4 Church Marketing Lessons from Christian Radio
I LOVE Christian radio.
I used to despise Christian music, not because I don't love our faith and sacred music, of course, but because it felt cheesy and dry to me when I was growing up.
Now, I can't be in a car for more than 30 seconds before turning it up.
There is something about this generation of Christian music that really unites my soul to God. I've always connected most to God in song - I think I'm able to be as distraction-free as I possibly can be when music is playing - and I just love the joy and positivity it brings to my life.
My particular Christian station is locally-run and just has a small town, Jesus-loving feel to it that makes it even better. Of course, it's not a Catholic-specific station (I have a feeling I'm part of a narrow minority of Catholics that listen to it, in fact), but I actually like that it's not Catholic-specific, because it helps to broaden my worldview a little bit when it comes to our faith and reminds me that we're all coming from the same source of love, even if we disagree on some issues or dogma.
As I was listening today, however, it hit me that we Catholic marketers can actually learn a thing or two from Christian radio operations.
1. Wording matters
My station is about to launch "Days of Joy" tomorrow - aka, not so joyful days when my commute will now be pleadings for money. But still, I'm intrigued by the words they use to promote this event and the fundraising aspects of it. They speak of giving thanks to God for their blessings at the station, have a level of giving that is simply prayers if you cannot afford to give, and say that the station is "listener-improved" instead of listener-funded. It's small things like that, but good copywriting can make all the difference when it comes to your marketing campaign. Nowhere in their ads does the station say that this is a fundraising event, yet you still know that it is. I've heard other larger-scale Christian and public stations offer Disney vacations to entice people to give to their fundraising efforts, but the only radio fundraising campaign I've ever given to is my local Christian station. I get nothing for it as a gimmick, but I am much more intrigued to offer some of my finances to an organization that values me versus one that is trying to bribe me. The same thing goes with your customers. Speak from their point of view, not yours. Tell your customers what they want to hear, not what you want them to know. You can do that through good copywriting.