influencing them to visit so while is influencing them to visit so while is influencing them to visit so while word of mouth Yes is important which a word of mouth Yes is important which a word of mouth Yes is important which a lot of pastors don't realize is Word of lot of pastors don't realize is Word of lot of pastors don't realize is Word of Mouth works with other things works with Mouth works with other things works with Mouth works with other things works with your website works with your ADS works your website works with your ADS works your website works with your ADS works with social media and so that is the aha with social media and so that is the aha with social media and so that is the aha moment is that you can't just say oh moment is that you can't just say oh moment is that you can't just say oh people only come if they're invited so people only come if they're invited so people only come if they're invited so we're not going to do anything else we're not going to do anything else we're not going to do anything else everything's got to be working that made everything's got to be working that made everything's got to be working that made the word of mouth like the personal the word of mouth like the personal the word of mouth like the personal invite which is right when you when you invite which is right when you when you invite which is right when you when you look at the data it's like what's the look at the data it's like what's the look at the data it's like what's the number one factor it's always it's number one factor it's always it's number one factor it's always it's always Word of Mouth to personal invite always Word of Mouth to personal invite always Word of Mouth to personal invite but the the data falls short because but the the data falls short because but the the data falls short because that's usually the Tipping Point right that's usually the Tipping Point right that's usually the Tipping Point right like that's the that's the last thing like that's the that's the last thing like that's the that's the last thing that finally pushed somebody over the that finally pushed somebody over the that finally pushed somebody over the edge and it may discount you know weeks edge and it may discount you know weeks edge and it may discount you know weeks months even years of all this other months even years of all this other months even years of all this other stuff that churches have done as well stuff that churches have done as well stuff that churches have done as well yeah and we've got a really cool yeah and we've got a really cool yeah and we've got a really cool customer Journey that illustrates this customer Journey that illustrates this customer Journey that illustrates this I'll read here that says this I found I'll read here that says this I found I'll read here that says this I found you on Google so this is a potential you on Google so this is a potential you on Google so this is a potential visitor here so they found the church on visitor here so they found the church on visitor here so they found the church on Google which we're going to talk about Google which we're going to talk about Google which we're going to talk about search engine and content marketing very search engine and content marketing very search engine and content marketing very very important saw Billboards that's very important saw Billboards that's very important saw Billboards that's we're going to get into that traditional we're going to get into that traditional we're going to get into that traditional marketing and a building signage driving marketing and a building signage driving marketing and a building signage driving by right so you already see how a couple by right so you already see how a couple by right so you already see how a couple different channels are working together different channels are working together different channels are working together here stalked you on social media so here stalked you on social media so here stalked you on social media so there's that one and saw a friend

there's that one and saw a friend there's that one and saw a friend attended reached out to her and decided attended reached out to her and decided attended reached out to her and decided to try it out based on her enthusiastic to try it out based on her enthusiastic to try it out based on her enthusiastic feedback so that's just of all the great feedback so that's just of all the great feedback so that's just of all the great illustration of how all of that works illustration of how all of that works illustration of how all of that works together and if you were to ask that together and if you were to ask that together and if you were to ask that person they'd probably say yeah I showed person they'd probably say yeah I showed person they'd probably say yeah I showed up because a friend invited me today up because a friend invited me today up because a friend invited me today without realizing that actually started without realizing that actually started without realizing that actually started on Google it was reinforced by a couple on Google it was reinforced by a couple on Google it was reinforced by a couple other channels and then the friend is other channels and then the friend is other channels and then the friend is what sealed the deal so with that aha what sealed the deal so with that aha what sealed the deal so with that aha moment it's like how do we get all of moment it's like how do we get all of moment it's like how do we get all of these areas of our church marketing these areas of our church marketing these areas of our church marketing working together that really is the working together that really is the working together that really is the secret sauce if there is a secret sauce secret sauce if there is a secret sauce secret sauce if there is a secret sauce of marketing that's it yeah and I think of marketing that's it yeah and I think of marketing that's it yeah and I think there's some things you can do right so there's some things you can do right so there's some things you can do right so from the from the chair of the pastor from the from the chair of the pastor from the from the chair of the pastor from the pulpit right so as you're from the pulpit right so as you're from the pulpit right so as you're trying to lead this I mean something trying to lead this I mean something trying to lead this I mean something that that we talk about a lot is you that that we talk about a lot is you that that we talk about a lot is you can't just ask your people to invite can't just ask your people to invite can't just ask your people to invite others you need to equip them to do it others you need to equip them to do it others you need to equip them to do it so you so you're a good teacher teach so you so you're a good teacher teach so you so you're a good teacher teach them how to invite you're you're a good them how to invite you're you're a good them how to invite you're you're a good explainer of things explain to them explainer of things explain to them explainer of things explain to them where to get the resources how to do where to get the resources how to do where to get the resources how to do these things how all these things work these things how all these things work these things how all these things work together there's lots of ways that you together there's lots of ways that you together there's lots of ways that you can kind of you know push this word of can kind of you know push this word of can kind of you know push this word of mouth thing forward without mouth thing forward without mouth thing forward without um you know without guilting people and um you know without guilting people and um you know without guilting people and just saying the same stuff all at the just saying the same stuff all at the just saying the same stuff all at the same time yeah and one of the things same time yeah and one of the things same time yeah and one of the things that I love about Michael like every that I love about Michael like every that I love about Michael like every time I see him speaking at a church time I see him speaking at a church time I see him speaking at a church conference I'm like I'm gonna listen to conference I'm like I'm gonna listen to conference I'm like I'm gonna listen to his session because it's great stuff his session because it's great stuff his session because it's great stuff it's great material so I encourage you it's great material so I encourage you it's great material so I encourage you to do the same but one of the sessions to do the same but one of the sessions to do the same but one of the sessions that I remember hearing you talk about that I remember hearing you talk about that I remember hearing you talk about is encouraging churches to create a is encouraging churches to create a is encouraging churches to create a central place on their website where all central place on their website where all central place on their website where all these invite tools are so you can go to these invite tools are so you can go to these invite tools are so you can go to summitparkchurch.com invite or any you summitparkchurch.com invite or any you summitparkchurch.com invite or any you could make it personal to your church could make it personal to your church could make it personal to your church obviously obviously obviously um but give an example of that like how

um but give an example of that like how um but give an example of that like how does that work so literally like does that work so literally like does that work so literally like teaching people to invite you know I teaching people to invite you know I teaching people to invite you know I always tell the stories like if you've always tell the stories like if you've always tell the stories like if you've got a flat tire on the side of the road got a flat tire on the side of the road got a flat tire on the side of the road and you want me to help change your tire and you want me to help change your tire and you want me to help change your tire I mean that's great but if we don't have I mean that's great but if we don't have I mean that's great but if we don't have a spare tire or a tire iron we can cast a spare tire or a tire iron we can cast a spare tire or a tire iron we can cast Vision all day long and we don't have Vision all day long and we don't have Vision all day long and we don't have the tools right so create the tools that the tools right so create the tools that the tools right so create the tools that help your people do the word of mouth help your people do the word of mouth help your people do the word of mouth help them do the inviting stuff and then help them do the inviting stuff and then help them do the inviting stuff and then put them all in a central place right so put them all in a central place right so put them all in a central place right so I would definitely make a page on your I would definitely make a page on your I would definitely make a page on your website you know yourchurch.com whatever website you know yourchurch.com whatever website you know yourchurch.com whatever you want it to be and then tell people you want it to be and then tell people you want it to be and then tell people we got graphics for you we got a we got graphics for you we got a we got graphics for you we got a Facebook post you can copy and paste if Facebook post you can copy and paste if Facebook post you can copy and paste if you can copy and paste you can invite you can copy and paste you can invite you can copy and paste you can invite um you know we put the graphics there if um you know we put the graphics there if um you know we put the graphics there if you've got a big Easter thing coming up you've got a big Easter thing coming up you've got a big Easter thing coming up or Christmas thing coming up you put or Christmas thing coming up you put or Christmas thing coming up you put that stuff there you can put stories of that stuff there you can put stories of that stuff there you can put stories of people that are inviting you can I mean people that are inviting you can I mean people that are inviting you can I mean you had a great idea about the billboard you had a great idea about the billboard you had a great idea about the billboard of taking up yeah right yeah and one of of taking up yeah right yeah and one of of taking up yeah right yeah and one of the things that I add to what Michael's the things that I add to what Michael's the things that I add to what Michael's saying is put that central place but saying is put that central place but saying is put that central place but then create a culture your church where then create a culture your church where then create a culture your church where your people make any marketing the your people make any marketing the your people make any marketing the church is doing personal yeah that is a church is doing personal yeah that is a church is doing personal yeah that is a game changer so if the church is going game changer so if the church is going game changer so if the church is going to do a billboard your people if they're to do a billboard your people if they're to do a billboard your people if they're driving down the highway and they see driving down the highway and they see driving down the highway and they see that billboard they should know as a that billboard they should know as a that billboard they should know as a part of your church culture hey let's part of your church culture hey let's part of your church culture hey let's pull the car to the side of the highway pull the car to the side of the highway pull the car to the side of the highway I know this sounds crazy but this is I know this sounds crazy but this is I know this sounds crazy but this is really where the magic happens we're really where the magic happens we're really where the magic happens we're gonna get the family out we're gonna do gonna get the family out we're gonna do gonna get the family out we're gonna do a selfie with the billboard behind us a selfie with the billboard behind us a selfie with the billboard behind us and now the that family is going to make and now the that family is going to make and now the that family is going to make the marketing from the church personal the marketing from the church personal the marketing from the church personal that's they're adding the personal that's they're adding the personal that's they're adding the personal invitation the word of mouth to the invitation the word of mouth to the invitation the word of mouth to the billboard so if you can create a culture billboard so if you can create a culture billboard so if you can create a culture where your church does that if they see where your church does that if they see where your church does that if they see a face Facebook ad they know hey I'm a face Facebook ad they know hey I'm a face Facebook ad they know hey I'm making this personal if they get a making this personal if they get a making this personal if they get a mailer in the mail it's not like oh I

mailer in the mail it's not like oh I mailer in the mail it's not like oh I already go here I'm going to throw it already go here I'm going to throw it already go here I'm going to throw it away no something should go off in their away no something should go off in their away no something should go off in their brain how do I make this personal and brain how do I make this personal and brain how do I make this personal and when you do that imagine this any when you do that imagine this any when you do that imagine this any marketing effort that your church does marketing effort that your church does marketing effort that your church does that kind of a organizational level your that kind of a organizational level your that kind of a organizational level your people know how to take that and add people know how to take that and add people know how to take that and add that word of mouth component you get that word of mouth component you get that word of mouth component you get more than double the effectiveness of more than double the effectiveness of more than double the effectiveness of whatever you're doing at a fraction of whatever you're doing at a fraction of whatever you're doing at a fraction of the cost and so that's big and we're the cost and so that's big and we're the cost and so that's big and we're going to do a session on the traditional going to do a session on the traditional going to do a session on the traditional marketing like direct mail and marketing like direct mail and marketing like direct mail and billboards and some of this stuff billboards and some of this stuff billboards and some of this stuff sometimes people say well that stuff sometimes people say well that stuff sometimes people say well that stuff doesn't work anymore all the digital doesn't work anymore all the digital doesn't work anymore all the digital stuff works they work together yeah and stuff works they work together yeah and stuff works they work together yeah and exactly what you're saying with the exactly what you're saying with the exactly what you're saying with the billboard with the postcard you're billboard with the postcard you're billboard with the postcard you're creating that culture you're teaching creating that culture you're teaching creating that culture you're teaching your people how to do the word of mouth your people how to do the word of mouth your people how to do the word of mouth Stuff how to use the other assets that Stuff how to use the other assets that Stuff how to use the other assets that you've created you're teaching your you've created you're teaching your you've created you're teaching your people which are your biggest that's people which are your biggest that's people which are your biggest that's your biggest evangelist yep you know but your biggest evangelist yep you know but your biggest evangelist yep you know but you're equipping them you're giving them you're equipping them you're giving them you're equipping them you're giving them ideas you're not just expecting them to ideas you're not just expecting them to ideas you're not just expecting them to do it you're teaching them to do it yep do it you're teaching them to do it yep do it you're teaching them to do it yep let's jump into the simple action step let's jump into the simple action step let's jump into the simple action step so we've already given you a couple so we've already given you a couple so we've already given you a couple there uh right away is go create that there uh right away is go create that there uh right away is go create that central place where people can go if central place where people can go if central place where people can go if they're like hey do you have any tools they're like hey do you have any tools they're like hey do you have any tools or ideas where I can invite my friends or ideas where I can invite my friends or ideas where I can invite my friends in an easy way there's one central place in an easy way there's one central place in an easy way there's one central place that you can send your people a couple that you can send your people a couple that you can send your people a couple other action steps that you can take uh other action steps that you can take uh other action steps that you can take uh one that we had in in our notes is this one that we had in in our notes is this one that we had in in our notes is this idea of building in time to your in your idea of building in time to your in your idea of building in time to your in your service structure or in your group service structure or in your group service structure or in your group structure where people can actually structure where people can actually structure where people can actually practice and implement this idea Michael practice and implement this idea Michael practice and implement this idea Michael and I were talking about this before we and I were talking about this before we and I were talking about this before we hit record is this idea of in church we hit record is this idea of in church we hit record is this idea of in church we wouldn't invite people talk about wouldn't invite people talk about wouldn't invite people talk about worship and then say hey go home and worship and then say hey go home and worship and then say hey go home and worship later today no we're gonna

worship later today no we're gonna worship later today no we're gonna actually sing a few songs together and actually sing a few songs together and actually sing a few songs together and worship together and I think more and worship together and I think more and worship together and I think more and more as we're in a a post-christian more as we're in a a post-christian more as we're in a a post-christian world we need to start thinking as world we need to start thinking as world we need to start thinking as almost as missionaries and like hey what almost as missionaries and like hey what almost as missionaries and like hey what would it look like if we took part of would it look like if we took part of would it look like if we took part of our service structure or our small group our service structure or our small group our service structure or our small group structure or our Sunday school and structure or our Sunday school and structure or our Sunday school and actually not talked about inviting your actually not talked about inviting your actually not talked about inviting your friends but broke out three minutes and friends but broke out three minutes and friends but broke out three minutes and say let's do it get everybody get on say let's do it get everybody get on say let's do it get everybody get on your phones we've got some example text your phones we've got some example text your phones we've got some example text messages what if you text texted some messages what if you text texted some messages what if you text texted some friends or go to our Church's Facebook friends or go to our Church's Facebook friends or go to our Church's Facebook page and pick a recent video or post and page and pick a recent video or post and page and pick a recent video or post and share it so I think more and more share it so I think more and more share it so I think more and more churches as we're starting to think like churches as we're starting to think like churches as we're starting to think like missionaries will have to actually missionaries will have to actually missionaries will have to actually practice this and set aside time in your practice this and set aside time in your practice this and set aside time in your service don't just say hey when you're service don't just say hey when you're service don't just say hey when you're at home this week no you have them right at home this week no you have them right at home this week no you have them right there the opposite right there in there the opposite right there in there the opposite right there in service it's almost I mean this here's service it's almost I mean this here's service it's almost I mean this here's first out of context right but it's first out of context right but it's first out of context right but it's almost like Redeeming the time right almost like Redeeming the time right almost like Redeeming the time right everybody's gathered all together yeah everybody's gathered all together yeah everybody's gathered all together yeah you can try to get them to do it next you can try to get them to do it next you can try to get them to do it next Thursday but then they're going to have Thursday but then they're going to have Thursday but then they're going to have to remember and overcome like 47 other to remember and overcome like 47 other to remember and overcome like 47 other barriers but what would it look like I barriers but what would it look like I barriers but what would it look like I mean you take a couple minutes in your mean you take a couple minutes in your mean you take a couple minutes in your service or used to to shake hands and service or used to to shake hands and service or used to to shake hands and say hi to somebody what if you took a say hi to somebody what if you took a say hi to somebody what if you took a couple minutes in your service and not couple minutes in your service and not couple minutes in your service and not every week but every now and then to say every week but every now and then to say every week but every now and then to say everybody take out your phones and send everybody take out your phones and send everybody take out your phones and send this share this post this this works for this share this post this this works for this share this post this this works for students right students can do this ever students right students can do this ever students right students can do this ever post a picture do whatever and now post a picture do whatever and now post a picture do whatever and now you're taking just a couple minutes in a you're taking just a couple minutes in a you're taking just a couple minutes in a service to fuel this word of mouth service to fuel this word of mouth service to fuel this word of mouth marketing and what's cool too is when marketing and what's cool too is when marketing and what's cool too is when you start to build that in ideally that you start to build that in ideally that you start to build that in ideally that becomes part of the church culture so becomes part of the church culture so becomes part of the church culture so now people are doing that all the time now people are doing that all the time now people are doing that all the time when when guy God speaks to their heart when when guy God speaks to their heart when when guy God speaks to their heart about that that message series that about that that message series that about that that message series that you're so passionate about you spent so you're so passionate about you spent so you're so passionate about you spent so much time in you've been begging that much time in you've been begging that much time in you've been begging that they would share those aha moments with

they would share those aha moments with they would share those aha moments with their friends they're start to do that their friends they're start to do that their friends they're start to do that naturally because you've practiced that naturally because you've practiced that naturally because you've practiced that as a part of your church uh service and as a part of your church uh service and as a part of your church uh service and structures another thing that you can do structures another thing that you can do structures another thing that you can do too is uh we don't have a whole lot of too is uh we don't have a whole lot of too is uh we don't have a whole lot of time to talk about reviews but reviews time to talk about reviews but reviews time to talk about reviews but reviews are another kind of word of mouth are another kind of word of mouth are another kind of word of mouth marketing Google reviews Facebook marketing Google reviews Facebook marketing Google reviews Facebook reviews Yelp reviews so if you have like reviews Yelp reviews so if you have like reviews Yelp reviews so if you have like a growth track or a membership process a growth track or a membership process a growth track or a membership process assimilation process somewhere in that assimilation process somewhere in that assimilation process somewhere in that process ask your people who are process ask your people who are process ask your people who are committed and who are want to help your committed and who are want to help your committed and who are want to help your church accomplish the mission to go church accomplish the mission to go church accomplish the mission to go leave a review for your church leave a review for your church leave a review for your church in the membership class in 301 or in the membership class in 301 or in the membership class in 301 or whatever your growth track is right whatever your growth track is right whatever your growth track is right there where they're like hey we want to there where they're like hey we want to there where they're like hey we want to partner with you what's what are some partner with you what's what are some partner with you what's what are some ways that we can help the the mission of ways that we can help the the mission of ways that we can help the the mission of the church move forward leaving us a the church move forward leaving us a the church move forward leaving us a review is a really simple way that will review is a really simple way that will review is a really simple way that will also tie into what we're going to talk also tie into what we're going to talk also tie into what we're going to talk about next yeah content marketing and about next yeah content marketing and about next yeah content marketing and SEO love that that'll be a fun one yeah SEO love that that'll be a fun one yeah SEO love that that'll be a fun one yeah that'll be fun so yes so take this you that'll be fun so yes so take this you that'll be fun so yes so take this you you your people are a great asset equip you your people are a great asset equip you your people are a great asset equip them encourage them give them the tools them encourage them give them the tools them encourage them give them the tools and let this kind of word of mouth and let this kind of word of mouth and let this kind of word of mouth invite marketing you know work together invite marketing you know work together invite marketing you know work together with all the other things you're doing with all the other things you're doing with all the other things you're doing and that's something you can lead as a and that's something you can lead as a and that's something you can lead as a pastor you can do that yep all right pastor you can do that yep all right pastor you can do that yep all right guys we've still got some great content guys we've still got some great content guys we've still got some great content we'll see you over in the next episode