13 Inspirational Church Branding Ideas to Use Today
Are you hoping to attract more attendees to your church? This is a common goal, but boosting the participation of your current congregation might be a more pressing issue. Your church may have a sizable membership list, but what does that matter if those members are barely present in your weekly events? Getting your churchgoers involved and active in the church community can be difficult. Our guide to church ideas for branding and engagement can help.
The world is constantly shifting, and marketing strategies evolve alongside it. Today, congregations are lucky to have sophisticated tools like digital signage for churches at their fingertips. Make the most of this by using engaging digital signage to capture the hearts of local people. Wondering how to promote your church? Try digital signage. Considering how to promote a church event or how to advertise a church? The answer is the same. Use digital signage for churches and transform countless common problems into pros in no time.
All church event ideas will sound better on a dynamic digital sign.
Church branding strategies don't require the same level of funding or exposure as big businesses and corporations do, but if the tools are accessible, why not? You can build a brand that encourages parish engagement, engages your present membership, and piques the attention of potential new members by adhering to a few fundamental principles.
Keep reading for a summary of marketing, why it’s important, and 13 church advertising ideas.
The Fundamentals of Marketing
If you are new to the marketing game, let's start at the beginning. Any ideas for church branding must begin with these marketing fundamentals in mind because marketing and branding go hand in hand.
1. Be aware of your audience.
First things first, to whom are you advertising? Are younger people your target market? A neighborhood of working people? Young families with children? How you construct your message is directly affected by your audience, so spend some time determining your target audience.
2. Set yourself apart.
What distinguishes your church? Why should someone visit your church as opposed to another place or staying home? If you want your church advertising ideas to be successful, you must identify what makes you unique and learn how to communicate that.
3. Create your mission statement.
If you don’t already have one, create a mission statement that reflects your church values. This can be as detailed or broad as you desire, but take care while crafting it—it will speak volumes about your ministry. Learn more about why collective vision is essential for your church here.
4. Maintain a constant name.
Your church name should ideally also be the name of your website and your social media handles. You might need to get a little inventive here, but keep your principles the same. If the name of your church as a URL is already in use, make it more specific by adding a location reference or nickname. Then, keep using that name across all your social media channels, from Twitter to Instagram to YouTube to Facebook.
5. Ensure image consistency.
Create a brand identity to ensure consistency with your image. Use the same logo on all your printed and online materials, along with the same font and color scheme. Make a logo that you like, and use it consistently on your website, business cards, pamphlets, newsletters, social networking logos, and any other places that fit the bill. Include the logo and brand elements in the overlays, stingers (transitions), and pre-post service timers if you stream your services online.
How to Market a Church
When you have the fundamentals in place, it's time to put your hard work into practice. Don't be hesitant to take what works and apply it liberally because the majority of these suggestions will re-energize your present members and draw in new ones at once.
6. Form a committee to create church welcome packet ideas to greet everyone.
Guests and new members are most likely to feel disconnected and unwanted, so brainstorm an idea for church visitor welcome packets as an outreach strategy. Lots of social events are available for regular members, but what about those who only occasionally attend? Are they welcomed with open arms? Adapt church welcome pack ideas for different situations, so your occasional attendees receive the same zealous welcome every time they show up.
7. Make contact with your people.
Some members may attend infrequently, while others routinely participate before disappearing. Reach out to a regular parishioner by email or phone if you notice they have missed a few services without knowing why. Ascertain whether everything is fine and whether they require assistance from the church family.
8. Plan sports days and activities.
Bring some wholesome rivalry into—or, better still, outside—your church. Create a team and sign up for a neighborhood recreational league (soccer, flag football, basketball, or whatever people are interested in). Don't forget to update your social media feeds with invitations, game times, and play-by-play information.
9. Design things with your brand in mind.
How do crafts tie into concepts for church branding? Resourcefulness and connection. Hold a craft fair for your neighborhood’s talented artisans to shine, and give the money to a nearby food bank. Or, have a knitting party and create blankets for the local shelter for victims of domestic abuse. Giving back to the community is a thoughtful way to build your church's reputation.
10. Spread joy, always.
You can make your message sound exciting, or you can make it sound dull and uninteresting—it doesn't matter what it is. Put care into the words you share to ensure you don't bore your current and prospective congregation. Consider hiring a copywriter if writing is not your forté, and have dynamic phrases guaranteed.
11. Keep your website up-to-date.
Ensure your site has the relevant information, including service days and hours and your physical address, and that it is responsive (meaning it works on smartphones and tablets). Make a social wall with images, contact numbers, and emails on your site page so people can talk to the person they need. Vague and impersonal email addresses that seem to be for the entire church will put people off.
12. Add humor to your website.
Include a blog with consistent updates to stimulate online discussion about your church. Then, post segments on your Twitter feed that encourage interaction by including a poll or question. Hire a qualified photographer or graphic designer for the images on your website or your church background images, and use personal shots that capture the energy of your ministry. These may seem like small details, but they have a significant impact.
13. Use digital signage for churches.
Embrace digital signage for churches and transform how your community views your church. By creating exciting signs that catch the eye, your billboards will attract all kinds of people at once. The best part is that the sky’s the limit with digitized church signage ideas, as you can update your billboard as much as you want, completely remotely. Need a digital signage provider? Choose Playlister.
Bonus Advice
Instagram and Twitter work well for churches, offering a quick communication channel for curious members of the public. Keep busy promoting your church as a welcoming, interesting location and the algorithm will recommend your page to relevant people.
Keen to take your social media page to the next level? Devise a social media strategy to elevate your site, featuring motivational messages, testimonials, debates, images, and more. Be sure to reply to comments and interact with other congregations or religious authorities to up your engagement.
Keep everything on your social wall so that no one misses a thing. This guarantees that no one feels out of the loop, keeping people engaged even if they have moved away and left your service. "The more the merrier" goes for churches too, so cultivate an environment that builds bonds and welcomes new faces.