Looking for ways to improve your church’s email marketing in the coming year? Here are the top marketing ideas and how they apply to churches from ExactTarget’s 2009 Marketing Almanac.
1. It’s going to get harder to get parishioners to notice and open your emails as more organizations turn to email even more.
Email is becoming more attractive as a relatively cheaper channel compared to other options. Your competitors—other churches, entertainment venues and ecommerce—are going to crank up their email output and you might pay the price.
- Keep focused and helpful.
- Don’t pollute your lists with message creep. (Hey, we need more fundraising—how about sending the contributions appeal to the volunteer openings list? Um, no.)
2. Today’s savvy audiences expect you to offer choices for keeping them informed.
Users want to get updates on their own terms, not yours. They might choose email, RSS, Twitter, text messages, mobile and who knows what’s next. Pick flexible, free options such as Google Groups so your congregation can self select.
3. Cloud computing is here to stay so take advantage of it.
Now’s the time to use distributed services such as Google Groups and Google Analytics.
4. Customization and personalization become must-haves.
Start looking at good sources for more information about your audiences. Try your front desk staff to see the kinds of questions that come in and the needs that you should be meeting. Or run a free survey on your church site such as 4Q from iPerceptions
5. Prepare to face more pressure in the workforce.
Rampant layoffs have many on edge. Those still working are expected to do more with less. You may find it harder to hold onto volunteers in such an environment. But, you might also have opportunities to reach more people who turn to God in times of trouble. Make sure you’re ready to support your current volunteers and to welcome those who are in need.
That’s my take on how your church can make the most of ExactTarget’s predictions. What are you going to focus on next?
Church Mojo 
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DEAR BRETHREN
GREETING IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
I AM MISS MONICA WILSON, NOW MRS FAVOUR HAMZA, A WIDOW TO LATE SHEIK
HAMZA. I AM 61 YEARS OLD,
I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTAIN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF
THE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING
AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON’T LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS,
ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID
AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF
OUR MARRIAGE WE COULDN’T PRODUCE ANY CHILD.
MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL
HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE
FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DEVIDE THE PART OF THIS
WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA,
AMERICA , ASIA, AND EUROPE. I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING BROWSING AND
I PRAYED OVER IT,. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF$24,000.000.00 MD
U.S DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED.
PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY AND
UPON MY INSTRUCTION,BROTHER ANTHONY , WHO PRESENTLY IS IN AFRICA
DISTRIBUTING RELIEF MATERIALS TO OF BOMBLAST IN SLERRA-LEONE,
WILL FILE IN AN APPLICATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY IN YOUR
NAME.
LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE USED
FOR THE SAID PURPOSE,BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH
ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS
THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
I AWAIT URGENT REPLY. YOURS IN CHRIST.
MRS FAVOUR HAMZA.