Your Communications Ministry desires to steward information well, so that the church is informed, the community may be engaged and God may be glorified. These suggestions are based on extensive experience promoting ministries and events. They are not "hard and fast" rules, but meant to assist you in promotion.

Our Primary Promo Resource is People (the Church)
We do not have the resources to "advertise" our way to involvement and growth. We live in an area with a reach of nearly 1 million people in our Sunday driving radius. Marketers and companies are spending millions on these people--we may have a few hundred, or a few thousand dollars for an event at most. The best way to get the word out is to inform your people--those involved in your ministry--and encourage them to share with their friends and neighbors. If your people do not know what is happening and are not engaged in promoting the event/ministry, the promotion will likely be mediocre or ineffective.

Make Every Word Count
Say less. Don't use five words when three will do. Talk and write in sound-bites. Keep it simple. If you can't explain it simply and briefly, it may fly right by a majority of people. Think like a highway billboard--the maximum number of words you can read driving by at 70 MPH is just five. Can you communicate your ministry in five words or less?

Start Early and Build
Think ahead and start promotion early. Maybe email your folks first, then the bulletin and website, then social networking, then brochure, then display and signup--let the promotion have a beginning, middle and climax. Give yourself room to "up the effort" if early results are poor. People always wait until the last minute? Give them a reason to sign up early, if possible.

Grass Roots Seriously Works
Buttons, cheesy T-shirts, giveaways, door to door, flyers on cars (with permission), signs in yards--yeah, that stuff really works. People are more accepting of promotional messages that appear to come from trustworthy individuals than big ad agencies. And sometimes wacky and fun just work too. Remember the "John 3:16" guy in the rainbow wig at the football games--big impact, and how much do you think that cost?

Conservative Beats Edgy--Every Time
Looking for "edgy" promotion--something provacative and "in the now"? Guess what--statistics show that "edgy" rarely works better than conservative design and promotion. Edgy promotion only attracts edgy people, but repulses conservatives. Conservative design and promotion attracts the majority, and often is also accepted by the "edgy" crowd. This is true all the way down into the youth demographic. Concentrate less on being provacative than being clear, concise and accurate.

Go Where You Ask Others to Trod
If you promote something but aren't involved in it personally, that communicates volumes. Don't manage from a respectable distance--get involved in what you are promoting and your passion for that ministry or event will do as much for your promotion as any other element.

Use Scripture Whenever Possible
Scripture does and will speak on its own for your event or ministry. You can absolutely never go wrong by tying scripture into your promotion. God does and will bless the use of the Word throughout the church and her activities. The Word itself says it will draw men toward Christ. Trust the Word, use the Word, believe the Word.

Pray Continually
The idea that "if we plan it, they will come" is simply wrong. Pray prior to finalizing your event or ministry. Ask God for His direction--don't give it your own direction and then "ask God to bless it". Pray expecting God to do great things. Pray as if the event depended on prayer. It does.

Be Your Own Billboard
Every leader needs a little sense of self-promotion. Talk up your event to those around you. Constantly give out details. Let people know what God is doing and how He is moving through your ministry. Don't assume that "everyone knows"--they likely don't. Nothing draws involvement like a passionate and upbeat leader--their words are like fly-paper.