Exposure

One of the keys to people buying-in to your student ministry or any ministry for that fact, is them knowing about it.  Exposure is the "art" of getting your brand out there to potential users.  Here are some ideas to help guide you

1.  What percentage of student in your city know about your ministry?

Honestly you may have to start within your own church.  I know we literally have hundreds of student who attend our weekend services every week who know NOTHING about ELEVATE.  They will never try it unless they know about it.

2.  Where does your "target audience" get it's information from?

Facebook, myspace, twitter, the mall, word of mouth, web-site.  Find out where they found out about you and put your information there. 

3.  What information do they know about you?

What do you want them to know about your ministry?  If you connect with them at a point of felt need it will increase the sense of urgency to try out your ministry.

4.  Do you use a synergistic approach to gaining exposure?

There really is no "one" way to get total exposure.  You need to come from several different angles.  It has been said that people need to hear about a product at least 7 different ways before it sticks with them.  Here's an example of how we  approach exposure at ELEVATE.

Step One:  Sam is sitting at home after school and instead of doing his homework like his parents have told him to,  hecomes across our myspace or facebook and out of curiosity he checks it out. 

Step Two:  While at the mall catching a movie, Sam notices the ELEVATEyouthchurch slide displayed before the movie.  With the slogan..Find Friends, Find God, Find Purpose, Sam thinks to himself, "Man I could really use some friends, especially since I'm here seeing High School Musical 3 alone for the second time." 

Step Three:  Sam remembers the Web Site that was prominently displayed across the movie slide. www.ELEVATEcentral.com  After checking out the web site and getting more info, Sam is still not sure about walking into a strange place, even though the people seem so beautiful.

Step Four:  Sam is in Freshman Algebra, which is a little weird since Sam is a Junior.  As he is sitting there he notices another student in his class with an ELEVATEyouthchurch Tshirt on.  Something about winning a cactus bowl, or some sort of trip.  Sam starts to feel like ELEVATE is stalking him.

Step Five:  Sam is sitting outside waiting for his ride home from school, when one of his friends Jesse walks up and hands Sam an invite to ELEVATE on either Wednesday @ 6:30 or Thursday @8:30 at the U of A.  Sam thinks to himself, this card is done really well.  Jesse offers him a ride and brings Sam to ELEVATE that week.

Step Six:  Sam goes to the service and is invited to a first-time guest party during the service.  Here he gives ELEVATE his information and gets signed up to follow ELEVATEyouthchurch on twitter. 

Step Seven:  Sam goes back into service, thankful for the snack, since he forgot to eat dinner.  After experiencing ELEVATE and the presence of God. Sam gets saved and joins a TRIBE that night.  Man, so many new friends.

Fast forward.....Sam is now out of bible college, married with kids and in full time ministry as a youth pastor in Mesa. 

This outcome would not be possible if there is no exposure.  -pw

Comments

[Sam]

This Sam guy sounds familiar.

This really is a great post about the most effective form of marketing any ministry can have.

[Jesse]

Sam gets saved...filled with the Holy Spirit...gives 1000's in the offering...goes on a mission trip to New Guinea.....is martyred for handing out fake tip tracks....

Thank you Jesse for bringing Sam to Elevate!

[Shaun Mayfield]

Sam also is known across the greater East Valley as Samwise the great or Samwise the Magnificent, others call him Samantha for short.
He is a wise old man, wiser with his age, all because of ELEVATE!
He's a short man, a wide man... with leadership in his han'.
He is clever in disguise, he's got ideas in his eyes.
Ladies and gents, he doesn't walk the fence.
He is the man, oh yes, yes he can.
Thanks to ELEVATE and the blog of Exposure, he is a winner for sure!