What do you think?
Rate this book
Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church for Greater Growth
Over 90 percent of all Christian churches in the United States have fewer than 200 members. While they vary in shape, size, ethnicity, and denomination, they have one thing in the desire to grow. So why is it that some churches fail to grow for years, while other congregations in the same community increase exponentially?
The problem, says church marketing authority Richard Reising, is that most churches should not be doing promotion. Instead, they should focus on the preparation that will make members eager to invite others. In ChurchMarketing 101® , he demystifies basic marketing principles for the church, evaluates them against biblical principles, and illustrates how simple changes can remove roadblocks that hinder members from reaching out. Reising's simple yet insightful approach will be invaluable to pastors and ministry leaders from churches of all denominations and styles.
The problem, says church marketing authority Richard Reising, is that most churches should not be doing promotion. Instead, they should focus on the preparation that will make members eager to invite others. In ChurchMarketing 101® , he demystifies basic marketing principles for the church, evaluates them against biblical principles, and illustrates how simple changes can remove roadblocks that hinder members from reaching out. Reising's simple yet insightful approach will be invaluable to pastors and ministry leaders from churches of all denominations and styles.
- GenresLeadershipChurch
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
15 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 23, 2021
Marketing professionals will find this book full of commonsense but it's not written for them - it's written to introduce churches to the idea of marketing - a concept which has drawn its share of critics in the faith community. Reising does a good job at differentiating target audiences and helping church leaders think through barriers to growth. He also explains that marketing is about removing barriers so people can have a relationship with a faith community - those barriers can include knowledge of the church but also include eliminating insider language, posting signage and considering how church behavior looks to outsiders or the community at large. One church located in a working class community wondered why its congregation shrank dramatically and the author pointed out the expensive clothing favored by the staff that made others feel they didn't fit in. He notes that some established church members may not like the changes needed to welcome newcomers. All the technology, flash and sizzle will not matter if visitors don't feel comfortable and if established parishioners are not willing and do not find it easy to invite others to church.
October 21, 2024
A Good Read for Pastors & Church Leaders
"Church Marketing 101" is a book that every church leader should consider reading. The author, Richard Reising, is a subject matter expert having spent decades in the marketing field. He now uses his talents and abilities to serve the church. The book starts out strong with Reising explaining why marketing is necessary: In an unchurched culture, people don't know anything about Christianity unless we explain it to them. However, the second half of the book falls a little flat. I was hoping for more practical examples. Overall, though, I recommend the book, especially to pastors.
"Church Marketing 101" is a book that every church leader should consider reading. The author, Richard Reising, is a subject matter expert having spent decades in the marketing field. He now uses his talents and abilities to serve the church. The book starts out strong with Reising explaining why marketing is necessary: In an unchurched culture, people don't know anything about Christianity unless we explain it to them. However, the second half of the book falls a little flat. I was hoping for more practical examples. Overall, though, I recommend the book, especially to pastors.
November 25, 2020
Good read for the target niche. I’d say this book is most valuable for someone without a business background, does a good job connecting traditional marketing principles to scripture. Definitely outdated with little to no emphasis on digital.
November 16, 2021
Keep an open mind if you are reading this for the benefit of your church. It has a lot of great insight to help you.
July 15, 2015
"Don't Read. This book does a great job of laying a foundation for marketing your church. However, it's use of Scripture to defend that we should market to the lost is forced and not what the passages actually teach. If you believe the role of the church is to reach the lost, this book will help you do that. I however am still convinced that a church's services are to focus on edifying those who believe in Jesus, not reach the lost. We should not invite the lost to church, we should invite the lost to Jesus. We should bring the converted to church.
Even still, this book has some helpful thoughts towards effectively communicating (marketing) to your target audience which can be applied to members instead of outreach. "
Even still, this book has some helpful thoughts towards effectively communicating (marketing) to your target audience which can be applied to members instead of outreach. "
July 11, 2016
Book contains the basics of marketing and how they can be applied to church growth. As the book title suggests, this is an introduction to marketing in the church environment, no specifics or methods of application are explained.
Lost trust in the author when self promotion took over the main theme of the book. Got the impression that the author's company and work experience are discussed more than necessary in an attempt to subtly advertise their services.
While I do recommend church leaders to have a vision of their marketing efforts, I do not recommend this book as it does a better job at advertising the author's company services than solving the problem of poor church marketing.
Lost trust in the author when self promotion took over the main theme of the book. Got the impression that the author's company and work experience are discussed more than necessary in an attempt to subtly advertise their services.
While I do recommend church leaders to have a vision of their marketing efforts, I do not recommend this book as it does a better job at advertising the author's company services than solving the problem of poor church marketing.
January 13, 2012
Churches are always marketing themselves, whether they are aware of it or not. Reising points out all the little things that visitors may notice, and talks about the importance of managing the perception of the church to outsiders. He gives a clear plan of how to begin painting a vision for the church, and how to be consistent once a brand is defined. He brilliantly connects his beliefs and experiences to those carried out by Jesus' and Paul's teachings. This is a wonderful beginner's guide to church growth that every pastor/church leader should read.
January 11, 2011
This book was incredibly helpful in my beginning as a Marketing and Media Director for a large church. It explains the Biblical foundation for marketing and then gives MANY practicals on how to bring marketing ideas into your church and craft the 4P's of traditional marketing into the framework of a church.
Well written, well organized, and definitely recommended.
Well written, well organized, and definitely recommended.
May 17, 2013
Very insight and practical" pearls of wisdom" and best practices. A lot of the information is easy to implement and can be done immediately.
The challenge is those who can or would benefit the most do see or appreciate the value. They probably just don't want to do the work. So the church's stay in their current state, don't grow and eventually may have to merge or close.
The challenge is those who can or would benefit the most do see or appreciate the value. They probably just don't want to do the work. So the church's stay in their current state, don't grow and eventually may have to merge or close.
July 2, 2013
Comparable to Andy Stanley's Deep & Wide-without the arrogance. More practical in a general way that can be applied to any church, anywhere. Reising is a genius, and has scripture to back up everything he proposes in the book. Great read!
February 19, 2010
Basic marketing insights applied well to church thinking. Some great ideas hidden throughout some chapters.
Read
August 10, 2011super insightful book, very helpful
June 19, 2014
So many ideas! I will be reading this again and again.
December 14, 2023
Very insightful and practical
Raising has depth on insight and sensitivity to the truest corner s of the pastor.
God bless Raising as his team!
Raising has depth on insight and sensitivity to the truest corner s of the pastor.
God bless Raising as his team!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews