4 Things You Must Do To Improve Your Church Comms In 2023 | Bart Blair

[Music] [Music] Google tries to help your business by Google tries to help your business by Google tries to help your business by taking photos of people other people taking photos of people other people taking photos of people other people post online and geotagging them to your post online and geotagging them to your post online and geotagging them to your location and oftentimes you will find location and oftentimes you will find location and oftentimes you will find some unflattering or maybe irrelevant some unflattering or maybe irrelevant some unflattering or maybe irrelevant photos on your Google business profile photos on your Google business profile photos on your Google business profile that don't really put your best foot that don't really put your best foot that don't really put your best foot forward as a church forward as a church forward as a church hey welcome to season three episode 22 hey welcome to season three episode 22 hey welcome to season three episode 22 of the missional marketing podcast my of the missional marketing podcast my of the missional marketing podcast my name is Bart Blair I am the co-host of name is Bart Blair I am the co-host of name is Bart Blair I am the co-host of the show I am solo today my usual the show I am solo today my usual the show I am solo today my usual co-hosting partner Jason Hamrock our CEO co-hosting partner Jason Hamrock our CEO co-hosting partner Jason Hamrock our CEO of missional marketing honestly he had of missional marketing honestly he had of missional marketing honestly he had such a busy schedule this week with such a busy schedule this week with such a busy schedule this week with meetings with churches that I couldn't meetings with churches that I couldn't meetings with churches that I couldn't find a Time on his calendar that matched find a Time on his calendar that matched find a Time on his calendar that matched with my calendar so that we could record with my calendar so that we could record with my calendar so that we could record this episode so I'm flying solo today this episode so I'm flying solo today this episode so I'm flying solo today but even though I'm on my own the but even though I'm on my own the but even though I'm on my own the purpose of the podcast Remains the Same purpose of the podcast Remains the Same purpose of the podcast Remains the Same our goal is to help your church grow by our goal is to help your church grow by our goal is to help your church grow by leveraging digital marketing and leveraging digital marketing and leveraging digital marketing and effective Communications and I'm going effective Communications and I'm going effective Communications and I'm going to give you four tips today four things to give you four tips today four things to give you four tips today four things that I think will help you as you go that I think will help you as you go that I think will help you as you go into 2023 in fact I've titled this into 2023 in fact I've titled this into 2023 in fact I've titled this podcast episode four things you must do podcast episode four things you must do podcast episode four things you must do to improve your church comms in 2023. if to improve your church comms in 2023. if to improve your church comms in 2023. if you will do these four things if you you will do these four things if you you will do these four things if you will do them here right at the beginning will do them here right at the beginning will do them here right at the beginning of the year maybe you're listening to of the year maybe you're listening to of the year maybe you're listening to this in January or February shortly this in January or February shortly this in January or February shortly after the episode drops if you will do after the episode drops if you will do after the episode drops if you will do these things it will set you up for a these things it will set you up for a these things it will set you up for a more productive Communications year the more productive Communications year the more productive Communications year the rest of the year and hey maybe you're rest of the year and hey maybe you're rest of the year and hey maybe you're listening to this retroactively you listening to this retroactively you listening to this retroactively you didn't download it until July or until didn't download it until July or until didn't download it until July or until September you can still and you probably September you can still and you probably September you can still and you probably still should do these four things are still should do these four things are still should do these four things are you ready all right here are four things

you ready all right here are four things you ready all right here are four things that you must do to improve your church that you must do to improve your church that you must do to improve your church comms in 2023. the first one is this comms in 2023. the first one is this comms in 2023. the first one is this scrub your Google business profile scrub your Google business profile scrub your Google business profile that's right scrub your Google business that's right scrub your Google business that's right scrub your Google business profile what do I mean when I say scrub profile what do I mean when I say scrub profile what do I mean when I say scrub your Google business profile well what I your Google business profile well what I your Google business profile well what I mean is go through it look at all the mean is go through it look at all the mean is go through it look at all the images that are uploaded to your Google images that are uploaded to your Google images that are uploaded to your Google business profile and make sure that they business profile and make sure that they business profile and make sure that they are all up to date and current and that are all up to date and current and that are all up to date and current and that they are communicating visually what you they are communicating visually what you they are communicating visually what you want communicated about your church when want communicated about your church when want communicated about your church when I'm doing coaching calls with churches I'm doing coaching calls with churches I'm doing coaching calls with churches we will frequently look at the churches we will frequently look at the churches we will frequently look at the churches um Google business profile and we'll um Google business profile and we'll um Google business profile and we'll look at photos and it never seems to look at photos and it never seems to look at photos and it never seems to fail that the comms director looks at fail that the comms director looks at fail that the comms director looks at the photos and they're like wow those the photos and they're like wow those the photos and they're like wow those are really old pictures or wow where did are really old pictures or wow where did are really old pictures or wow where did those pictures come from well Google those pictures come from well Google those pictures come from well Google tries to help your business by taking tries to help your business by taking tries to help your business by taking photos of people other people post photos of people other people post photos of people other people post online and geotagging them to your online and geotagging them to your online and geotagging them to your location and oftentimes you will find location and oftentimes you will find location and oftentimes you will find some unflattering or maybe irrelevant some unflattering or maybe irrelevant some unflattering or maybe irrelevant photos on your Google business profile photos on your Google business profile photos on your Google business profile that don't really put your best foot that don't really put your best foot that don't really put your best foot forward as a church you can go in and forward as a church you can go in and forward as a church you can go in and you can flag those and ask them to be you can flag those and ask them to be you can flag those and ask them to be removed Google will eventually take removed Google will eventually take removed Google will eventually take those down the other thing that you want those down the other thing that you want those down the other thing that you want to do is make sure that you have updated to do is make sure that you have updated to do is make sure that you have updated the photos with new and the most recent the photos with new and the most recent the photos with new and the most recent photos that you can post onto your photos that you can post onto your photos that you can post onto your Google business profile remember you Google business profile remember you Google business profile remember you might have a lot of website traffic might have a lot of website traffic might have a lot of website traffic every month but I bet you have twice every month but I bet you have twice every month but I bet you have twice three times five times as much traffic three times five times as much traffic three times five times as much traffic to your Google business profile as you to your Google business profile as you to your Google business profile as you do to your website that might come as a

do to your website that might come as a do to your website that might come as a surprise to you but it is a fact we used surprise to you but it is a fact we used surprise to you but it is a fact we used to say that your Church website was the to say that your Church website was the to say that your Church website was the front door for your church it is no front door for your church it is no front door for your church it is no longer the front door for your church longer the front door for your church longer the front door for your church your Google business profile is your Google business profile is your Google business profile is typically going to be the first typically going to be the first typically going to be the first impression that you make with your impression that you make with your impression that you make with your website visitors so make sure that you website visitors so make sure that you website visitors so make sure that you scrub it that you take a look at all scrub it that you take a look at all scrub it that you take a look at all those photos and get those photos up to those photos and get those photos up to those photos and get those photos up to date oh and by the way if you don't have date oh and by the way if you don't have date oh and by the way if you don't have a regular or consistent strategy uh in a regular or consistent strategy uh in a regular or consistent strategy uh in place to actually update your Google place to actually update your Google place to actually update your Google business profile with posts and events business profile with posts and events business profile with posts and events and new photos make sure that you plan and new photos make sure that you plan and new photos make sure that you plan that out for this year you'll benefit that out for this year you'll benefit that out for this year you'll benefit from that with more local SEO juice from that with more local SEO juice from that with more local SEO juice Google will reward you with higher Google will reward you with higher Google will reward you with higher search rankings when people are looking search rankings when people are looking search rankings when people are looking for a church in your area Okay so that's for a church in your area Okay so that's for a church in your area Okay so that's the first thing that you need to do the first thing that you need to do the first thing that you need to do scrub your Google business profile the scrub your Google business profile the scrub your Google business profile the second thing that you need to do is second thing that you need to do is second thing that you need to do is develop a game plan for getting more develop a game plan for getting more develop a game plan for getting more reviews of your church I just had a call reviews of your church I just had a call reviews of your church I just had a call with a church yesterday that added two with a church yesterday that added two with a church yesterday that added two reviews in 2022 okay they started the reviews in 2022 okay they started the reviews in 2022 okay they started the year with 86 they finished the year with year with 86 they finished the year with year with 86 they finished the year with 88. and I asked the communications 88. and I asked the communications 88. and I asked the communications director of this church how many people director of this church how many people director of this church how many people were on staff at the church they have were on staff at the church they have were on staff at the church they have more than 20 people on staff at the more than 20 people on staff at the more than 20 people on staff at the church I can pretty much guarantee you church I can pretty much guarantee you church I can pretty much guarantee you that I bet less than half of the people that I bet less than half of the people that I bet less than half of the people that are on staff at the church have that are on staff at the church have that are on staff at the church have even left a review of the church make even left a review of the church make even left a review of the church make sure that you're asking people on your sure that you're asking people on your sure that you're asking people on your staff your key leaders your ministry staff your key leaders your ministry staff your key leaders your ministry leaders people that know and love your leaders people that know and love your leaders people that know and love your church ask them to leave a review for church ask them to leave a review for church ask them to leave a review for your church and Google why your church and Google why your church and Google why because when they do that it helps more because when they do that it helps more because when they do that it helps more people find your Church online I mean people find your Church online I mean people find your Church online I mean you're being digital missionaries when you're being digital missionaries when you're being digital missionaries when people in your church are willing to

people in your church are willing to people in your church are willing to leave a review for your church a leave a review for your church a leave a review for your church a five-star rating for your church it will five-star rating for your church it will five-star rating for your church it will help more people find your Church online help more people find your Church online help more people find your Church online now I created another video that's on now I created another video that's on now I created another video that's on the missional marketing YouTube channel the missional marketing YouTube channel the missional marketing YouTube channel we will link to that in the show notes we will link to that in the show notes we will link to that in the show notes of this podcast episode but it talks of this podcast episode but it talks of this podcast episode but it talks about why reviews are so important for about why reviews are so important for about why reviews are so important for your Google business profile for your your Google business profile for your your Google business profile for your church I won't go into the details of church I won't go into the details of church I won't go into the details of that in this particular podcast episode that in this particular podcast episode that in this particular podcast episode but you do need to know that having but you do need to know that having but you do need to know that having reviews on a regular consistent basis reviews on a regular consistent basis reviews on a regular consistent basis and having good reviews is really and having good reviews is really and having good reviews is really important by the way the best way to important by the way the best way to important by the way the best way to bury a bad review is more good reviews bury a bad review is more good reviews bury a bad review is more good reviews so if you looked at your profile today so if you looked at your profile today so if you looked at your profile today and maybe say you have a 4.7 or a 4.8 or and maybe say you have a 4.7 or a 4.8 or and maybe say you have a 4.7 or a 4.8 or maybe you're blessed with a 4.9 rating maybe you're blessed with a 4.9 rating maybe you're blessed with a 4.9 rating in Google but you only have like 27 or in Google but you only have like 27 or in Google but you only have like 27 or 37 or 52 reviews it only takes one or 37 or 52 reviews it only takes one or 37 or 52 reviews it only takes one or two bad reviews to bring your overall two bad reviews to bring your overall two bad reviews to bring your overall rating down but the more good views you rating down but the more good views you rating down but the more good views you have obviously the better you're able to have obviously the better you're able to have obviously the better you're able to outweigh any bad reviews that you might outweigh any bad reviews that you might outweigh any bad reviews that you might possibly get I know that your church possibly get I know that your church possibly get I know that your church doesn't deserve bad reviews but from doesn't deserve bad reviews but from doesn't deserve bad reviews but from time to time they come and so you can time to time they come and so you can time to time they come and so you can outweigh those bad reviews by getting outweigh those bad reviews by getting outweigh those bad reviews by getting more new reviews so set a goal come up more new reviews so set a goal come up more new reviews so set a goal come up with a strategy watch the other video with a strategy watch the other video with a strategy watch the other video that we have in the show notes which that we have in the show notes which that we have in the show notes which actually shows you a strategy on how you actually shows you a strategy on how you actually shows you a strategy on how you can do that so that you can get more can do that so that you can get more can do that so that you can get more reviews on your Google business profile reviews on your Google business profile reviews on your Google business profile in 2023. all right the third thing that in 2023. all right the third thing that in 2023. all right the third thing that you must do to improve your church you must do to improve your church you must do to improve your church Communications in 2023 is to scrub your Communications in 2023 is to scrub your Communications in 2023 is to scrub your church email list that's right you need church email list that's right you need church email list that's right you need to actually go through your church email

to actually go through your church email to actually go through your church email list and whatever wherever you're list and whatever wherever you're list and whatever wherever you're sending it maybe you're using MailChimp sending it maybe you're using MailChimp sending it maybe you're using MailChimp maybe you're using your church database maybe you're using your church database maybe you're using your church database um the higher the open rate in your uh um the higher the open rate in your uh um the higher the open rate in your uh platform the more likely your emails are platform the more likely your emails are platform the more likely your emails are to be delivered that's just simply a to be delivered that's just simply a to be delivered that's just simply a fact especially if you're using a fact especially if you're using a fact especially if you're using a platform platform platform um like MailChimp or um like MailChimp or um like MailChimp or um I can't remember the names of any of um I can't remember the names of any of um I can't remember the names of any of the others off the top of my head the others off the top of my head the others off the top of my head Constant Contact that's another one Constant Contact that's another one Constant Contact that's another one they're looking those platforms are they're looking those platforms are they're looking those platforms are looking at your open rates and you want looking at your open rates and you want looking at your open rates and you want to make sure that you're monitoring your to make sure that you're monitoring your to make sure that you're monitoring your open rates if you have 800 people on open rates if you have 800 people on open rates if you have 800 people on your email list and you're only your email list and you're only your email list and you're only consistently getting 200 or 250 of those consistently getting 200 or 250 of those consistently getting 200 or 250 of those 800 people to open uh your emails go 800 people to open uh your emails go 800 people to open uh your emails go through the list and identify the people through the list and identify the people through the list and identify the people who are not opening them on a regular who are not opening them on a regular who are not opening them on a regular basis you may find that you have people basis you may find that you have people basis you may find that you have people who haven't opened your email in years who haven't opened your email in years who haven't opened your email in years maybe there's a reason for that maybe maybe there's a reason for that maybe maybe there's a reason for that maybe number one they're really no longer number one they're really no longer number one they're really no longer interested in receiving emails from you interested in receiving emails from you interested in receiving emails from you or two maybe your emails are going to or two maybe your emails are going to or two maybe your emails are going to their junk or to their promotions tab in their junk or to their promotions tab in their junk or to their promotions tab in their Google Mail their Gmail that's their Google Mail their Gmail that's their Google Mail their Gmail that's what we call Google Mail we call it what we call Google Mail we call it what we call Google Mail we call it Gmail Gmail Gmail um and and they don't even know that um and and they don't even know that um and and they don't even know that you're sending them emails you're sending them emails you're sending them emails um I would create a list or send out a um I would create a list or send out a um I would create a list or send out a unique email to all the people who are unique email to all the people who are unique email to all the people who are not actively reading your email and give not actively reading your email and give not actively reading your email and give them an opportunity to unsubscribe or them an opportunity to unsubscribe or them an opportunity to unsubscribe or re-subscribe and make that clear for re-subscribe and make that clear for re-subscribe and make that clear for them because you really want to be them because you really want to be them because you really want to be sending emails that are going to be of sending emails that are going to be of sending emails that are going to be of interest to the people who are actually interest to the people who are actually interest to the people who are actually reading them and that also helps you

reading them and that also helps you reading them and that also helps you know what kind of content that you can know what kind of content that you can know what kind of content that you can and should be putting in there so you're and should be putting in there so you're and should be putting in there so you're checking your your open rates you're checking your your open rates you're checking your your open rates you're checking your click throughs you want to checking your click throughs you want to checking your click throughs you want to see what kind of content people are see what kind of content people are see what kind of content people are consuming when they're opening your consuming when they're opening your consuming when they're opening your emails so that you can better provide emails so that you can better provide emails so that you can better provide emails that are adding value that's a emails that are adding value that's a emails that are adding value that's a question I think I learned that from question I think I learned that from question I think I learned that from Carrie newhoff years ago who said before Carrie newhoff years ago who said before Carrie newhoff years ago who said before you press send on your email ask the you press send on your email ask the you press send on your email ask the question am I adding value well if question am I adding value well if question am I adding value well if you've got you know a 20 or 25 open rate you've got you know a 20 or 25 open rate you've got you know a 20 or 25 open rate there's 70 75 80 of the people who are there's 70 75 80 of the people who are there's 70 75 80 of the people who are on your list are not finding any value on your list are not finding any value on your list are not finding any value in what you're doing maybe you need to in what you're doing maybe you need to in what you're doing maybe you need to change what you're doing or maybe you change what you're doing or maybe you change what you're doing or maybe you just need to scrub the list and remove just need to scrub the list and remove just need to scrub the list and remove those people from the list that's those people from the list that's those people from the list that's something that I would consider doing oh something that I would consider doing oh something that I would consider doing oh and by the way here's a lesson that I and by the way here's a lesson that I and by the way here's a lesson that I recently learned if your emails maybe recently learned if your emails maybe recently learned if your emails maybe you're using MailChimp are going to a you're using MailChimp are going to a you're using MailChimp are going to a person's promotions or social bucket in person's promotions or social bucket in person's promotions or social bucket in their Gmail uh one thing that they can their Gmail uh one thing that they can their Gmail uh one thing that they can do you have to teach them how to do this do you have to teach them how to do this do you have to teach them how to do this maybe in a video or maybe on social maybe in a video or maybe on social maybe in a video or maybe on social media however you want to do this maybe media however you want to do this maybe media however you want to do this maybe in person on a Sunday if they drag that in person on a Sunday if they drag that in person on a Sunday if they drag that email from the promotions folder in email from the promotions folder in email from the promotions folder in their Gmail into the inbox it will train their Gmail into the inbox it will train their Gmail into the inbox it will train Gmail to send all of those emails into Gmail to send all of those emails into Gmail to send all of those emails into the inbox did you know that I just the inbox did you know that I just the inbox did you know that I just learned that recently okay so maybe learned that recently okay so maybe learned that recently okay so maybe those emails are going to Promotions and those emails are going to Promotions and those emails are going to Promotions and people don't see them because they're people don't see them because they're people don't see them because they're coming in there with all their Designer coming in there with all their Designer coming in there with all their Designer Shoe Warehouse and you know whatever all Shoe Warehouse and you know whatever all Shoe Warehouse and you know whatever all the stuff is they've subscribed to that the stuff is they've subscribed to that the stuff is they've subscribed to that I just give up too much I get Designer I just give up too much I get Designer I just give up too much I get Designer Shoe Warehouse emails and my promotions

Shoe Warehouse emails and my promotions Shoe Warehouse emails and my promotions because they give you a coupon on your because they give you a coupon on your because they give you a coupon on your birthday and I have good intentions birthday and I have good intentions birthday and I have good intentions about buying new shoes on my birthday about buying new shoes on my birthday about buying new shoes on my birthday every year although I never actually do every year although I never actually do every year although I never actually do but I still get the emails anyway uh if but I still get the emails anyway uh if but I still get the emails anyway uh if they take that email from your they take that email from your they take that email from your promotions folder from their promotions promotions folder from their promotions promotions folder from their promotions folder and drag it into the inbox they folder and drag it into the inbox they folder and drag it into the inbox they will then start to get those emails in will then start to get those emails in will then start to get those emails in their inbox tidy little tip there their inbox tidy little tip there their inbox tidy little tip there hopefully that is helpful for you so go hopefully that is helpful for you so go hopefully that is helpful for you so go through your new your church email list through your new your church email list through your new your church email list give people an opportunity to give people an opportunity to give people an opportunity to re-subscribe or unsubscribe and send re-subscribe or unsubscribe and send re-subscribe or unsubscribe and send emails to people who really find Value emails to people who really find Value emails to people who really find Value in them continue to experiment with the in them continue to experiment with the in them continue to experiment with the content that you're putting in your content that you're putting in your content that you're putting in your emails emails emails so that you make sure that you are so that you make sure that you are so that you make sure that you are adding value we're going to do an adding value we're going to do an adding value we're going to do an episode here sometime in the first episode here sometime in the first episode here sometime in the first quarter of this year on talking about quarter of this year on talking about quarter of this year on talking about story based emails I'm going to bring story based emails I'm going to bring story based emails I'm going to bring one of our team members Maddie Hall uh one of our team members Maddie Hall uh one of our team members Maddie Hall uh who oversees our Communications who oversees our Communications who oversees our Communications Consulting teams and she's going to help Consulting teams and she's going to help Consulting teams and she's going to help us understand what story based emails us understand what story based emails us understand what story based emails for churches are because I think that's for churches are because I think that's for churches are because I think that's really going to help your open rate go really going to help your open rate go really going to help your open rate go up but one thing that'll help your open up but one thing that'll help your open up but one thing that'll help your open rate go up is to remove the people from rate go up is to remove the people from rate go up is to remove the people from your list who don't really want to be on your list who don't really want to be on your list who don't really want to be on your list okay the fourth and final your list okay the fourth and final your list okay the fourth and final thing that you must do to improve your thing that you must do to improve your thing that you must do to improve your church comms in 2023 is plan your church comms in 2023 is plan your church comms in 2023 is plan your marketing for the entire year now some marketing for the entire year now some marketing for the entire year now some of you I know are going well I I just of you I know are going well I I just of you I know are going well I I just can't do that my pastor doesn't work can't do that my pastor doesn't work can't do that my pastor doesn't work that far ahead yeah yeah yeah whatever that far ahead yeah yeah yeah whatever that far ahead yeah yeah yeah whatever guess what your pastor doesn't get to guess what your pastor doesn't get to guess what your pastor doesn't get to decide when Easter happens your pastor decide when Easter happens your pastor decide when Easter happens your pastor doesn't get to decide when Christmas doesn't get to decide when Christmas doesn't get to decide when Christmas happens happens happens um your pastor might have a say in when um your pastor might have a say in when um your pastor might have a say in when VBS happens or when you're going to do a

VBS happens or when you're going to do a VBS happens or when you're going to do a fall kickoff or when you might be doing fall kickoff or when you might be doing fall kickoff or when you might be doing some new doing creative series or event some new doing creative series or event some new doing creative series or event if you do a fall Harvest it's unlikely if you do a fall Harvest it's unlikely if you do a fall Harvest it's unlikely that your pastor gets to decide when that your pastor gets to decide when that your pastor gets to decide when that happens because it typically that happens because it typically that happens because it typically happens right around Halloween right happens right around Halloween right happens right around Halloween right there are certain things that are within there are certain things that are within there are certain things that are within your control because they're already on your control because they're already on your control because they're already on the calendar maybe they're on the the calendar maybe they're on the the calendar maybe they're on the calendar every year now you may answer calendar every year now you may answer calendar every year now you may answer the question by simply saying well I the question by simply saying well I the question by simply saying well I can't plan for my year because I don't can't plan for my year because I don't can't plan for my year because I don't know what my budget is or I don't really know what my budget is or I don't really know what my budget is or I don't really know what the theme is going to be for know what the theme is going to be for know what the theme is going to be for Easter guess what Easter guess what Easter guess what you don't need to know what the theme of you don't need to know what the theme of you don't need to know what the theme of Easter is going to be to plan today in Easter is going to be to plan today in Easter is going to be to plan today in January what your marketing budget is January what your marketing budget is January what your marketing budget is going to be and how you're actually going to be and how you're actually going to be and how you're actually going to Market are you going to do going to Market are you going to do going to Market are you going to do Facebook and Instagram ads are you going Facebook and Instagram ads are you going Facebook and Instagram ads are you going to do Google display are you going to do to do Google display are you going to do to do Google display are you going to do YouTube are you going to order a YouTube are you going to order a YouTube are you going to order a billboard are you going to put ads in billboard are you going to put ads in billboard are you going to put ads in the newspaper are you going to print the newspaper are you going to print the newspaper are you going to print postcards and mail them postcards and mail them postcards and mail them you know you don't have to wait until you know you don't have to wait until you know you don't have to wait until your staff has your Easter planning your staff has your Easter planning your staff has your Easter planning meeting to start thinking through those meeting to start thinking through those meeting to start thinking through those ideas in fact it might be better for you ideas in fact it might be better for you ideas in fact it might be better for you to have those ideas already mapped out to have those ideas already mapped out to have those ideas already mapped out so that you can present them to your so that you can present them to your so that you can present them to your entire team and I would recommend that entire team and I would recommend that entire team and I would recommend that you go ahead and look at all the major you go ahead and look at all the major you go ahead and look at all the major events and activities that you have on events and activities that you have on events and activities that you have on your calendar for the entire year and go your calendar for the entire year and go your calendar for the entire year and go ahead and sketch out a marketing ahead and sketch out a marketing ahead and sketch out a marketing strategy for each one of those and Mark strategy for each one of those and Mark strategy for each one of those and Mark out a possible budget for how you would out a possible budget for how you would out a possible budget for how you would allocate your financial resources to allocate your financial resources to allocate your financial resources to Market those events one thing that I see Market those events one thing that I see Market those events one thing that I see that churches regularly fail to include that churches regularly fail to include that churches regularly fail to include in their marketing and their Outreach in their marketing and their Outreach in their marketing and their Outreach budget is promoting things like budget is promoting things like budget is promoting things like Financial Peace University or Divorce Financial Peace University or Divorce Financial Peace University or Divorce Care or grief share or something of that

Care or grief share or something of that Care or grief share or something of that nature I had a church just last year who nature I had a church just last year who nature I had a church just last year who was running Alpha on like five out of was running Alpha on like five out of was running Alpha on like five out of six campuses they had and they six campuses they had and they six campuses they had and they completely whiffed on running any ads completely whiffed on running any ads completely whiffed on running any ads for Alpha you're doing it and it's a for Alpha you're doing it and it's a for Alpha you're doing it and it's a great Outreach opportunity throw a few great Outreach opportunity throw a few great Outreach opportunity throw a few hundred dollars behind a Facebook ad hundred dollars behind a Facebook ad hundred dollars behind a Facebook ad campaign or a Google display ad campaign campaign or a Google display ad campaign campaign or a Google display ad campaign and promote that Alpha so that more and promote that Alpha so that more and promote that Alpha so that more people can get to know Jesus but plan people can get to know Jesus but plan people can get to know Jesus but plan your marketing out for the year now if your marketing out for the year now if your marketing out for the year now if that's something that you've never done that's something that you've never done that's something that you've never done before maybe you're unfamiliar with how before maybe you're unfamiliar with how before maybe you're unfamiliar with how to do that Jason and I can help you with to do that Jason and I can help you with to do that Jason and I can help you with that you can click over to our website that you can click over to our website that you can click over to our website there's a contacts link you can schedule there's a contacts link you can schedule there's a contacts link you can schedule a meeting with Jason or me or one of our a meeting with Jason or me or one of our a meeting with Jason or me or one of our other very capable coaches and we can other very capable coaches and we can other very capable coaches and we can actually help you look at your annual actually help you look at your annual actually help you look at your annual calendar and your annual budget and help calendar and your annual budget and help calendar and your annual budget and help you map out you map out you map out a strategy for how to use your resources a strategy for how to use your resources a strategy for how to use your resources to make Maximum Impact in your Outreach to make Maximum Impact in your Outreach to make Maximum Impact in your Outreach based Communications your digital based Communications your digital based Communications your digital marketing your digital Outreach however marketing your digital Outreach however marketing your digital Outreach however you want to frame that so you want to frame that so you want to frame that so um I hope you'll do that I hope you'll um I hope you'll do that I hope you'll um I hope you'll do that I hope you'll take that initiative here right at the take that initiative here right at the take that initiative here right at the beginning of the year plan it out for beginning of the year plan it out for beginning of the year plan it out for the entire year you might have to flex the entire year you might have to flex the entire year you might have to flex you might have to make some changes you might have to make some changes you might have to make some changes somewhere along the way but you'll somewhere along the way but you'll somewhere along the way but you'll really benefit from being that much really benefit from being that much really benefit from being that much further ahead of the game I've talked to further ahead of the game I've talked to further ahead of the game I've talked to Communications directors all the time Communications directors all the time Communications directors all the time who sometimes find themselves frustrated who sometimes find themselves frustrated who sometimes find themselves frustrated because their senior pastors don't like because their senior pastors don't like because their senior pastors don't like to plan far enough out in advance for to plan far enough out in advance for to plan far enough out in advance for them doesn't mean that you can't or you them doesn't mean that you can't or you them doesn't mean that you can't or you shouldn't be planning in advance in fact shouldn't be planning in advance in fact shouldn't be planning in advance in fact go ahead and set the example set the go ahead and set the example set the go ahead and set the example set the example for your team do unto others as example for your team do unto others as example for your team do unto others as you would have them do and to you I

you would have them do and to you I you would have them do and to you I heard that once before a smart guy said heard that once before a smart guy said heard that once before a smart guy said it it it maybe he was God yes I think so anyway maybe he was God yes I think so anyway maybe he was God yes I think so anyway uh four things that you need to do to uh four things that you need to do to uh four things that you need to do to improve your church comms in 2023 number improve your church comms in 2023 number improve your church comms in 2023 number one scrub your Google business profile one scrub your Google business profile one scrub your Google business profile two develop a game plan for getting more two develop a game plan for getting more two develop a game plan for getting more reviews on your Google business profile reviews on your Google business profile reviews on your Google business profile three scrub your church email list and three scrub your church email list and three scrub your church email list and four plan your marketing for the entire four plan your marketing for the entire four plan your marketing for the entire year thanks for tuning in to this week's year thanks for tuning in to this week's year thanks for tuning in to this week's episode of the missional marketing episode of the missional marketing episode of the missional marketing podcast again we hope that it will help podcast again we hope that it will help podcast again we hope that it will help your church grow and that you will your church grow and that you will your church grow and that you will better leverage digital marketing and better leverage digital marketing and better leverage digital marketing and Communications for your church if you Communications for your church if you Communications for your church if you haven't yet subscribed wherever you're haven't yet subscribed wherever you're haven't yet subscribed wherever you're listening or watching if you're watching listening or watching if you're watching listening or watching if you're watching on YouTube subscribe to our YouTube on YouTube subscribe to our YouTube on YouTube subscribe to our YouTube channel ring the bell so that you don't channel ring the bell so that you don't channel ring the bell so that you don't miss any future episodes and if you're miss any future episodes and if you're miss any future episodes and if you're listening on a podcast app make sure listening on a podcast app make sure listening on a podcast app make sure that you subscribe wherever you're that you subscribe wherever you're that you subscribe wherever you're listening so you don't miss any of our listening so you don't miss any of our listening so you don't miss any of our future episodes and if you would leave future episodes and if you would leave future episodes and if you would leave us a five star review which will help us a five star review which will help us a five star review which will help offset all those one and two star offset all those one and two star offset all those one and two star reviews that we're getting I'm kidding reviews that we're getting I'm kidding reviews that we're getting I'm kidding we're not getting really any reviews if we're not getting really any reviews if we're not getting really any reviews if I'm to be perfectly honest with you so I'm to be perfectly honest with you so I'm to be perfectly honest with you so we hope that what we're doing is making we hope that what we're doing is making we hope that what we're doing is making an impact for you uh our downloads and an impact for you uh our downloads and an impact for you uh our downloads and our views tell us that that we are that our views tell us that that we are that our views tell us that that we are that it is helpful but we don't get many it is helpful but we don't get many it is helpful but we don't get many reviews so if you want to leave a review reviews so if you want to leave a review reviews so if you want to leave a review and maybe we'll give you a shout out on and maybe we'll give you a shout out on and maybe we'll give you a shout out on one of our podcast episodes in the one of our podcast episodes in the one of our podcast episodes in the upcoming months thanks again for tuning upcoming months thanks again for tuning upcoming months thanks again for tuning in I'm Bart Blair and I'm out in I'm Bart Blair and I'm out in I'm Bart Blair and I'm out foreign foreign foreign [Music]