Comments on: Reasons to Use Direct Mail http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/ Frustrate. Educate. Motivate. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:53:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-28918 Bill Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:31:40 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-28918 I'm looking for a solid mailing list for my area in Florida. Does anyone know of some mailing list houses. I’m looking for a solid mailing list for my area in Florida. Does anyone know of some mailing list houses.

]]> By: Philip Thornton http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-19541 Philip Thornton Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:28:50 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-19541 Anne, This post I read was several years old (2005) but your comments on mailing out the diapers intrigued me. Could you please contact me an fill me in on some details... (717) 712-6100 (717) 651-1685 ptmi@comcast.net Anne,

This post I read was several years old (2005) but your comments on mailing out the diapers intrigued me. Could you please contact me an fill me in on some details…

(717) 712-6100 (717) 651-1685
ptmi@comcast.net

]]> By: Chris http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-1563 Chris Sun, 25 May 2008 08:37:25 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-1563 Responding to the consistency / frequency discussion... Too often we put the cart before the horse. Before doing anything we need good brand development. Most leaders know what their church's unique vision and personality is but now they need help communicating it. Once the gold rises to top in the form of a well developed image we can put it to use with media. Here's where consistency and frequency pays off. Now the media is relevant and genuine. This is why we shouldn't be hasty in sending out a stock card with a gimmicky or trendy message. First speak to them heart to heart. Responding to the consistency / frequency discussion… Too often we put the cart before the horse. Before doing anything we need good brand development. Most leaders know what their church’s unique vision and personality is but now they need help communicating it. Once the gold rises to top in the form of a well developed image we can put it to use with media. Here’s where consistency and frequency pays off. Now the media is relevant and genuine. This is why we shouldn’t be hasty in sending out a stock card with a gimmicky or trendy message. First speak to them heart to heart.

]]> By: Lynn Thomas http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-1562 Lynn Thomas Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:30:05 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-1562 Following the trend of DM -- to do or not to do, there is direct mail and there is direct mail. The promotional product business is a multi-billion dollar industry. It works. I should know, I'm in the business. Research shows that 70% of promotional products received in the mail or picked up at trade shows have a life inside the target market's household of one year. That magnet on the fridge or the calendar on the computer -- could be looked at every day. Your postcard with statistics and directions is great, but make it a magnet and you stand a better chance of seeing that person come through the doors of the church. When they have a need, they'll have a way to find you. Make your message pertinent to the neighborhood you're targeting. Some of the magnet companies will seal the magnet right on the postcard. It's a little more expensive, but the "prize" is visible and functional. Following the trend of DM — to do or not to do, there is direct mail and there is direct mail. The promotional product business is a multi-billion dollar industry. It works. I should know, I’m in the business. Research shows that 70% of promotional products received in the mail or picked up at trade shows have a life inside the target market’s household of one year. That magnet on the fridge or the calendar on the computer — could be looked at every day. Your postcard with statistics and directions is great, but make it a magnet and you stand a better chance of seeing that person come through the doors of the church. When they have a need, they’ll have a way to find you. Make your message pertinent to the neighborhood you’re targeting. Some of the magnet companies will seal the magnet right on the postcard. It’s a little more expensive, but the “prize” is visible and functional.

]]> By: John Wurzbacher http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-1561 John Wurzbacher Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:29:37 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-1561 To those who have tried both direct mail and television ads, what have you found to be more effective? We've been doing a lot of direct mail but are thinking about doing television ads. Which method has brought in more visitors per dollar? To those who have tried both direct mail and television ads, what have you found to be more effective? We’ve been doing a lot of direct mail but are thinking about doing television ads. Which method has brought in more visitors per dollar?

]]> By: jon mccallon http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-1560 jon mccallon Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:03:01 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-1560 Direct Mail as much as it pains me to say this is very ineffective unless done in mass. According to those who are the greats in this field (think big companies) marketing is only to keep your name fresh with your customers. Ad space, mails pieces, great web stuff, and more add to this. As mentioned several times, word of mouth viral marketing is the real deal. Bands and new companies feed on word of mouth. The 22 imutable laws of marketing state that the best form of promotion is non-self promotion. Get good PR from being covered by some form of medium or by sources outside of your immediate control. Just tonight I discovered a student who put together their own plan to expose our event to his friends in school. It won't look slick or pretty but it will come from the credible source, him. Lastly I think we oversell based on looks. I see so many churches put out content the promotes their church but, in reality they did not fit the look at all. Direct Mail as much as it pains me to say this is very ineffective unless done in mass. According to those who are the greats in this field (think big companies) marketing is only to keep your name fresh with your customers. Ad space, mails pieces, great web stuff, and more add to this. As mentioned several times, word of mouth viral marketing is the real deal. Bands and new companies feed on word of mouth. The 22 imutable laws of marketing state that the best form of promotion is non-self promotion. Get good PR from being covered by some form of medium or by sources outside of your immediate control. Just tonight I discovered a student who put together their own plan to expose our event to his friends in school. It won’t look slick or pretty but it will come from the credible source, him. Lastly I think we oversell based on looks. I see so many churches put out content the promotes their church but, in reality they did not fit the look at all.

]]> By: Jason Smith http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-1559 Jason Smith Fri, 09 Sep 2005 21:27:20 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-1559 I'm interested in how you can get the price down to 4.3 cents - what size mailer is this? We send 11 x 6 cards and by using a carrier/courier route we get the price down to 9.5 cents a piece. I've been heading up mailings for the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Cambridge for 7 years. We've had great growth - from a church plant of 40 to over 1,000 in Sunday attendance. Still the #1 reason people come is personal invitations. Still, we send 150K cards out 2-3 times a year. They are effective in bringing people in. In working with many churches I think the factor of success is does the postcard message match what the service really feels like? If the mailer is trendy and cool, and the church (or pastor) just isn't then I think the effectiveness drops. I’m interested in how you can get the price down to 4.3 cents – what size mailer is this?
We send 11 x 6 cards and by using a carrier/courier route we get the price down to 9.5 cents a piece.
I’ve been heading up mailings for the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Cambridge for 7 years. We’ve had great growth – from a church plant of 40 to over 1,000 in Sunday attendance. Still the #1 reason people come is personal invitations. Still, we send 150K cards out 2-3 times a year. They are effective in bringing people in.
In working with many churches I think the factor of success is does the postcard message match what the service really feels like? If the mailer is trendy and cool, and the church (or pastor) just isn’t then I think the effectiveness drops.

]]> By: Anne Jackson http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-1558 Anne Jackson Fri, 12 Aug 2005 16:01:02 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-1558 Becoming involved in community events. Sponsoring good causes. Being doers of the Word. Touching the community with love instead of typical marketing methods. The old adage is true - actions speak louder... Becoming involved in community events. Sponsoring good causes. Being doers of the Word. Touching the community with love instead of typical marketing methods. The old adage is true – actions speak louder…

]]> By: Alex http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-1557 Alex Fri, 12 Aug 2005 15:31:08 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-1557 DIRECT MAIL - Design + Development + Production + Testing + Frequency + Consistency + Measurement = EXPENSIVE (to do it right anyway) I am not dissing on DM here (it is a valid strategy for FEW churches), but merely trying to see how it is the best stewardship of funds. DM is a longer term commitment of time and money to achieve effectiveness. Many of the churches I am aware of barely have enough money to pay their pastoral staff subsistence wages. Plus they have a hard time keeping the few people they do get into the door. What are some other strategies, maybe viral in nature, that would leverage personal invites and strong word of mouth more effectively? Any thoughts?? DIRECT MAIL – Design + Development + Production + Testing + Frequency + Consistency + Measurement = EXPENSIVE (to do it right anyway)
I am not dissing on DM here (it is a valid strategy for FEW churches), but merely trying to see how it is the best stewardship of funds. DM is a longer term commitment of time and money to achieve effectiveness. Many of the churches I am aware of barely have enough money to pay their pastoral staff subsistence wages. Plus they have a hard time keeping the few people they do get into the door.
What are some other strategies, maybe viral in nature, that would leverage personal invites and strong word of mouth more effectively? Any thoughts??

]]> By: Michael http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/08/reasons-to-use-direct-mail/comment-page-1/#comment-1556 Michael Fri, 12 Aug 2005 11:17:52 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=300#comment-1556 I just thought of this as I was reading the thread on retention...we sent out a targeted direct mail postcard to all households with kids for a family weekend...we targeted the list and of course the message. Not only did we have an increase in attendance, but retention was higher because we knew who we were talking to so for those that showed up we met their expectation. I just thought of this as I was reading the thread on retention…we sent out a targeted direct mail postcard to all households with kids for a family weekend…we targeted the list and of course the message.
Not only did we have an increase in attendance, but retention was higher because we knew who we were talking to so for those that showed up we met their expectation.

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