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Should You Build Your Own Online Community for Your Church, Ministry or Organization?

Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace have become so popular. It seems every pastor, minister, artist and entrepreneur on the globe has a profile. The success of these sites might tempt one to create his or her own online community. Doing so appears to be an excellent way to raise money for outreach, get feedback about a recently release CD, and provide a platform for church members to interact without leaving home.

But before you invest mounds of resources into establishing a successful online community, please understand there is more to it than blogging about your favorite scripture or sharing your latest business revelation. Be prepared to devote a reasonable amount of time and resources.

In Online Community Best Practices, Jeremiah Owyang highlights the growth stages that successful online communities experience:
Months or years may pass from conception, through adolescence, to maturity of an online community based on the ability to develop the tools and technologies, attract and retain audiences, and establish a base of knowledge within the company to foster growth of the community.

Benefits of establishing a community:
• Provides a platform for announcing new launches and building brand awareness of existing products
• Creates the ability to establish brand champions and customer feedback loops
• Produces opportunities for upselling and renewals

Costs of establishing a community:
• Dedicating resources required to launch and grow community
• Establishing expertise needed to develop tools and technologies
• Investing significant time before achieving ROI

Do you feel the costs are a sound investment considering the benefits?

M/I Promotions
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Min. VaShawn Mitchell in Kansas City for the KC Mass Workshop. Visit www.kcpmaa.org. http://ping.fm/6S5dM

Donate a $1 to the Victorious Life Coat/Food Drive. Click here http://ping.fm/62IRl

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I think my kids know I am Santa. Instead of milk & cookies; the left out chicken wings and honey mustard sauce. BUSTED! lol.

Victorious Life Church Coat/Food Drive. Donate a coat or give a $1 at http://ping.fm/2i4iI

Up with my wife and kids wrapping Christmas presents and eating sugar cookies.

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M/I Promotions Winter Blast. Buy 2 eblasts, get 2 eblasts FREE. eBlasts@MIPromotions.com for info. http://ping.fm/4m3CK

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March 8- 12, 2010. VaShawn Mitchell for workshop with Kansas City Perf Music Arts. Save the date http://ping.fm/xBLRl

Social Media Marketing for Pastors, Ministry Leaders, Christian Music Artists, and Christian Non-profit & Business Owners

Social media marketing and relationship marketing are have an essential similarity – engagement. When marketing, one must be careful about the balance between promoting and developing relationships. Social media marketing affords the ability to not only sell, advertise and announce but cultivate genuine relationships. But engagement requires an investment of time.

Do you feel you effectively manage your time to sincerely engage?

To a degree, if you have ever advertised in an online community, you have marketed by online marketing. Raising awareness is key. Display ads and eblasts build your brand and generate awareness.

Engagement sets social media marketing apart from other conventional online advertising options. However, listening is as important as promoting. Take the time to listen and learn. The more you learn about a person, they will tell you what they need from you or if what you have to offer will work for them.

Read online conversations.
Consider both negative and positive feedback.
Interact on a regular basis and be present.

What do you do to engage with your social media sites?

When practicing social media marketing, developing connections is key. Too many heavy-handed tactics and blatant self promotions will can hinder and harm the potential for deeper relationships. Remember, the most vital element is genuine interaction. Most often, people fail at this because they get frustrated with the seemingly unrealistic time investment requirement.

Before trying to push your cause or services, try to be a help. Provide valuable feedback. Suggest resources. Be known as a helpful and reliable friend over an aggressive salesperson. The ultimate goal is the increase interaction with those who might consider being followers or customers. That way, when you do offer them your services or product, it will appear like you are merely continuing your efforts to help them make sound decisions.

M/I Promotions
“Promoting the Industry of Ministry with Kingdom Excellence"
Social Media Marketing for Churches, Ministries & Christian-Owned Businesses
Office: 816-921-3633
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www.MIPromotions.com
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SPREAD THA WORD!! Check out tha "GPC Mixtape" on youtube! Tha Crossover will be out next month! Get out views UP! We NEED support!

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Get Paid to Go to Church

Today more than everyone at the church is on salary at church.  The pastor takes home a check.  The musicians take home checks.  Next the ushers will be getting paid. 

What do you think about church musicians getting paid?

A lot of megachurches have tons of musicians waiting in the wings just for the opportunity to strike a chord.  Although the megachurch phenomenon is growing, small ministries are still dominating our street corners.  For them, there seems to not be enough musicians in the whole city. 

Given the choice, many musicians choose playing 30-minutes in a club for $300 a set over taking a $50 “love offering” at their family church (playing 3-hours of shout music).  If you had the choice, which would you choose?

But it seems like all of those years of playing in clubs is now benefiting the church.  “Sacred” music is now jammed packed with secular riffs and beats.  But now the church wants their musicians back and 50-bucks won’t do.  Now the musicians say they are too busy, too tired, or are already playing for the highest bidding pastor.

Why isn’t the church an opportunity for skilled, professional musicians to be well paid?  What does this say about the economy of the church? 

One might say:  If the churches are feeding these musicians spiritually, the musician would be convicted not to play in clubs and solely reserve their gift for the Kingdom. 

The economy of the church is a major concern for me.  That is why I work so hard to get churches to a healthy place administratively. 

Let’s say the whole church took a vote and agreed that it was justified to pay the musicians for their services.  The next point of action would be how much they should be paid.  Well, most churches believe that the amount should depend on the budget of the church and what they need them to do.  For a brand new church with a small congregation, even $30-50 a week is more than they can afford.   There are larger churches that are paying around $350 and more per service.

I live in Kansas City.  The majority of our musicians feel underpaid.  And many of the good ones move to other cities. 

What city are you from?  On average, how much do your musicians make?

Every now and then, there are musicians that don’t want to be paid.  Playing for the church is there “reasonable service.”  I am sure pastors wish all of the musicians felt this way.  

Then there are other musicians who just choose not to play in the church.  It is often said that many of the best singers and musicians are sitting in the pews.  I can understand this though.  If they are professionals and they do music all week for a living, perhaps they would like a break from that in their spiritual life. 

I am in the marketing field however I don’t do marketing my church.  I like being a regular person there.  However, I love doing marketing and development for everyone else’s church. 

We all have varying ideas about whether musicians should be paid.  Regardless, most churches are doing it today.  So, maybe now the discussion should be focused around who to pay and why. 

A good reason why churches should pay their music staff is for security.  Check out this insert:
I was talking to a former worship leader and asked him "do you miss it?" He answered, "well, I sure don't miss worrying whether the bass player will show up Sunday morning or not." You pay when you want to be sure people show up.

Do you think that paying a musician makes them more loyal? 

Sometimes with volunteers, there is no real obligation (besides integrity) to show up to church on time or even at all.  When money is involved the agreement is taken more seriously.  Most of us go to work every day solely to get paid.  And we know if we don’t show up, we wont get paid.  Well the same thing is true here; if you pay the musician, he or she will at least show up because they need to get paid.  Acapella Sunday is not an option!

Do you think security is a good reason for a church to pay their music staff?

Is there anything wrong with paying just a core band?  You know the piano, bass and drum players?  For a full sound, these are the three key instruments needed.  Or perhaps instead of a pianist, a guitarists.  As a musician, I know how when I have a full band to work with, it sparks more creativity in me. 

And if they are going to be paid, they need to be well trained.  Sometimes when dealing with volunteers, they may not play the best but they are available and willing.  But are we willing to take the time and resources to keep up with them, train them and work around their schedules.  This can make for an unequal band from week to week. 

Do you think it is rare to find a musician who is both talented and willing to work for free?

This has been a healthy discussion.  There seems not to be a clear consensus on whether to pay or not.  Let me throw one more potential reason out there as to why we might pay musicians – instant music. 

If you are going to pay, pay for the best.  Pay for real talent.  Now, what is talent?  Should they be able to sight read?  Will they have to be able to play in all keys?  Do they have to play perfectly? 

In summary, if you are getting paid, you’d better know your stuff. 

When deciding if someone with worthy of being paid, one can ask: does this person make their living doing music? 

In the end, each situation is different.  Some churches don’t mind amateurs and welcome the opportunity to raise up a band of skill players.  Others want an instant and faith band – and are willing to pay the price for it. 

In all we do for God, we should offer our best.  Pay or no pay, if the heart of the musician is not devoted to God, maybe they should stay in the clubs.  Just a thought.

Terrell L
M/I Promotions
“Promoting the Industry of Ministry with Kingdom Excellence"
Marketing for Churches, Ministries & Christian-Owned Businesses
Office:  816-921-3633 
Marketing@MIPromotions.com
www.MIPromotions.com
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www.linkedin.com/in/mipromotions
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Blogging for Churches, Ministries, Christian Music Artists, Faith-based Non-Profits, & Christian-Owned Businesses

Blogging is gaining in popularity.  Blogging is seen as one of today’s most widely used internet marketing tools.  Blogging started in the late 90’s; now, ten years later, everyone has a blog. 

When the concept of blogging first started, people were just leaving single-sentence comments about a website they visited.  Companies would use blogs to get visitors’ reactions to their website, products or services. 

Do you have a blog on your website?  (Share your website address)

Now blogs are long, outdrawn conversations about anything, everything and nothing all at the same time.  However, to the advantage of our industry, blogging is also a strong internet marketing tool and advertising vehicle. 

Actually, posting this blog is advertising for my company.  Responding to it is publicity for your. 

Do you use blogging as an internet marketing tool for your ministry or company?

There are several reasons why churches, ministries, Christian music artists, non-profit organizations, and small businesses should engage in regular blogging practices. 

For starters, it’s simple and easy to do.  We all need a web-presence.  Blogging gets your name out on the World Wide Web.  And the best part is you don’t have to be a computer expert to do it.  Just read, respond and submit. 

So what do you write about?  Blogging is a simple way to get your cause, thoughts and beliefs broadcasted.  You can blog about your ideas, experiences, new products, or just spread a message of hope. 

How is blogging marketing?  Marketing is essentially enticement.  Once people start getting familiar with you as a person, the blogs might entice them to attend your church, support your ministry, buy your CD, donate to your organization or use your services. 

Please share:  How has blogging benefited your ministry or business?

Advertising is EVERYWHERE.  Everywhere you turn there is one form of advertising or another.  (Good thing for me as an advertiser).  This makes it hard to discern at times who to trust.  Should your business or support always go to the one with the largest advertising budget?

Because the credibility of promoters continues to come in question, we need safe and authentic ways to advertise.  Blogging can be that solution. 

By blogging you show yourself to be a real person with real expressions.  Pastors should blog to add a personal touch to their ministry.  Christian musicians should blog to share the thoughts and feels behind their music. 

Blogs provoke conversation.  This is a good thing.  Readers give their honest opinion about your products, services, or cause.  People want to buy what others have tried, tested and approved. 

The best reason blogging is perfect for churches, ministries, Christian artists, non-profit organizations and businesses is the cost.  IT’S FREE! 

Blogging has not yet been accepted as a primary internet marketing tool, therefore there is rarely a charge for it.  At best, blogs are considered a mere aid or assistant to the main marketing efforts.  But when done correctly, it is a publicist’s best kept secret and a great opportunity for your ministry or company.

Let’s share:  What free blog sites do you recommend?

When working with a small (or no) budget but great volunteers, blogging is ideal.  FYI, there are paid blog sites for the serious bloggers. 

Credibility is big in this industry.  Every pastor wants a following. All artists desire a fan base.  And a loyal customer base is key for a successful business.  Blogs are great for building credibility. 

People want to stay in the know.  They want to look to you for their information.  While blogging, you write about your experiences.  People read because they want to know more about your opinion.  The more you write, the people rely on you.  For this reason, blogging becomes a good online marketing tool because readers visit your site and more bloggers link to your blogs.

The more blogs, the more readers.  The more readers, the more notoriety. The more notoriety, the more business.  The more business, the more you can serve. 

(Side note:  Bloggers may reach out to you to advertise on your blog page or make you an affiliate, which pays for every referral generated from your blog site.)

The bottom line is blogging builds your market and reach.  If you are blogging something good and interesting, the will tell others about your site.  We all want more readers.  Here are some times for churches, ministries, artists, non-profits, & small businesses:

Add a link to your blog site in your email signature. 

When readers visit your blog site, use subscriptions to get the visitors’ email addresses. 

Conduct a survey for your readers to get to know them better.  You might also learn more about what they want to read in the future.

Join a blog network.

Once again, blogging is gaining in popularity.  Blogging is seen as one of today’s most widely used internet marketing tools.  I recommend blogging be a regular part of your marketing and publicity practices.  Happy blogging! 

Terrell L

M/I Promotions
“Promoting the Industry of Ministry with Kingdom Excellence"
Electronic Marketing (eblasts) and Church, Ministry & Business Marketing
Office:  816-921-3633 
Eblasts@MIPromotions.com
www.MIPromotions.com
www.facebook.com/mipromotions
www.linkedin.com/in/mipromotions
www.twitter.com/mipromo