Nobody enjoys seeing photos or videos of abused or starving children.
But advertisers and activist groups keep putting them on television.
You know why?
Because they know that they’ll have better fundraising and awareness raising success if you actually see what’s going on.
They’re playing to your heart. They know that if you see a hurting child, you’ll act. And if you don’t? The guilt is on you.
Some of you might think it’s a crafty trick advertisers use to manipulate you.
But it’s not really a trick, is it?
Kids are starving. Kids are being abused. Kids are homeless. Kids are dying.
It hurts us to see it. And our thought is this: If we don’t see it, we’re safe and not accountable.
We rationalize. Somebody else can take care of it, we say. Out of sight, out of mind.
People need to be jolted from their comfort zones from time to time.
Sometimes you must show people the need in some way to move them to action.
So the church marketing tip is this: Utilize visual storytelling.
Don’t just say: “Tom lost his job six months ago. His wife, Jane, and their two kids are now homeless and hungry.”
If possible, show us Tom and Jane. If you can’t find a photo or a video, ask them to come to church and tell their story.
On the flip side, if your church is doing awesome outreach and ministry work, show that too!
Show visitors photos and videos of your church members out in the community. Show them building houses and feeding people. Show them running sports camps. Show them taking valentines to the nursing home.
If you ever need to understand what moves someone to act, take the simple step of analyzing what makes YOU act.
How does your church use visuals to tell stories and to prompt people to act?
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What church marketing, outreach, or ministry challenges are you facing? Contact Hands and Feet Marketing for custom consultation today!