EFFECTIVE CHILDREN¹S MINISTRY MARKETING
Posted by: pastormike <pastormike@...>
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Your Children¹s Ministry is one of the busiest ministries in your church. It is also one of the most important factors a visitor will consider before returning to your church. Even families who don't attend church regularly, may have strong feelings about sending their kids to your children's program. Accordingly, it is critical that your Children¹s Ministry not just be quality, but be perceived as quality.
To maximize your Children¹s Ministry potential, review the following tips and take a fresh look at how you can improve:
#1 ADDRESS PARENTAL CONCERNS!
What are the key concerns of parents in your area? The lessons their kids will learn? How safe is the Drop off & Pick up procedure? Will the kids be well supervised? Your answer to these concerns will be the main reason parents will continue to bring their children into your program. Parents should be welcome to come with their kids and sit in or watch part of your program. Teachers should be open to answering questions about safety measures that have been taken. Have you run background checks on all your volunteers? Let parents know - it will set their minds to ease.
If your church runs a Christian School, be sure to address the concerns that today's parents have about safety, supervision and violence. A great way to handle concerns is to host a parent safety night at the beginning of each school year so these issues can be discussed in an open forum and parents can be invited to be a part of the emergency procedures your students will be learning.
#2 SAY IT WELL!
Does your ministry have a mission and vision statement? Your mission and vision should illustrate the passion of your program and be purposefully concise in order to be easily understood by both students and parents.
A mission and vision statement can become prophetic-the more one reads and understands it, the more focused one can be in living out the words. Post the statement on the wall. Include it in your promotional materials, bulletins and flyers. Above all else, make sure every decision and action taken is filtered through the words of your mission and vision statement. These key messages will become part of who you and help build your reputation
#3 COMMUNICATE WITH STYLE!
One of the keys to raising the profile of your Children¹s Ministry is through a coordinated visual image. Give the department a vibrant look and style all it's own.
Give your Children¹s Ministry an exciting name and logo. This "identity" makes children feel like they are entering their own special world. On communication pieces, it helps parents identify important mail coming from the Children¹s Ministry. Put up a bright colored banner with the program name to let everyone know where you are meeting!
#4 GET READY, COMPANY'S HERE!
The quality of your facility is under scrutiny, especially since parents are trusting you with their children. Ideally, your facility should have a clean, welcoming, professional look. The children's area should be cheerful and inviting, with obvious attention to cleanliness and safety. Fresh paint once a year (especially in the bathrooms) and regularly cleaned carpets are trademarks of an inviting facility. However, proper signage is also vital, especially if you are meeting in a church building. Parents should be able to enter the building and immediately find the classrooms and bathrooms. If your facility is organized, friendly, and inviting, parents will assume you are too.
# 5 KEEP IN TOUCH WITH CONNECTION TOOLS
Parent letters, "Thanks for Visiting" and "We've missed you" cards, event flyers and promotion - these are all important ways to stay connected to the people God has already brought to your ministry. Give these important tools the same high-quality and consistent look as your other brochures and signs.