Just because digital marketing has become more and more popular in recent decades doesn’t mean that traditional marketing methods are now obsolete. In fact, many organizations can benefit from a combination of traditional and digital marketing. And if you’re a church, direct mail marketing, in particular, can be an excellent form of traditional marketing to incorporate into your overall marketing campaign.
What Is Direct Mail Marketing?
Direct mail marketing, also known as direct response marketing, is a method of marketing that relies on advertising and selling directly to consumers. It’s an effective way to reach large numbers of people, and it’s highly measurable. Although it’s not the most popular marketing method available, it’s still an effective one for churches.
Direct mail marketing is similar to email marketing in terms of targeting and message delivery. The primary difference is that with email marketing, the content goes to subscribers who have requested it. With direct mail, the recipient has no prior obligation to receive the message.
Direct mail marketing can be highly effective, particularly when the message hits the target audience at the right time. For a church, it can be an effective way to raise the visibility of the ministry, build the connection with the congregation, and increase engagement.
How Churches Can Benefit from Direct Mail Marketing
Here are a few ways a church can benefit from direct mail marketing:
Build Visibility
Direct mail is a great way to get your name out in the community and tell people about your ministry. It works especially well if your church is a new one, as people in the community will be curious about what it is.
The best-case scenario for your direct mail campaign is that it increases awareness of your brand in such a way that people will seek out your church website. They may even stop by for a visit to discover what you offer.
Reach an Entire Network of Influencers
If your church has a membership that overlaps with the community, this is a great way to reach them, as well as people who are influential in the community.
For example, if you have a mostly 20-something membership, marketing to seniors can be a good strategy. If you want to reach Latino households, you can target the Latino community.
Increase Membership
Direct mail campaigns can be effective in getting people to sign up for your church. By including a membership form as part of your direct mail marketing campaign, you’re allowing people to join your church from the comfort of their own homes.
Make your membership form specific enough that people will see an immediate value. After all, the primary value of church membership is spiritual development. This is different from other membership types where the primary benefits are obvious, like at a gym or a health club. For a church, it’s important to be clear about why your membership is valuable.
Final Thoughts
In the digital marketing world, direct mail may not be the most popular strategy for churches, but it’s still an effective one. Direct mail marketing allows churches to reach a wider audience at a lower cost than other marketing methods. At the same time, it can help churches build their visibility and increase membership.
Improve your church marketing strategy with the help of ChurchCandy. We help pastors grow their church with Facebook ads. Our strategy session is an opportunity for you to learn more about this process and figure out if this would be a good fit for you and your ministry. Get in touch with us today!