Marketing Integrity

A Church Marketer’s Guide to Pintrest

David Tonen — Sun, 27 May 2012 23:38:17 +0000

One of the key points in this video is

“Get Visual: Bump up the quality of images on your site“.

Church leaders: how can we be more creative with the images on our church websites so that people would be motivated to pin them?

Why Your Church Must Leverage Youtube

David Tonen — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:46:22 +0000

Yesterday was the 7th Birthday for YouTube.

They appropriately created this video to celebrate their special day. (Click here if you cannot see it embedded in the post)

Important Statistics

Some key stats for you to know:

On January 23, 2012 Youtube surpassed over 4 Billion views per day
As of May 2012 there are over 72 hours of video uploaded to Youtube every minute
65% of the North American population is projected to own a smart-phone or tablet by 2015

The Search Story

Two weeks ago I was talking with a couple that was new to our church. As I frequently do, I asked,

“How was it that you came to be here at LifeBridge today?“

They told me their story of how they had just been transferred to the city and then the husband said

“the other night we were on Youtube and we typed in Churches in Halifax, discovered a sermon by your pastor and decided we would come check out this church”.

Did you get that? They searched in Youtube not in Google. Youtube is now the Internet’s second largest search engine and people are using it to find churches. Youtube is a channel for you to give life to your church. To promote your events, tell your story, and post your sermons.

In my opinion, a one minute Youtube video can communicate more of your ministry culture and your passion for people than all the written text in the world. Your church needs to use Youtube. Imagine the creative ways you could leverage it!

Please feel free to tell some stories of how your church has used or is using Youtube to support your ministry in the comments below.

What Position Should Your Church Take?

David Tonen — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:47:09 +0000

In Episode #23 of the Ministry Story Podcast I talked with Mark MacDonald and we discussed what brand postioning is and how important it is to your church’s communications strategy and effectiveness.,

Listen to How to Position Your Church

Tips to Promote Your Church Event

David Tonen — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:22:59 +0000

In Episode #22 of the Ministry Story Podcast I talked with Adam Fry and we discussed some strategies and tools you can use to promote your next church event.

Listen to How To Effectively Promote Your Christian Event

My Story: Integrity Magazine

David Tonen — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:08:17 +0000

If you don’t already know my story (the spiritual and the business stories) then I invite you to read the Winter 2012 edition of Integrity Magazine…it will tell you all you need to know!

I welcome your feedback and comments. If you or anyone you know would like a copy of the print version send me your mailing address (via email @ David@DavidTonen.com) and I will gladly mail you a free copy.

You may read the digital magazine embedded below or via this link.

Open publication – Free publishing – More business

You’re Still Here?

David Tonen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:49:02 +0000

Don’t you have anything better to do? Go on…get going! Go.

Honda’s extended 2012 Superbowl ad that plays off a classic movie from our past…

If you cannot see the video, please click here…

Church Leaders Should Be Networking

David Tonen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:16:07 +0000

In Episode #21 of the Ministry Story Podcast I talk with Matt Whitman and he shares some practical ways that church leaders can be networking in their communitues to have greater influence and impact representing Jesus.

Listen to Are You are Card-Carrying Reverse-Networking Leader?

Knowing Your Audience

David Tonen — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:07:27 +0000

We are just a couple weeks away from the 2012 Superbowl Ads weekend. One of my favorite times of the year…for the game and for the ads! The smart companies, who have invested a ton in their ad production and placement are leveraging social media to advance their marketing reach and impact.

Volkswagen knows that one of their core demographics is the Star Wars generation. To to play on that nostalgia, they have created another ad themed around this and integrated…dogs. People of all demographics like animals in ads don’t they? The combination is a perfect mix that makes you want to watch it more than once. It is sure to be a hit with viewers and sure to help their brand impact. It will also go viral through social media. And this is just the “teaser”.

What could churches do to be more creative to connect with people in their communities. Be inspired!

If you cannot see the ad click here…

So, does this ad resonate with you?

Technology Just Makes Sense

David Tonen — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:51:08 +0000

Sometimes, Dilbert just says it perfectly…

In 2012, I Hate Religion

David Tonen — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:54:10 +0000

I am trying to re-calibrate my life. Everyone needs to do that right? I am not talking about starting a new year and making a whole ton of resolutions that I will never keep. I am talking about assessment.

2011 was a phenomenal year for me. I ran my church marketing and communications company full-time for the full-calendar year. It was an amazing journey and an amazing privilege to work with so many ministry-passionate clients. I started a church communications podcast, teamed up with a great bunch of guys to launch a Christian Business Magazine, and served in my Halifax church as a leader. The year was busy and a blast. I have never enjoyed my career more.

I love writing. I love sharing my knowledge, experience, and opinions. So, I really have enjoyed blogging here in the past. In 2011 however, my writing was sparse and inconsistent. I want to recalibrate my schedule in 2012 so I can be “here” more often. I really feel that one of my mandates from God is to educate church leaders on why and how they can communicate their ministry story with greater effectiveness.

So, I a coming back online and I am actually scheduling my writing times with the intent that this will bring forth consistency. I am praying God will keep me on track.

As I start 2012, I want to re-affirm that I love Jesus. I am taking many purposeful steps to spend more time in relationship with Him every day in my personal and business life. This is not about me being religious. I hate religion and so did Jesus. I love my ever growing relationship with him and I love representing him in all I do. I would encourage you to recalibrate some things in your life this year in the pursuit of relationship too. I know from personal experience…that you’ll never regret it.

So, this video below (click here if you cannot see it) really resonates with me and it sums up my pursuit for relationship with God because I Hate Religion too!