In the past couple months, we've been discussing budget friendly ways to share your churches story.
Today I'd like to dive into the topic of print.
For many churches, print has been the sole means of sharing for decades. The trusty bulletin has held a treasure trove of weekly events, Bible studies and church family news.
As time has progressed, the effectiveness of the bulletin has changed. Many church attenders are too busy for the bulletin to be the only source of information. They expect information to come in multiple forms and the church has been slow to respond.
Unfortunately, rather than address the issue, many churches have questioned print as a whole. Wondering if it is still a viable way to reach their church and community.
While I'll be the first to admit the use of print has changed, many have abandoned it more as a reaction than a strategic decision.
From a strategic standpoint, print is not dead.
In fact, dramatic reductions in print costs have made it more viable than ever before. Print projects that once cost hundreds of dollars now cost pennies per page. What was once out of reach for most churches is now an option to consider. It's no longer a question of if we can afford it, but of how we can use it strategically.
In the first article in this series (include link) I promised practical, budget friendly steps for sharing your churches story. I'd like to share a 4 step solution for how to use print that I've found effective in my church work.
Step 1: Recognize the Purpose of Print
Inform
As church leaders, we spend hours planning ministry opportunities and events. We know the details in and out and assume everyone is on the same page. Our church however, arrives on Sunday to hear about the opportunity for the first time.
As we share, they mentally process: Should I attend? Who can babysit? What does it cost?
By the end of an announcement they've only heard half of it and have questions.
For an increasingly visual society, seeing written details helps solidify information and provides a way to take the information and reference it long after an announcement is over.
Remind
The average person needs to hear about an opportunity 3-7 before they make a decision.
When we give our church multiple ways of discovering the details, we reinforce the information. Reinforced information leads to fewer questions and an increased likelihood of a positive response.
Invite
Every attender in your church knows someone who needs to hear what your church has to say.
Unfortunately, starting the conversation can be a challenge.
When you provide resources for your church to invite others it takes part of the stress away. They are free to connect without fear of forgetting something important and feeling foolish.
Step 2: Determine What Promotions Your Church Will Use
(Here's some suggestions from my own experience)
Inform
Bulletin
This doesn't have to be extravagant. It just needs to include basic details, event purpose and contact information. Let people know the difference participating will mean for their lives.
Welcome Card
Let your visitors/guests know how glad you are they joined you. Provide a brief overview of upcoming service dates and times. Young families are interested in children and youth information. Let them know what to expect at your church so they feel comfortable.
Remind
Postcard
A simple half sheet postcard can be the difference between people attending or not.
It gives an opportunity to;
keep information in front of your church
connect with those who haven't attended in a while,and
hang the details on the fridge
Poster
Enlarge your postcard or flyer for use around your church. It is a great way to keep continuity between your event visuals and the details. It also reinforces your other communications by reiterating the information.
Invite
Flyer
We live in a visual world and our community expects the church to be no different. A half sheet flyer is a cost effective way of connecting your event visuals and details for people in your community. Make them available for your congregation to hand out as they share about your church.
Invite Card
Repurpose the Welcome Card into a form your church can use as invitations. Include general church information (dates, times, etc) so it has a longer shelf life.
Step 3: Create Your Promotions
This can feel like the most daunting part of the process but it doesn't need to be. The falling cost of print has brought a growing list of options for creating quality promotions.
To help, I've compiled a list of…
- Design and Publishing Software
- Image Editing and Creation Options
- Free and Low Cost Image and Artwork Sources
- Font Suppliers
- Done For You Design Providers
The file is available for download by clicking here. It's a PDF and contains a brief description of what each solution provides, along with a link to learn more.
Step 4: Print the Promotions
This is the fun part: seeing your creation come off the printer and putting it in the hands of your church.
Many local copy machine companies now offer color printers with outstanding quality. By shopping around, our church found solutions that allowed us to print for pennies per page. Check with your current provider about the options available to you.
If you need help with color printer solutions check out…
Lifeway.com – they have discounts available on machines from Canon. The products are good and the pricing is very competitive.
Xerox – they run specials for churches where they provide free printers in exchange for purchasing print supplies from them. Depending on your needs and print volume, the program is a good solution to consider.
Some churches find managing print project to be a challenge. If you are looking for professional printing of postcards, flyers, banners and more, I've included a list of printers in this resource. They have all done work for churches or other non-profits I work with and have good customer service.
Print is not dead, and I hope you see ways your church can use this medium to impact your community in greater ways.
How does your church currently use print in its church marketing materials?
Having a list of different types of software is a great idea when doing printing for a church. Finding different font suppliers is also a way to mix things up. My church prints their materials every single week. It helps eliminate printing tons at once, and getting them messed up.