Get Web-Savvy

Okay, newsflash: The Internet is not a fad, and it's not going away. Why not learn how to use the Web to benefit your church outreach?

Web forums represent a tremendous opportunity for free marketing, and the Internet is a powerful marketing tool that can help your ministry stay in constant contact with people -- if you know how to use it.

With little time and effort -- and no money -- you can post links to your church, talk up your programs, and even submit news releases to the most popular websites in your town. Often, the information posted is “live” in a matter of seconds and available for others to read.

Think local as you post your information on the Web. A helpful marketing principle you need is understood from an old saying, "It's easier to be a big fish in a small pond than a big fish in the ocean.” Your Internet ministry marketing can easily become a “big fish” in your local area with a little research and action.

Many national and global sites exist on the Web. Choose the ones people in your town are most likely to use. When getting on the Web, use the local media as much as possible. Look for locally popular websites. The most popular sites often are those from local newspapers or television stations. And, they usually have an ample number of links to local websites.

A ministry marketer said he recently discovered the no. 1 website in his city featured free forums and bulletin boards. After a simple registration process, he posted information about his ministry on that bulletin board, absolutely free. The marketer even posted a link back to his ministry website on it. Now, thousands of people who use that website also have access to his information.

Action Point!

Find those local, popular websites. They might be the local newspaper websites, or local radio and television station websites. Explore these sites and see if there's a forum where you can post your church’s link and event information on a regular basis. If you’re not web savvy, then your action point is to get savvy or find someone who is to help you.

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Chris Forbes is the marketing evangelism specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Articles adapted from the free eBook, 25 Free Marketing Tools You Can Use Right Now, available for download on www.MinistryMarketingCoach.com.

Copyright ©2005 Chris Forbes, Ministry Marketing Coach. All rights reserved.