Are you a church goer seeping into the pews, or worst the back of the church? What marketing tactics from your church makes you feel at home, or not?

Most Christians do not subscribe to calling the church a business, but it is one; at least it is treated and run as a business. One can also say that they are “doing the Lord’s business,” it is just a matter of how the Lord’s business is being conducted. The Bible is clear on how to follow the Lord’s teachings, and there are numerous examples of how to be an imitator of God.

Now, as far as the business relations of the church are concerned, and if reaching the lost is the goal, the church must cut no corners and spare no attempts to increase visibility to reach their audience for Christ. Each church must remember that they are a part of a body, a universal body of Christ. Thus, anyone church must know to whom they are called, how to reach best their target audience, their specific needs, the location of the target audience, and the best approach to getting the target audience.

The infographic below describes the necessary tools to conduct the Lord’s business and reach its target audience.

Listed above are examples of how new-age pastors and their staff can utilize valuable digital marketing tools for church growth. The graphic does not show the house for which all the tools must be used to carry out the church’s business in an ordinary manner. A website can be a hub for digital marketing tools, and a website is a digital marketing tool. There are many platforms to choose from to host a website and create a community of believers who can access the church leaders, staff, and resources for godly living.

Most of all, to launch a website to achieve optimal transmission and digestibility, Christopher Heng at www.sitewizard.com states that visibility is most important for achieving the website’s purpose. In other words, can visitors easily access the information they need to do what is prescribed according to the site’s content? Heng stresses visibility is a site’s lifeline.[1] [2]

For many churches in the Caribbean, such as Calvary Baptist Church, U.S. Virgin Islands and quite a few others, their website is outdated and needs revamping. There is no contact section for the pastor or his staff, and there are no current posts and sermons on the site as of the date of this post. Not to worry, help is here.

There are tons of resources on sites like www.websitesetup.org, like platforms to website start a website. According to www.websitesetup.org, most people use www.wordpress.com, but other media like www.wix.com, www.squarespace.com, www.drupal.com,[3] and to name a few, along with hosting sites like www.bluehost.com, www.hostgator.com,[4], etc. [5]

If budget is an issue, website building platforms like Strikingly.com offer exceptions to non-profits, including churches. There are also social media sites that, for the most part, are used by many churches. However, are they used correctly? The issue with social media is that so many of the same entities exist, but one can stand out by delivering resources purposefully and authentically. What is the church’s voice? Is there transparency? Vulnerability? Is the leader a humble servant? Video marketing is also helpful, but not when one is talking to people vs. talking with people. A church should have a YouTube channel, especially in a post-pandemic world. How is the message being spread? Facebook is great, but YouTube reaches millions or even billions of people each day.

According to https://www.globalmediainsight.com 2.3 billion people access YouTube each day. Churches should be at the forefront leading the charge with the most subscribers. Why not a church?

People seek men and women of God to connect with. Why not be the church that sparks connections? Churches grow out of a place of trust. Apps are also helpful. Many churches use apps to create a mobile community. People are on their phones, and churches need to be on their too. Email marketing is also a great way to keep in touch and share upcoming events and invites to virtual or in-person engagements. By any (well, not any) means necessary, God’s servant should get ahead of the curve and find available resources to reach the lost at all costs.

Overall, using digital marketing tools for church growth should be an integral part of the plan for reachability in all churches. All it takes are people with an open mind, the commitment to grow spiritually, reach people at all costs, and use technology to increase the church at all costs. The enemy is waging a battle against the church, and the church should choose the platforms that best display their knowledge, spiritual gifts, technological skills, and authenticity.

[1] Christopher Heng, “How To Make/Create a Website: a Beginners Guide A-Z.” Thesitewizard.com. Last modified May 13, 2021. Accessed September 6, 2021. https://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/startwebsite.shtml.

[2] Makeda Ansah, DMIN 851: Portfolio Organization Phase Assignment. Liberty University. Lynchburg, VA, September 05, 2021. Date Accessed November 28, 2021.

[3] “How to Make a Website | Step by Step for Beginners (2021).” Website Setup. Last modified September 1, 2021. Accessed September 6, 2021. http://www.websitesetup.org/.