Ministry marketing is a critical component of attracting new members, promoting events, driving donations and volunteers, and keeping the community informed. However, many groups try to handle marketing in-house without realizing the hidden costs associated with doing so.
Hidden Cost #1: Time
One of the hidden costs of handling marketing in-house for Christian organizations and ministries is the time it takes away from other important tasks. According to a recent study by HubSpot, 61% of marketers say generating traffic and leads is their biggest marketing challenge. Christian organizations and ministries face similar challenges and need to allocate their time effectively. Handling marketing in-house can be overwhelming and take away from other essential tasks such as counseling, sermon preparation, and community outreach.
Hidden Cost #2: Expertise
Another hidden cost of handling marketing in-house is the lack of expertise. Marketing is a specialized field that requires knowledge and experience to execute successfully. Christian organizations and ministries need to stay relevant in today’s digital world, but only 57% of them have a website, according to a recent Barna study. This lack of expertise can lead to ineffective marketing campaigns and a waste of resources.
Hidden Cost #3: Resources
Handling marketing in-house also requires resources that may not be readily available. Christian organizations and ministries may not have access to the latest marketing tools and software, making it challenging to execute a successful marketing campaign. Additionally, a lack of resources can lead to poor-quality marketing materials, such as poorly designed flyers and social media graphics.
Hidden Cost #4: Opportunity Cost
Finally, handling marketing in-house has an opportunity cost. Christian organizations and ministries must choose between dedicating resources to marketing or using them for other activities, such as community service. According to a recent study by the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, nonprofits that outsource their marketing have a 43% higher return on investment than those that handle it in-house. This means that by outsourcing marketing to a dedicated creative agency, Christian organizations and ministries can potentially generate more revenue and growth.
Christian organization and ministry marketing has proven to be an essential component of attracting new members, promoting events, and keeping communities informed and engaged. However, the hidden costs associated with handling marketing in-house can be significant – and actually work against the mission. The time, expertise, resources, and opportunity cost of handling ministry marketing in-house can lead to ineffective marketing campaigns and a waste of resources. Therefore, it’s crucial for medium-sized Christian organizations and ministries to consider outsourcing marketing to a dedicated agency to ensure the best possible results. By doing so, they can focus on ministering to their communities while leaving marketing to the experts.
Taking Ministry Marketing to the Next Level
If you’ve been considering entrusting your ministry marketing – whether wholly or in-part – to a partner creative agency, we’d love to speak with you.