Need some input here. This may border on the “separation of church and Taunton” so hopefully it won’t get flagged! 🙂
I run an ad in my church bulletin like some of you do as well. Have run it a few years now. Its around $800. for a year for a weekly bulletin in a parish of around 5k families. Pretty good exposure I would say.
Yet, I have received ONE call after all these years and it did not generate any work. I guess folks just don’t use the businesses in the bulletin that much. I have noticed many businesses turn over rapidly as they change ads alot.
So do I bite the bullet in the name of being a good church-going guy and run it again next year or do I look at it economically and drop it as it really doesn’t make money?
It does only need to land one or two jobs to pay for itself but not sure when those will come around?
Thoughts?
Replies
Mike,
Not to get personal, but how much stuff do you do at the parish? I found my bulletin ad got a lot more response after I volunteered for an activity or two. Soon after that the referrals came in pretty quickly. In seven years I have completed over 24 projects that were a direct result of the bulletin or a referral from a bulletin call.
The only caution I have is that I get a few little old lady calls now and again. The one's who really do need help get a discounted price but the one's drving the late model Mercedes get full price.
Bruce
Bruce,
I am pretty involved so I don't think thats it. But it makes sense.
I just hoped with that many families seeing it, it would at least generate more calls.
Mike
$800 ????? WOW!Ours is $90 for one box and $180 for a double (about half the size of a business card). Although I am very unreligious, I am VERY active in our parish/school. I volunteer more than I should and am on a sort of special buildings and grounds committee.
I had to wait over two years for a spot to open up and just this past month I got in with a double space.I think it is less about calls directly from the ad, but more about exposure, and I agree that volunteering is part of it. If you and your name are out there people will remember it.
I bet you've gotten more work out of the ad than you really know.
Here is what works well in our small NH town for a carpenter and a painter that go to different churches here. Be on the lookout for jobs that needs doing( maybe fall work day on an October Saturday or making coffee for coffee hour) or a committee position that needs filling( trustees is a good choice). Offer to do it and then do it well in a timely manner. This builds credibility like you wouldn't believe. Then when people see your ad and the phone calls start coming, answer them promptly, bid a fair amount, show up when you said you would, etc, etc.
My ad in our parish bulletin didn't generate diddly. I've talked to others who said essentially the same thing. Most people are apparently looking at it like a donation to help the Church defray the cost of producing the bulletin.
I had higher hopes.
Edited 10/15/2009 3:46 pm ET by Marsupial
Yeah, I guess thats why it didn't bother me at first but now that $800. is alot of money...
Change the add, Mike!
Seriously, change it to get attention. Coupon, maybe?
Thats not a bad idea Frammer.
According to the guys in the tavern, I have one about once a year or so!>G<
Well, I guess that was it...you can stop posting now and take the rest of the year off! :)
>>>Its around $800. for a year for a weekly bulletin in a parish of around 5k families.<<
5,000 families?
That's huge by my city's standards, I belong to one of the largest Presbyterian Churches in the state and we have ~1,600 members. Some of the Catholic churches are larger, but still no where close to 5,000 families.
I would think that with 5,000 you would be getting enough jobs to pay the ad bill.
No ads in our bulletin, I get many jobs from "church family", but they are all by word of mouth among the congregation - I have never actively solicited business at church.
Jim
Add some sort of coupon. I had amazing luck with coupons in my ads. Just a small percentage off and my phone rang off the hook.
If you've spent "a few" times $800, and only received one call (that went nowhere), you're wasting your money IMO. That kind of exposure is supposed to generate work - not just leave you exposed. - lol
It might be instructive to contact a few of the other advertisers and ask them if they get much business thru those ads.
Offhand I'd say it's a business decision. If it ain't working, there's no reason to keep it.
A: A very expensive way to get your laundry done for free.
The only way for a church to raise money that is spoken of in Scripture is through the free giving of people. Using the temple/church as a place to conduct business was quite thoroughly condemned twice by Christ.
Given what the Bible teaches about the subject I would not conduct any business advertising through a church.
That's an interesting perspective. I doubt that most people would regard advertising in a church bulletin as "Using the temple/church as a place to conduct business", but certainly the argument can be made.
May I ask how you feel about Bingo?
he's a dog isnt he?"this dog may be old but he ain't cold. And he still knows how to bury a bone."
Lattimore
http://www.rehmodeling.com
I think that was his name-oh.
Now you've gone and done given me a gosh darn earworm. Off to work, I hope I find a suitable substitute on the radio :-).
Edited 10/16/2009 8:22 am ET by DonCanDo
glad to help"this dog may be old but he ain't cold. And he still knows how to bury a bone."
Lattimore
http://www.rehmodeling.com
In my view the principles taught would say that it is not proper for a church to engage in bingo.
I'm not a church-goer, but I agree. But for a different reason. I'm not opposed to gambling, but I also don't think that it's a "noble" pursuit and churches shouldn't be encouraging it.
Sorry for the thread tangent.
"The only way for a church to raise money that is spoken of in Scripture is through the free giving of people. Using the temple/church as a place to conduct business was quite thoroughly condemned twice by Christ.
Given what the Bible teaches about the subject I would not conduct any business advertising through a church."
OooooK then.
I'm not sure this is the place to get into "what the bible teaches".
Yeah, I don't want my thread to get canned if we start debating religion...but I do appreciate the perspective as possibly some parishioners may not patronize businesses in the bulletins for this very reason.
Maybe you need to adjust your ad. Say something like this: "Please buys your services for me so I can continue tithing."
"...but I do appreciate the perspective as possibly some parishioners may not patronize businesses in the bulletins for this very reason."
That's OK. I wouldn't want to work for folks like that anyway.
It's not my intention in replying to start a long discussion. It's merely an answer to the question that was asked seeking information about conducting business through a church.
I didn't think anything about your comments were too far off topic or controversial to be in this thread. But mine might have been. I think it's possible to share ideas without getting into a debate that threatens the entire discussion. So, thanks for sharing.
My take is that it's the same as advertising in the local theatre company's programs, etc -- it's really a contribution that may at best break even as an "investment". It does provide worthwhile PR, which is probably more important than the actual work it brings in.
(BTW, I'd frankly never heard of advertising in church bulletins before. Is this fairly common?)
DanH,
EVERY Catholic church around here as at least the back two pages of the weekly bulletin full of ads. I know the folks who publish the bulletin and the ads essentially pay for the printing, distribution, etc.
Not sure about the rest of the country but its common in my parts of Florida.
Mike
What about other denominations?
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
My understanding is that it is or tends to be a Catholic thing.
Mike---- I run an ad in my parish bulletin in ohio it's about 1"x 2-1/2" and the annual cost is in the $600-$700 range. I would be extremely suprised to learn of any rational parishoner who would NOT do business with somebody because they ran an ad in the bulletin.--- the bulletin is entirely funded BY the Ads----without the advertisers their would BE no bulletin---and rational parishoners realize this I run an ad in the bulletin
additionally I donate a set amount each week, plus I buy ads in any fundraising program I am asked about within the parish, plus I buy a $200 ticket to the annual Reverse raffle--and usually buy extra numbers AT the raffle---( when we neded to build a new church building a few years ago to replace a structurally unsound one--- I ended up installing about 140 sq. of 50 year shingles for about $3000 if I recall correctly)Additionally my wife teaches 4th grade at the parish school----- this year all the teachers agreed to take a 10% pay CUT-- so that everyone could keep their job---
EVen before the pay cut-- their salaries were less than HALF what they would make teaching in a public school( and public school salaries are hardly lucrative now---- how does it pay off?-- well the ad annually MORE than pays it's way---- but's it is hardly a cash cow. I had to run it for several years before I started gettin a decent annual return out of it---and frankly one job from it every 2-3 years would more than pay it's own way.
keep in mind what services your company offers-and if they are a good fit for the parish.-- my parish has a lot of retirees-----and young people-- policemen,firemen, school teachers, factory workers, machinists etc.--- houses run from maybe $60,000 up to maybe $225,000-- but most are in the $85,000 to $110,000 range----and they were built in the 1920's,typically so--a roofing company is a good fit---a custom builder building $500,000 houses--- not a good fit insurance agents and pizza shops, electricians,plumbers-- good fits.
Ad agencies, computer network systems companies-- bad fits
keep in mind--- that some people see the parish as a community--an opportunity to serve others and sort of an on going reciprocal arrangement--- some people will go out of their way to support advertisers in the bulletin and generally support local businesses others---see the parish as one more organization they expect to "use"----- my wife teaches at the school---- the parents with the biggest mouths-- the ones always complaining " the parish should do this- the parish should provide that, we should get THIS--- how come we don't have that, this teacher treats my child un-fairly-- that teacher isn't good enough....and so on?--- almost without exception THOSE are the parents who are deliquent on their tuition bills----or are recieving free or reduced tuition in the first place----free loaders!
If your business is a good fit for the parish AND you are active within the parish AND you run it for 2-3 years-- I would be suprised if it doesn't more than pay it's own waystephen
stephen,
Thanks for the input as I recall saying you were pretty active in your parish.
Maybe its just in the past few years folks aren't into the stuff I do? I should talk to the electrician and roofer in our bulletin and see if they get work from it. I know the painter who advertises probably doesn't as I had called him three times to send him some work and he never called back! Or maybe he is too busy from it?!
Mike
Have you ever thought that advertising is often just a way of getting your name out there and not fishing for a specific customer? Seeing your name in print will plant that in the subconcious. Suppose later a third party recommends you and the reader remembers seeing your ad. This tends to build some "credibility"
Have you ever heard of Coca Cola? Why do they continue to advertise when virtually everyone in the United States has heard of it? It's all about building a name and continuing to keep it in front of the public. If funds allow, I say advertise more. If the church bulletin readers see you name elsewhere it will really strengthen your image in their eyes.
Not to stir the pot further, but more readers than you think may resent advertisers in a church bulletin. I for one resent it when I see the fish in advertisements. I am a Christian and will willingly share my faith with anyone, but I will not use my faith for economic gain.
"more readers than you think may resent advertisers in a church bulletin. I for one resent it when I see the fish in advertisements."Yes, I agree...all the "judgers" resent those that support the bulletin. Putting a fish in your ad is 180 degrees different than putting an ad in a bulletin.
I'll say one thing. In many churches; no ads, no bulletins. Simple as that.
the fish things bugs me as well I remember a couple years ago--- hearing an radio comercial for an automotive repair center which actually bragged" we are a christian ,non smoking auto repair facility"---
Hey- i don't care if the guy fixing my truck is a hindu smoking an el producto----long as he fixes the truck Probably 15 years ago-- I watched a "competitor" across the street repairing a proch roof------ the competitor used"christan " advertising--which made me laugh when he opened up the porch roof---cut out the bad wood--and then calmly threw the bad wood and about 15 old shingles into the rafter bays-- I guess if the homeowner doesn't see it and never finds out--- it didn't happen ,right?
I would say- there is a big difference between using your religon to sell---VS. demonstrating your support and dedication to the community, neighborhood, religous organization,social club, ethnic group etc. I don't know much about protestant churches-- but one of the biggest ones here is non-denominational-and the members are supposed to tithe( my brother is a member of one--10%-- the church is rolling in dough, constantly expanding and buliding sattelight churches, health clubs etc.
I have only belonged to one catholic church-- the wouldn't turn anything away-- but they only really ask you donate 1 hours wage per week( 1/40th your income)-- of course they are chronically short of cash--and the local parishoners who are business owners are supposed to pony up and donate substantially-which they do. Many of the parishoners in turn-support those businesses.- i have used the plumber who is a bulletin advertiser- my wife has taught his kids in school-and He in turn taught me the beauty of charging a $90 minimum service call charge1
stephen
Not to stir the pot further, but more readers than you think may resent advertisers in a church bulletin. I for one resent it when I see the fish in advertisements. I am a Christian and will willingly share my faith with anyone, but I will not use my faith for economic gain>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We had a couple of contractors that used to do that. I resented that also!
I've seen bulletin ads in both Catholic and Protestant church bulletins.
I've also seen other approaches; for example, in Jewish congregations, it's a common practice to "buy" a chair, or a door, or a room, and a plaque is affixed with your name for all to see - sort of like the 'adopt a highway' program, if you ask me!
I have been approached by every manner of group, form the scouts to the local Hindu temple, to buy ad space on their event bulletins, calendars, etc.
Advertising in my church bulletin almost turned me into an atheist.
What a waste of money. I got one call from one of the nuttier parishenors that expected a tile floor installed for about $1/ft
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
I suppose it all depends on your business plan.
I've heard the same from others - little or no response to the ad - and some have gone as far as to say they consider the money spent as a 'charitable donation,' rather than as 'advertising.'
Contrast this with a local funeral home, that has spent piles of money over the years support youth athletics. Well, those kids are retiring now, and guess which funeral home they choose? Thinking 60+ years ahead certainly is 'long term' planning, but in their case it worked.
Eight hundred bucks! Take the money you save by not advertising and put it into new tools. I always look for the cheapest way out and thinking the way I do, by not advertising you surely won't be getting jobs and that means less income but then again, ten % of nothing means you can tithe less too.
There's always a brighter side to everything!