Detailed notes from the ministryCOM.org breakout session: Marketing & Media on a Small Budget by Jody Wissing

1. Twitter your comments and questions
Small budget questions #cheapmm No budget questions #freemm
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2. Do you need this?
This presentation is for ministry leaders that are involved with any type of
marketing, communications or media arts.
Even if you’re not in ministry, this is packed with ideas for low cost
marketing concepts and inexpensive media.
This is the detailed presentation from the breakout group: MARKETING &
MEDIA ON A SMALL BUDGET from ministryCOM.org 2009.

3. The GOOD news:
You have a small budget
Benefits:
Makes you a good steward of your money
A recession doesn’t matter because you are used to working with little or no money
Your budget plan is very detailed
Job security, because you’re saving much more than your salary
You spend more time prioritizing your expenditures
When you get a larger budget, you’ll spend it wisely
Forces creativity
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4. Anyone who lives within their
means suffers from a lack of
imagination. --Oscar Wilde
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5. Types of resources:
Budget - Your budget is a resource, even if it’s small
Information - You’re reading this, it’s a resource. Internet, other churches, books,
seminars, conferences, classes, etc...
Media - What do you have? What do you need?
Services
Equipment
People
People’s media, services & equipment - Volunteers are usually willing to donate
time and their resources if they know you have a need
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6. what box?
Everyone has heard this phrase. Some people think it’s cliché,
some are terrified of it and some will get philosophical about it…
“by being out of the box, isn’t that technically being in a different
box?” My typical response is “what box?” since I tend to orbit
very far away from any box.
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7. My definition of out of the box is:
Doing things differently, expressing creativity and
leading the way, even if your path is that of the unknown.
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8. “It's hard for corporations to understand
that creativity is not just about succeeding.
It's about experimenting and discovering.”
– Gordon MacKenzie
Author of Orbiting the Giant Hairball
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9. Not everything we try will succeed.
We bought 1000 pairs of 3D glasses (with logo and website printed
on them) with the intent of creating video and graphic content that
were 3D viewable. Because of some equipment and technical issues,
it failed for it’s original purpose, but many positives came out of it.
We used them as bringer
cards
Kids thought they were cool,
took them and gave them to
friends
We were able to use a pre-
produced 3D clip in the final
week
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10. Brainstorming: free
Print materials: $150
Local ad: $400
Billboard: $3000
Marketing/media budget: $0
Creativity: Priceless
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11. What is creative bliss?
Creative bliss is brainstorming, processing ideas, and increasing the
creative process. It’s easy to wrapped up in tasks and to do lists, but you
should make time for creativity.
Everyone is creative in some way. get your team together and get them
plugged into the right places. God is creative and we were all created by
Him, in His image. If you have the mindset of not being creative, you won’t
be creative.

12. Creative bliss tips:
Increase your creativity… and your teams’ creativity
Info - Books, blogs, social media groups
Meetings - Yes, you heard me right. Take 15 minutes in meetings for creative time.
Idea journaling - Write them down or they’ll be gone forever.
Cultural relevancy - Schedule time for it. Make time for it.
Playtime - Have toys, these help people express themselves. Use props, they
are visual and will make people remember your ideas. Do show and tell.
All ideas are good - Even bad or challenging ideas can spawn good ones.
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13. I know what you’re thinking… “you’ve talked about
resources, creativity, boxes, blah, blah, blah. Get to the
good stuff. I need some good money saving ideas!”
Here we go.
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14. Bringer cards
•photos cut in half
•full color
•no minimums
•$.05 each
•these easily fit in wallets
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15. Microsites & Branding
What is a microsite? A website or group of web pages meant to advertise or
support a larger website. These are relatively inexpensive and can drive a lot of
meaningful traffic to your church website. Here are a few examples that support
our main site, prestontrail.org.
mymiserablemarriage.com
badecono.me
hugofwar.com
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16. Microsite case study:
The topic is of current interest and sparks curiosity.
money giveaway
billboard
car window stickers
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17. Bringer Events
Bringer events are events you can do for your community. This is a great way to reach
people in your church and also bring some people into your church that might have had
no intention of coming to a church.
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18. Other cheap stuff:
Random acts of community kindness - help out in your community.
Word will spead!
Media cards, info cards - create business card sized info cards for all
your ministries.
Website - have a well designed, easy to navigate site.
Church social networking site - our church uses Unifyer for internal
communications so our website can focus on bringing new people
to our church.
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19. Social media & social networking
Right now, these are the top three... and they are free.
BTW, this presentation was created because of a need communicated through Facebook :)
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20. Blogs
Blogs are a great way to communicate stories and event happenings in your
church. They can also increase meaningful traffic to your church website. If you
choose to blog, make sure you update them regularly.
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21. Buzz marketing & word of mouth
14% trust advertising
78% trust peers
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22. Other free stuff:
Free media sites - there’s a HUGE amount of free media on the web.
Take the time to find it and be sure to respect peoples’ copyrights.
Piggyback on current media - don’t copy, but it’s okay to use similar
styles when branding a series.
Share with others - network with other churches and media sites.
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23. Tips:
Track your marketing - know what’s working.
Is it still working? Just because it worked in the past, doesn’t mean it’s still working
In-house or outsource? Resource before you outsource and get in touch with your inner analyst
Buy equipment if it makes sense - Do the cost analysis. Will you be able to use it over and over again?
Utilize every free thing you can get your hands on!
Don’t reinvent the wheel
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket - don’t spend your whole budget in one place
Do microsites… and keep them - these will drive additional traffic to your church site.
Put your website on print materials - if people like your message, they need to know how to find you.
Think long-term exposure
Use ALL of your budget - if you don’t, it’s a missed opportunity. You won’t get as much next year either.
Network with other churches - we are all working for the same cause. No competition here!
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24. Thank you!
Twitter your comments and questions
Small budget questions #cheapmm
No budget questions #freemm
Follow this topic with Jody Wissing
jody wissing digitalfondue.org jodywissing.com
ptcc church (preston trail)
sundaydontsuck embracechaos
embracechaos prestontrailcc (preston trail)
prestontrail (preston trail) jody wissing
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