Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Church Branding | Marketing for Churches | Be Known For Something Church Branding Company, Church Rebranding, Church Logos, Marketing for Churches ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://beknownforsomething.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Top 10 Church Digital Marketing Strategies for 2026](https://beknownforsomething.com/top-10-church-digital-marketing-strategies-for-2026/) - Top 10 Digital Marketing Strategies for churches that help you clarify your message (church branding), reach your city, & connect people to the hope of Christ. - [Pastor, be found online in 2025 (master Google’s E-E-A-T now)](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-be-found-online-in-2025-master-googles-e-e-a-t-now/) - Pastor, be found online in 2025, master Google’s E-E-A-T. Here’s how - align your digital presence with Google’s & be known for serving your community well. - [Should You Have a Pastor Personal Brand?](https://beknownforsomething.com/should-a-pastor-have-a-personal-brand/) - Pastor personal brand: Discover why every pastor is already known for something and how to clarify your message, grow influence, and point people to Christ. - [Do Not Conform: The Call To Faithful Leadership](https://beknownforsomething.com/do-not-conform-faithful-leadership/) - Faithful leadership requires discernment in a culture that constantly shapes our thinking. Learn how Romans 12:2 challenges Christian leaders today. - [25 Things Your Community Cares About in 2026](https://beknownforsomething.com/25-things-your-community-cares-about-in-2026/) - Discover 25 things your community cares about in 2026 and how churches can communicate in ways that connect and build trust. - [Church Growth: 5 Reasons People Choose a Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-growth-5-reasons-people-choose-a-church/) - Church growth starts with understanding why people search for a church and how pastors can connect with real community needs. - [Church Rebranding: 5 Essentials Every Pastor Needs](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-rebranding-5-essentials-every-pastor-needs/) - Church rebranding helps churches clarify identity and reach the right people. Learn 5 simple steps that strengthen connection and support church growth. - [Church Website Images: 4 Essentials Every Church Needs](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-website-images-guide/) - Church website images shape first impressions online. Here are 4 essential images every church should use to build trust and connection. - [Church Communication Metrics: 5 Key Shifts](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-metrics-5-key-shifts/) - Are your church communication metrics helping or hurting your mission? Learn which vanity metrics to avoid and what to track for real growth. - [Mother’s Day Is Over. But Is Your Church Ready For What Happens Next?](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-fathers-day-planning-after-mothers-day/) - Church Father’s Day planning helps you build on Mother’s Day momentum and engage men with intention, clarity, and meaningful connection. - [Church Greeter Training: 5 Ways to Improve First Impressions](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-greeter-training-5-ways-to-improve-first-impressions/) - Church greeter training gives practical ways to create a welcoming culture that moves guests from unsure to belonging, shaping stronger first impressions. - [Church Discipleship Plans: 6 Fixes that Drive Growth](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-discipleship-plans-fixes/) - Church discipleship plans often stall without clarity. Here are 6 practical ways to create movement, engagement, and real spiritual growth. - [Church Change Decisions: 4 Leadership Lessons That Work](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-change-decisions-leadership-lessons/) - Church change decisions help leaders avoid confusion. Discover when to shift methods and when consistency strengthens trust and church growth. - [3 Church Audience Priorities That Build Growth](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-audience-priorities-that-build-growth/) - Church audience focus drives a stronger ministry. Learn the 3 groups every church must serve to reach the community and strengthen engagement. - [25 Church Communication Mistakes We’ve Seen (And How to Avoid Them)](https://beknownforsomething.com/25-church-communication-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/) - Learn the 25 Church Communication Mistakes churches often make and how to avoid them. Improve messaging and help your ministry connect better. - [Church Social Media: 5 Ways to Post with Purpose](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-social-media-5-rules-pastors/) - Church social media requires wisdom. Discover 5 rules pastors should follow to engage people, reflect Christ, and communicate clearly. - [4 Church Branding Moves That Reach Your Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-branding-evangelize-community/) - Church branding helps evangelism by connecting to real needs first. Learn four ways your church can become known for solutions that point to Christ. - [5 Church SEO Improvements To Expand Your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-church-seo-improvements/) - Church SEO is critical for church growth. Discover practical, clear steps pastors can take to improve search rankings and attract new guests. - [Church Communication: 3 Shifts for How People Listen Today](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-listening-shifts/) - Church communication works best when it matches how people listen today. Learn three practical shifts to help your message connect and grow engagement. - [Most Churches Will Waste Easter: Here’s Why](https://beknownforsomething.com/easter-church-marketing-mistakes/) - Easter is your church’s greatest opportunity for impact. Discover how clarity in your message can turn Easter from busy into truly transformational. - [Church Rebranding: 3 Warnings Before You Begin](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-rebranding-3-warnings-before-you-begin/) - Planning church rebranding? Learn 3 critical warnings to avoid costly mistakes and build clarity, trust, and stronger community engagement. - [7 Short-Month Church Communication Wins](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-wins-to-finish-february-strong/) - Church communication improvements done now can shape spring ministry. Finish February with simple wins that bring clarity and momentum into Easter. - [25 Things That Didn’t Exist When We Started Helping Churches Communicate](https://beknownforsomething.com/25-things-that-didnt-exist-when-we-started/) - 25 things that didn’t exist in 2001, from Facebook to AI. Discover why church communication clarity still matters after 25 years of ministry change. - [Church Perception: 3 Cautions For Clarity And Growth](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-perception-3-cautions-for-clarity-and-growth/) - Church perception directly affects whether people trust you, visit you, or ignore you. Learn 3 cautions that will bring clarity to your community. - [Church Messaging Clarity: 3 Reasons Your Message Is Ignored](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-messaging-clarity-3-reasons-your-message-is-ignored/) - Enhance church messaging clarity by learning 3 key reasons your message may be ignored and practical ways to connect with your community effectively. - [Church Digital Marketing Clarity: 6 Ways](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-digital-marketing-clarity-6-ways/) - Church digital marketing helps churches build trust online. Learn practical ways to reach people and strengthen connection. - [Church Branding: Why Every Church Is Known for Something](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-branding-why-every-church-is-known-for-something/) - Church branding isn’t optional. Learn how perception is formed, why clarity matters, and how your church can be known on purpose. - [Why People Really Pick a Church (How to Reach Them)](https://beknownforsomething.com/why-people-really-pick-a-church-how-to-reach-them/) - Understanding why people pick a church helps pastors connect meaningfully. Explore the five key reasons people choose one church over another. - [Church Communication Starts Before You Speak](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-starts-before-you-speak/) - Church communication starts before the sermon. Learn how your building and environment speak to first time guests and shape lasting impressions. - [Projecting the right things on Church service slides (5 tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/projecting-the-right-way-on-church-service-slides-5-tips/) - Church service slides are everywhere (whether done with PowerPoint, Keynote, ProPresenter, or other design software). Most churches today have a digital means of projecting announcements, worship song lyrics, sermon points, or videos so the congregation can participate in the worship service, and understand greater meaning. But do church service slides work every time? Are they - [Should a Church Blog?](https://beknownforsomething.com/should-a-church-blog/) - Blogging has been around for over 16 years, and 6-8 years ago they became mainstream. The informative posts are everywhere with almost 200,000 published every DAY. That’s a lot of clutter. Should a church try to break into this craziness? Yes is the short answer. Here are 5 reasons why (and some tips to help - [4 Questions to Consider BEFORE Hiring a Communications Person](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-questions-consider-hiring-communications-person/) - It used to be so easy. You simply needed someone to produce the bulletin and maybe change the church sign. Now, you need someone who can coordinate and communicate all your ministries, messages, and events. Maybe even create video sermon bumpers, posts on social media, church memes, PLUS assemble and layout the bulletin and update - [Small Churches CAN Have a Large Voice](https://beknownforsomething.com/small-churches-can-have-a-large-voice/) - In high school, when we would cheer for our sports teams, it felt like I was the smallest person in the cheering section with the loudest voice. FACT: The size of the body really doesn’t have anything to do with the size of the voice. Is that the same for a church body? Can a - [What Your Church Website is Screaming About You](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-your-church-website-screams-about-you/) - Everyone uses the internet. Well, not “everyone”. At the time this was written 86.75% of Americans use the web. For more current statistics. Most of us visit the internet quickly to discover new things, remind us of information, be entertained, and/or buy things. So it makes sense to have a website if you want to - [Church Communication: How to Bring in Clarity](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-how-to-bring-in-clarity/) - Bring clarity to church communication in 2026 by ending random acts of content and aligning every ministry with one clear message. - [Church Rebranding: A Simple Secret Formula for Pastors](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-rebranding-a-simple-secret-formula-for-pastors/) - Church rebranding has become critical. Let's break it down into a super simple and practical formula. - [Church Welcome Video Tips Every Pastor Should Use](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-welcome-video-tips-every-pastor-should-use/) - Learn how a clear church welcome video helps pastors communicate better, build trust, and invite new visitors with clarity, consistency, and purpose. - [Why Church Communicator Self Care Matters](https://beknownforsomething.com/why-church-communicator-self-care-matters/) - Church communicator self care isn’t optional. Learn how healthy rhythms protect clarity, calling, and long-term effectiveness in church communication leadership - [When Church Communication Falls on One Pastor](https://beknownforsomething.com/when-church-communication-falls-on-one-pastor/) - Solo pastors often carry church communication alone. Learn how to simplify messaging, protect clarity, and lead with consistency without burning out. - [Church Member Communication: 5 Essential Strategies](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-member-communication-5-essential-strategies/) - Learn five essential strategies for effective church member communication that welcomes, engages, and integrates new members into community and discipleship. - [Church Crisis Communication: A Simple 5-Step Plan](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-crisis-communication-a-simple-5-step-plan/) - Prepare for the unexpected with a clear church crisis communication plan. Strengthen trust, protect unity, and lead with clarity when it matters most. - [Church Content Checkup: 6 Key Questions](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-content-checkup-6-key-questions/) - Learn the 6 questions every pastor and communicator should ask for effective church content evaluation, ensuring clarity, value, and meaningful engagement. - [Church Website Strategy for Pastors](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-website-strategy-for-pastors/) - Learn how to create a clear, effective church website content strategy that guides visitors, strengthens engagement, and supports your ministry’s mission. - [3 Church Leadership Skills That Transform Your Ministry](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-leadership-skills-that-transform-your-ministry/) - Master these 3 church leadership skills every effective ministry must have—lead with vision, empower others and build a healthy church culture. - [Effective Church Communication: How to Build a Consistent Rhythm](https://beknownforsomething.com/effective-church-communication-how-to-build-a-consistent-rhythm/) - Learn how to create a consistent rhythm for effective church communication that engages your congregation and connects your community with Christ. - [Christmas Church Communication Strategy: 3 Nativity Lessons](https://beknownforsomething.com/christmas-church-communication-strategy-3-nativity-tips/) - Use a church communication strategy that highlights Christmas hope through Nativity lessons and connects people to the Gospel in meaningful ways. - [How to Create a Church Marketing Strategy That Reaches Your Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-to-create-a-church-marketing-strategy-that-reaches-your-community/) - Use this church marketing strategy to clarify your message, reach your city, and connect more people to Christ through effective communication. - [5 Ways You can be More Creative. Now!](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-you-can-be-more-creative-now/) - 27 years ago, I entered college to become a "graphic designer". Actually, back then, I referred to it as a "commercial artist". I wanted to be Darren from Bewitched. Remember him? He presented ad campaigns to various companies in the episodes that centered on him. He'd have his marker storyboards and creative ideas ready for - [AI Prompts Every Church Communicator Should Be Using](https://beknownforsomething.com/ai-prompts-every-church-communicator-should-be-using/) - Discover AI prompts every church communicator should be using to save time, engage your audience, and improve church messaging effectively. - [True thankfulness: communicating gratitude that connects](https://beknownforsomething.com/true-thankfulness-communicating-gratitude-that-connects/) - We’re just a couple weeks away from Thanksgiving. Though you might not know it by the jingling commercials already flooding your screens! Thanksgiving has quietly become the official start of the Christmas season — and that’s unfortunate. Because we have so much to be thankful for. Salvation. Grace. Mercy. Family. Friends. But in the middle - [Church Growth Strategy: Clarity That Connects](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-growth-strategy-clarity-that-connects/) - Discover the church growth strategy pastors overlook—clear branding and communication that connect your church to your community. - [Why No One’s Listening to Your Church (4 Steps to Fix It)](https://beknownforsomething.com/why-no-ones-listening-to-your-church-4-steps-to-fix-it/) - Why No One’s Listening to Your Church, people are overwhelmed by content. You need to understand the audience. We developed this simple formula: - [Did Jesus have a brand? (Spoiler: Yes. Your Church should too)](https://beknownforsomething.com/did-jesus-have-a-brand-spoiler-yes-your-church-should-too/) - Did Jesus have a brand? Yes, he did! It’s time for the church to as well as a biblical way to be known for something meaningful. And the Gospel they need. - [Start at the Beginning: 3 Steps to Create a Strong Church Brand](https://beknownforsomething.com/start-at-the-beginning-3-steps-to-create-a-strong-church-brand/) - Brands need a solid foundation, your thread—the unique idea that connects your vision to the needs of the community. 3 Steps to Create a Strong Church Brand. - [Who Are You as a Church? Discover Your Core Values and Thread](https://beknownforsomething.com/who-are-you-as-a-church-discover-your-core-values-and-thread/) - Few questions strike deeper than “Who are you?” The same applies to your church. Do people know who you are? Discover Your Core Values and Thread - [Largest Private Aquarium in a Church?!](https://beknownforsomething.com/largest-private-aquarium-in-a-church/) - Have you ever seen an aquarium in a church? A REAL LARGE church aquarium?!? Friday I met the Pastor of IBOC (Inspiring Body of Christ). Here's what I found! - [4 Practical Ways To Get Close To Your Audience](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-practical-ways-to-get-close-to-your-audience/) - If we don’t know the people we’re speaking to, or if too many barriers exist, our message often doesn’t land. Here are 4 ways to get close to your audience. - [5 Ways to Get Your Church Emails Opened and Read](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-to-get-your-church-emails-opened-and-read/) - If you want your emails to be opened, read, and even anticipated, keep them short and helpful. Here are 5 ways to get your church emails opened and read. - [Change: When It Helps and When It Hurts Your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/change-when-it-helps-and-when-it-hurts-your-church/) - Wise leaders ask the crucial question: What needs to change to see better results? Change: When It Helps and When It Hurts Your Church, know the difference. - [How to Train Church Greeters to Truly Welcome Visitors](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-to-train-church-greeters-to-truly-welcome-visitors/) - Families arrive and walk to “their” seat. For a visitor, that routine doesn’t exist. Here are 4 tips on how to train church greeters to truly welcome visitors. - [Who Is My Audience?](https://beknownforsomething.com/who-is-my-audience/) - Church leaders often ask, “Who is my audience?”. Here are three groups you're called to serve. - [Fall Is Here — 3 Tips To Refresh Your Church Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/fall-is-here-3-tips-to-refresh-your-church-website/) - Fall is here, this is the perfect time to refresh your website. Here are 3 tips to refresh your church website — right now: - [Hold on to first-time guests (7 retention tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/hold-on-to-first-time-guests-7-retention-tips/) - Welcoming first-time guests to your church and encouraging them to return involves thoughtful planning and intentional actions. Here are seven practical tips. - [Church Fall Launch: 3 Steps Every Pastor & Communicator Needs](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-fall-launch-3-must-do-steps-every-pastor-communicator-needs-right-now/) - Here are 3 essential steps that take time and intentionality to implement. Lock these in now, and your church fall launch will be far more effective. - [6 Church Signs To Welcome Guests And Guide Fall Crowds](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-church-signs-to-welcome-guests-and-guide-fall-crowds/) - Your church needs signage that communicates clearly. Here are 6 essential church signs to welcome guests you need in place this fall - [3 Basic (Free) Communication Necessities for the Fall](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-basic-free-communication-necessities-for-the-fall/) - Let’s discuss 3 things that NEED to be accomplished in order to lay a foundation of a communication strategy for your church. They're free and easy to do. - [Pastors, Please Simplify. 5 Steps.](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastors-please-simplify-5-steps/) - Pastors, please simplify if you want your audience to engage with you, do these 5 things: - [Yikes, People are Listening Differently (3 ways)](https://beknownforsomething.com/yikes-people-listening-differently-3-ways/) - Churches haven’t been successfully reaching their communities. People are listening differently. Here are 3 ways we are listening and what to do about it: - [Church SEO: Branding Terms Defined](https://beknownforsomething.com/branding-terms-defined-seo/) - Everyone likes to be found: that's why Church SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is important. - [3 Tips For Summer Church Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/summer-church-communications/) - When I’ve taught Sunday School classes, I’m always amazed how attendance fluctuated very little each week yet we had different people attending. We had the “regular” attenders and then we had the “revolving” attenders. Pastors tell me that the same thing happens for church services. Some people become the “every other week” crowd. Several Pastors - [3 Necessary Leadership Skills Effective Ministry Requires](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-necessary-leadership-skills-effective-ministry-requires-2/) - There are 3 skills that were required from leadership throughout your life so you can be where you are now. It’s important for you to practice those skills now - [5 Ways to Engage Students During the Summer Break](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-to-engage-students-during-the-summer-break/) - As summer approaches and activities pause, students tend to disengage. Here are 5 ways to engage students during the summer break. - [Church Rebranding: 3 Things to Know (Warning)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-rebranding-3-things-to-know-warning/) - Church Rebranding, it’s all the rage. If you haven’t branded or rebranded in the last 5 years, you should. But before you do, understand these 3 things: - [Church Branding 101: Manage Ministry Logos Without Confusion](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-branding-101-manage-ministry-logos-without-confusion/) - Your logo is more than an image. It’s ultimately your identity. Here’s how to manage ministry logos without confusion. It Church Branding 101. - [What does your Church look like?](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-does-your-church-look-like/) - What does your church look like? to the unchurched? Can you imagine if someone of another faith asked you to go to their church service? - [3 Ways a Small Church Can Be Heard](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-small-church-can-be-heard/) - On my way to a beach vacation recently, I passed many small churches scattered along narrow country roads. Around them were dozens of houses and businesses. The community seemed to be growing while the churches felt small. Most churches in America are under 100 weekly attendees. With a majority of our churches not growing, are - [Sorry, your church doesn’t have a brand](https://beknownforsomething.com/sorry-your-church-doesnt-have-a-brand/) - Sorry, your church doesnt have a brand. How do you create a real, effective brand? You create and control boundaries of what your church communicates about regularly. - [Top 10 Church Digital Marketing Strategies for 2025](https://beknownforsomething.com/top-10-church-digital-marketing-strategies-for-2025/) - Top 10 church digital marketing strategies and church website design tips to grow your church and connect with your community in 2025. Be known for something! - [Mother’s Day Ideas for your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/mothers-day-ideas-for-your-church-2/) - Every church is looking for Mother’s Day ideas that honor Moms appropriately during their special church service on the second Sunday in May. It’s usually one of the most-attended services of the year! It’s important though that we don’t overdo Mother’s Day services because there will be women present who struggle with infertility, a death - [It’s After Easter. Now What? 5 Tips for Church Communication.](https://beknownforsomething.com/its-after-easter-now-what-5-tips-for-church-communication/) - Easter is over, it’s time to take a break, recharge and look ahead to the rest of your ministry year. Here are 5 suggestions to help your church move forward: - [Essential elements to make a Pastor’s welcome video better](https://beknownforsomething.com/essential-elements-to-make-a-pastors-welcome-video-better/) - A good welcome video can set the tone for the entire guest experience. Here’s how to improve your video with communication elements and avoid mistakes. - [Communicating to a New Member (5 essential tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/communicating-to-a-new-member-5-essential-tips/) - It’s important to establish a rhythm of communicating to a member in such a way that they grow in their faith and become active in the church. Here are 5 tips - [Church Leadership Book: Be Known For Something](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-leadership-book/) - Our new church leadership book, Be Known For Something: Reconnect with Community by Revitalizing Your Church’s Reputation (Church Branding Edition) is available now! 3 decades of church leadership and church communication experience are stuffed into this easy-to-read, easy-to-lead book. Order paperback, Audio, or Kindle e-book version today!Consider ordering books for your whole church team (they - [Church communication for solo Pastors](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-for-solo-pastors/) - Often, solo pastors wonder if they’re juggling too much. Let’s look at church communication, identify the most important areas, and learn how to do them well. - [3 Steps to Plan Your Best Easter Yet](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-plan-your-best-easter-yet/) - Easter is the church's biggest Sunday. If your not intentional, it can become just another day. Guests may come and never return. Here are 3 problems at Easter: - [Hurry! 10 Steps to a Complete Church Easter Strategy](https://beknownforsomething.com/hurry-10-steps-to-a-complete-church-easter-strategy/) - Easter is one of the most significant Sundays of the year. Here’s are 10 Steps to a Complete Church Easter Strategy: - [5 Ways to Ignite Engagement](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-to-ignite-engagement/) - The new year brings fresh opportunities to engage people. They are looking for connection, meaning, and purpose. Here are 5 ways to increase engagement in 2025. - [3 church website checks that will transform online presence](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-website-checks-that-will-transform-online-presence/) - Want to transform your online presence into a place to find answers? Here are 3 church website checks that will lead you towards a website that delivers. - [Get a New Church Brand? Do These 10 Steps in Order](https://beknownforsomething.com/get-a-new-church-brand-do-these-10-steps-in-order/) - Applying a brand consistently across all critical areas ensures it resonates. Here’s a list of 10 areas you need to address: - [6 Tips for Growing Your Church with Digital Marketing](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-tips-for-growing-your-church-with-digital-marketing/) - Churches can expand their reach and foster meaningful connections by focusing on branding and communication strategy. Here are 6 practical tips: - [The Secret Weapon a Pastor Needs for Church Growth](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-secret-weapon-a-pastor-needs-for-church-growth/) - Church branding & communication are often overlooked, yet essential. Here’s why bringing outside expertise into your church is a secret weapon for church growth - [4 Tips for Growing Your Church With Digital Marketing](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-tips-for-growing-your-church-with-digital-marketing/) - Digital Marketing can grow your church this year. Here are 4 tips to help. - [When Preaching Solutions, Do These Two Things First](https://beknownforsomething.com/when-preaching-solutions-do-these-two-things-first/) - Pastors have a unique, God-given responsibility: proclaim God’s Word. Before you preach the biblical solution, pray, and then do these 2 key steps in the sermon - [Resolve: 4 Unexpected Leadership Skills to Master](https://beknownforsomething.com/resolve-4-unexpected-leadership-skills-to-master/) - You wear many hats. It’s time to adopt skills that will strengthen your leadership and ministry. Here are 4 unexpected leadership skills to master this year: - [5 Church Communication Resolutions](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-church-communication-resolutions/) - Now's great time for personal & ministry renewal, initiating ideas, and stopping things that are not successful. Here are 5 church communication resolutions. - [5 Solutions to Church Communications Overspending](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-solutions-church-communications-overspending/) - I purchase gas at a station that’s located in the gym parking lot where I work out every morning. Their prices are almost as low as Costco but I don’t have the inconvenience of driving across town to fill up for a few pennies of savings. Sometimes you have to pay a bit more. One - [(Test) Checklist of 10 Critical Church Website Functions](https://beknownforsomething.com/test-checklist-of-10-critical-church-website-functions/) - Your church website is the critical center of your digital communication hub. An app requires downloads (few download and fewer will use more than once). Social media relies on algorithms to deliver to followers (~12%). Emails are only opened by a third (and very few actually read them).Think stage announcements work better? No, since most - [5 ways to improve your church visitor’s card](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-to-improve-your-church-visitors-card/) - When someone visits your church, you need a church visitor’s card available to be filled out. But be aware though, many church guests will not want to complete it on their first visit. Here’s why: we live in a skeptical culture where a visitor doesn’t want to be identified until they feel ready. That can - [Do you speak ‘Guest’? Learning to speak community lingo](https://beknownforsomething.com/do-you-speak-guest-learning-to-speak-community-lingo/) - Do you speak 'Guest'? Learning to speak community lingo. Here’s how to help your church “speak guest” by evaluating and adjusting your communication strategy. - [4 Required Church Website Images](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-required-church-website-images/) - Churches understand they need a web presence, however, there are certain requirements. Here are 4 required church website images: - [5 Do’s and 5 Don’ts of Church Communication During the Holidays](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-dos-and-5-donts-of-church-communication-during-the-holidays/) - The holiday season is a perfect time to connect with the congregation and first-time guests. Here are do's and don’ts to make your communication effective. - [Church Branding Essential: Matchy Matchy (4 Areas)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-branding-essential-matchy-matchy-4-areas/) - The church branding essential for communication can be summed up in this fun phrase: matchy matchy. Here are the four areas that must matchy matchy: - [3 Simple Things to Do on Thanksgiving Day](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-surprising-things-thanksgiving-day/) - In order to make a day special, sometimes it requires us to do something totally different. Here are 3 things to practice this Thanksgiving Day: - [Location blindness (why the Church needs to overcome it)](https://beknownforsomething.com/location-blindness-why-the-church-needs-to-overcome-it/) - Ever notice a business, restaurant, or church only after needing it? This is "location blindness”. Let’s take a look at why this happens and how to overcome it. - [Effective Church Marketing: Reach More People in Your City (8 Ways)](https://beknownforsomething.com/effective-church-marketing-reach-more-people-in-your-city-8-ways/) - As a church, marketing is essential for growth. So, focus externally on your community to realize your potential. Here are 8 ways to do it: - [Church, stop being the best-kept secret (why and how)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-stop-being-the-best-kept-secret-why-and-how/) - Is your church the “best-kept secret”? Here’s why you shouldn’t brag about it and fixes to ensure your church is known for something relevant and needed. - [Church welcoming with the “5D Theory” of church attendance](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-welcoming-with-the-5d-theory-of-church-attendance/) - “5D Theory” represents 5 reasons people visit a church for the first time. Here are some practical tips to create a welcoming environment within the 5D Theory: - [Every Church Needs to Know Their Reach Area (Here’s Why)](https://beknownforsomething.com/every-church-needs-to-know-their-reach-area-heres-why/) - Every church needs to know their reach area. Learn here why you should discover a reach area and how to define and map it. - [3 Christmas Communication Tips (from Nativity passages)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-christmas-communication-tips-from-nativity-passages/) - Our churches need divine communication assistance to interrupt the noisy season and have the world hear the real meaning. Here are 3 tips to help break through. - [5 Leadership Communication Challenges (How to Overcome Them)](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-leadership-communication-challenges-how-to-overcome-them/) - Effective communication is the foundation of successful leadership. However, many face challenges with this. Here are 5 communication challenges with solutions. - [5 Communication Skills Every Church Leader Must Practice](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-communication-skills-every-church-leader-must-practice/) - Effective communication is essential for leaders to inspire, guide, and connect. Here are 5 communication skills every church leader must practice: - [Creating an effective crisis communication plan for a church (5 simple steps)](https://beknownforsomething.com/creating-an-effective-crisis-communication-plan-for-a-church-5-simple-steps/) - In times of crisis, having an effective crisis communication plan is not just a necessity but a responsibility. Here are 5 simple steps to help create that plan - [A Practical Guide to Color Models (RGB, HEX, PMS, CMYK)](https://beknownforsomething.com/a-practical-guide-to-color-models-rgb-hex-pms-cmyk/) - Understanding colors can be complex. Knowing the right model is crucial for websites, social media and print. Here are the major color models used today: - [Creating Compelling Social Media and Website Graphics (Simple Formula)](https://beknownforsomething.com/creating-compelling-social-media-and-website-graphics-simple-formula/) - Effective communication for pastors extends beyond the pulpit to online platforms. Here’s a simple formula for creating compelling graphics: - [Compelling website content: A simple formula for Pastors](https://beknownforsomething.com/compelling-website-content-a-simple-formula-for-pastors/) - Website content needs to be compelling. Making it engaging, informative & welcoming is crucial. Here's a practical formula to develop impactful website content: - [10 HR Tips for Creating and Managing Creative Teams](https://beknownforsomething.com/10-hr-tips-for-creating-and-managing-creative-teams/) - Creating creativity within a church environment requires intentional effort and supportive leadership. Here are 10 HR tips with practical to-dos and examples: - [A Simple Formula to Keep and Improve Your Church Bulletin](https://beknownforsomething.com/a-simple-formula-to-keep-and-improve-your-church-bulletin/) - A church bulletin has been a vital communication tool for connection for years. If you’re going to keep your printed bulletin, here are 5 ways to improve it. - [Navigating Change in your Church (Communication Strategies that work)](https://beknownforsomething.com/navigating-change-in-your-church-communication-strategies-that-work/) - Change is a inevitable. Here are 5 practical strategies, inspired by biblical principles, to help you communicate changes in your church: - [7 Church Social Media ideas that will make a difference](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-church-social-media-ideas-that-will-make-a-difference/) - Are you unning out of good church social media ideas? Your posts must make a difference. Your members are on social media. So you need to be there too. - [Special Church Communications Broadcast - Join Me](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communications-broadcast/) - Thursday, October 9, (11 PDT / 2 EDT) Click Here to Watch Join me and my church communication friends for a live show on Innovate 4 Jesus. I’ll be discussing where church communications is headed, along with some Certification Lab friends and show host Justin Blaney. We’ll discuss the Biblical ways to communicate the Gospel - [10 Best Practices: Choosing a Good Church Domain (URL)](https://beknownforsomething.com/10-best-practices-choosing-a-good-church-domain/) - Short of naming your church, finding the right web address is your most difficult task. Why? Because most people will end up discovering you or ministry information on your website. Yes, your website content needs to be very good in order for Google to direct searches to you. We deal with issues like that in - [5 Reasons Every Church Needs a Crisis Communication Plan](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-reasons-every-church-needs-a-crisis-communication-plan/) - Every church needs a crisis communication plan to get leadership on the same page. Here are 5 reasons it’s wise to craft a communication plan. - [Does a Church need marketing? (maybe it doesn’t)](https://beknownforsomething.com/does-a-church-need-marketing-maybe-it-doesnt/) - Is marketing something churches should be do? Here are 3 reasons a church should be cautious of marketing and 3 reasons to proceed with marketing strategies: - [5 Places of Decision Where Churches Must Communicate Better](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-places-of-decision-where-churches-must-communicate-better/) - In our noisy world where there are lots of choices to make. Here are 5 places of decision and how a church must communicate better at them: - [5 Communication Tips so our Churches don’t lose Preteens](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-communication-tips-so-our-churches-dont-lose-preteens/) - It’s sobering. I’m sure you saw the recent preteens trends. In it, Barna was super clear and scary. Our 8- to 12-year-olds are “on track to abandon Biblical Christianity in record numbers.” Let’s not sit back while this happens. Remember that helping preteens maintain a strong connection to Biblical Christianity involves effective communication that engages - [Church Communication Tips in an Election Year](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-tips-in-an-election-year/) - We’re in an election year. Churches need to contribute prayerful guidance. Here are 5 tips for communicating Biblically in an election year: - [4 Church Social Media tips for the Summer](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-church-social-media-tips-for-the-summer/) - Summer will so be here. Social media is a great way to maintain contact during the summer. Here are 5 social media tips for the summer: - [3 Things You Didn’t Know a Church Website Could Do](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-you-didnt-know-a-church-website-could-do/) - There are many beneficial ways to use your church website. Here are 3 things you didn’t know a church website could do for your ministry: - [Burnout Self-Care for the Church Communicator](https://beknownforsomething.com/burnout-self-care-for-the-church-communicator/) - A church communicator (or Pastor) needs to be mindful of burnout self-care. Here are some self-care strategies so you can protect yourself from burnout: - [Evaluating Church Content Before Communicating it (6 Questions)](https://beknownforsomething.com/evaluating-church-content-before-communicating-it-6-questions/) - Content is everywhere! In fact, there’s more content pushed to us than we can possibly consume. That content noise is forcing many to ignore and skim. And if you have a poor track record of bad content, your congregation will be even more apt to skip it. That’s when you, as a church communicator hears - [Tier for Church Communication Fears](https://beknownforsomething.com/tier-church-communication-fears/) - Want to reach your members and community effectively? You need to tier for church communication. The easiest way to calm your communication (after a thread)! - [5 Social Media tips for Small Churches](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-social-media-tips-for-small-churches/) - Looking for social media tips for small churches? Want to engage with your audience better? For years, smaller ministries were frustrated with small budgets. - [3 Church Social Media Tips to Encourage Engagement](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-social-media-tips-to-encourage-engagement/) - Church social media tips are essential to every church because it's a required communication channel for your church community. Social Media strategy is free! - [5 Church Social Media Secrets for an Effective Post](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-church-social-media-secrets-for-an-effective-post/) - Creating effective social media posts is crucial for engaging your church and community. But it’s not easy! Here are 7 secrets to impactful content: - [5 ways to communicate to the “Nones” who aren’t listening](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-to-communicate-to-the-nones-who-arent-listening/) - Here are some strategies to help effectively communicate to the “Nones” in your local community who may not be actively seeking a religious connection: - [Photo File Formats: A Ministry Guide (How to Change Them)](https://beknownforsomething.com/photo-file-formats-a-ministry-guide-how-to-change-them/) - Choosing the right photo format is crucial. Let’s define common formats, when to use them, and how to easily change/convert them if needed. - [Stop the Church QR-Code Madness](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-the-church-qr-code-madness/) - Many churches use QR codes. But many are using them improperly or ineffectively. Here are 7 practical QR-Code tips for a church - [The Beginner’s Guide to Church SEO (Being Found Online)](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-beginners-guide-to-church-seo-being-found-online/) - Want to be found online? In this beginner's guide to church SEO, you'll discover how to get a third-party endorsement. Let Google become your biggest evangelist - [Possibly the Most Cost-Effective Way to Build a Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/possibly-the-most-cost-effective-way-to-build-a-church/) - When it comes to the most cost-effective way to build a church, the building committee must look at design-build. Overall it saves money and eases stress. - [Church Management System: What a Church must Communicate](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-management-system-what-a-church-must-communicate/) - Using a church management system (ChMS), like Breeze ChMS, can greatly enhance communication within a church community. But remember, it’s a two-way system that requires your members and you to engage with it. Here are some tips to effectively utilize a ChMS for communication in your church and what you must communicate to your members: - [5 Required Branding Elements Every Church Must Control](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-required-branding-elements-every-church-must-control/) - Understanding the required branding elements is the start of a church being known for something relevant and needed. If left uncontrolled, a church is known for being “just” a church. So, anyone in the community who’s not interested in a religious gathering place, will simply ignore the ministries and your external communication. The 5 essential - [Image Resolution: A Ministry Guide](https://beknownforsomething.com/image-resolution-a-ministry-guide/) - As a church communicator dedicated to effective church communication, you understand that visuals play a pivotal role in conveying your church’s message. Whether it's for your website, social media, or printed materials, getting the image resolution right is crucial. Image Resolution Explained: Image resolution refers to the amount of detail an image holds. It is - [Establishing a New Rhythm for Church Communication](https://beknownforsomething.com/establishing-a-new-rhythm-for-church-communication/) - Church communication has a rhythm. It’s a regular, reliable pace and pattern of required content. But it may be time to establish a new rhythm. Stop wasting time on church communication that is out of step with what the audience wants. In music, someone needs to establish a consistent rhythm so the instruments and vocalists - [Church Communication Trends for 2024 (Get Ahead of Them)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-trends-for-2024-get-ahead-of-them/) - It’s good to be aware (and get ahead) of church communication trends for 2024. As a ministry leader with a focus on getting the Gospel message to your audience, it's crucial to keep up with the ever-changing landscape. To effectively reach and engage the community, let’s look into some trends that might shape the way - [What the unchurched thinks about church (9 discoveries)](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-the-unchurched-thinks-about-church-9-discoveries/) - Almost every church wants to reach their community for Jesus. A great thing to do then? Discover what the people in your community thinks about you. That perception of what you’re known for allows you to understand how much you need to change their minds. Or it may allow you to better serve them. Over - [5 Social Media Rules for a Pastor’s Personal Presence](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-social-media-rules-for-a-pastors-personal-presence/) - A pastor should have a social media presence. Why? Because the vast majority of people are present on social media platforms. Almost 24/7. They need a Pastor too. However, are there social media rules for a pastor’s personal presence? Should a church mandate these rules? Even when they’re not officially posting as a Pastor? Sadly, - [Finding a Niche as a Church Leader and Local Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/finding-a-niche-as-a-church-leader-and-local-church/) - A key leadership aspect that can greatly impact a ministry is finding a niche. A discovered thought area where you can flourish and become an expert. This focus is more effective than it is to know “a little something” about everything. People pursue experts. Every church leader and local church needs a niche. And that - [Crisis Church Communication (4 Tips for Pastors)](https://beknownforsomething.com/crisis-church-communication-4-tips-for-pastors/) - In our ever-changing and sometimes chaotic world, crisis church communication plays a huge role. Whether you're addressing a crisis within your church or handling challenging situations online, effective communication is essential to maintain trust and unity among your congregation. As a communicator of Truth and the Gospel, here are 4 practical tips to guide you - [Communicating Unity in Mission and Ministry](https://beknownforsomething.com/communicating-unity-in-mission-and-ministry/) - “I wish we could all be on the same page!” is a message many Pastors hear. Perhaps they mean, “Aren’t we on mission together?” From a leader’s perspective, you may believe you are; but in reality, by the way you communicate unity, it can feel like ministry silos abound. Each ministry doing their own thing. - [5 Practical Steps to Creating a Church Logo](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-practical-steps-to-creating-a-church-logo/) - Creating a church logo is not for the novice. But it’s a necessity because we live in a visual world. Most have become accustom to a controlled, visual symbol that represents everything an organization, product, service, or church is known for. A logo is an easy way to have people quickly recognize your ministries and - [Communicating to Make Your Church a 7-day Destination](https://beknownforsomething.com/communicating-to-make-your-church-a-7-day-destination/) - As a ministry leader, your church facility is more than just a place of worship on Sundays. It should be a vibrant hub that serves the community seven days a week. Transforming your church into a 7-day a week destination is not only a great vision but also a mission that requires effective communication. Here - [5 Must-do tips for Engaging Students at your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-must-do-tips-for-engaging-students-at-your-church/) - Engaging students at your church is critical to retain them throughout their schooling, and into young adult life. Remember, communication is different than engagement though! Any parent will confirm that talking to a student is different than interacting with a student. So, strive to listen as much as you talk. A church has several demographic - [4 Ways to Uplift Others and Uplift Yourself Too (self-care tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-to-uplift-others-and-uplift-yourself-too-self-care-tips/) - Leaving on vacation recently, I boarded a flight with my wife and heard the safety announcements. I travel a lot so honestly, I rarely listen to the flight attendants with their memorized warnings. Seriously, do we need to be told how to buckle a seatbelt? However, this time, the announcement about the loss of cabin - [10 Unexpected Ways to Communicate Pastor Appreciation](https://beknownforsomething.com/10-unexpected-ways-to-communicate-pastor-appreciation/) - Pastor appreciation in October is starting to become expected. This is a good thing! But appreciating your pastor in unexpected ways (year-round) can make your gestures of gratitude even more special and memorable. Here are 10 creative ways to show your pastor how much you value their ministry: Secret Encouragement Cards: Ask fellow members (or - [5 Steps for Planning Achievable Church Communication Timelines](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-steps-for-planning-achievable-church-communication-timelines/) - Planning church communication timelines with an achievable strategy is crucial to ensuring effective communication with members and the community. Keep them informed in a consistent manner. Here are five steps to help you create a well-structured and achievable communication plan for your ministries: 1. Define communication objectives Start by clearly defining your communication objectives. What - [4 Practical Editing Tips for Church Content](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-practical-editing-tips-for-church-content/) - Everyone needs to be reminded of editing tips. Why? Because the world is inundated with communication. And every person who creates the communication, believes their message is important. But that doesn’t mean the content will be consumed properly. Communication noise is causing everyone to decide what’s important and what can be ignored. We can’t take - [Should “GIVE” be in your church website main menu?](https://beknownforsomething.com/should-give-be-in-your-church-website-main-menu/) - Your church website is important. Why? The world has transitioned from a print communication hub (bulletin, newsletters, brochures) to a digital communication hub (website, social media, email). And people seek information on a website as quickly as possible. Most only want a website session to last about 30 seconds. That’s not long! In that brief - [7 Essential Rules for an Effective Church Greeters Ministry](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-essential-rules-for-an-effective-church-greeters-ministry-3/) - The church greeters ministry is essential for every church. Why? Because your congregation needs to feel a welcoming community. A church greeter ministry spreads hospitable people throughout the entire church as part of an effective first impressions ministry. Think about every church entry point as a start for greeters. Church greeters aren’t just for the - [4 Reasons Most Don’t Hear What the Church Says](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-reasons-most-dont-hear-what-the-church-says/) - Everywhere you look in our busy world, there’s a lot of information. If you want the information, it’s a good thing. If you don’t think you need it, it’s an annoyance. So, you learn to ignore it. For sanity reasons! We all get too many emails, see too many social media posts, get too many - [4 things your church email newsletter MUST do every time](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-things-your-church-email-newsletter-must-do-every-time/) - A church email newsletter is an excellent way to remind and inform your members of events, sermons, and resources they need to know about. Unlike the printed newsletters of the past, you can actually know how many are reading the emails and what they’re interested in. So you can improve! If done properly, your open - [How to write better (5 writing tips for articles, sermons, etc.)](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-to-write-better-5-writing-tips-for-articles-sermons-etc/) - Churches create so much content, so it’s important to learn how to write better! Church content, even when spoken from a stage, often starts with a pen to paper. Or a blank document in a word processing program. It can be scary and challenging! How to write better when you have writer’s block With just - [6 ways to instantly know if your Church Website needs help](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-ways-to-instantly-know-if-your-church-website-needs-help/) - Since websites are the primary way most pursue information, it’s important to know if your church website needs help. Remember though, there are many ways to have an effective website. You simply want your church website to be up to the standard of most websites. This is not the time to be creative! Give them - [Preaching to Personas (why you can’t preach to everyone)](https://beknownforsomething.com/preaching-to-personas-why-you-cant-preach-to-everyone/) - Jesus, in His earthly ministry, couldn’t preach to everyone; so, He practiced preaching to personas. He knew His local audience! And then, what He said reached a greater audience. Can you preach to everyone? No. You need to know your local audience, get their attention, and then preach God’s Word. And thanks to digital tools, - [4 Pages You Must Have on a Church Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-pages-you-must-have-on-a-church-website/) - All churches need an effective website; but are there certain pages you must have on a church website? Yes! There are many options but, when asked, a church member suggests they mostly want three pages. And when someone in a community is looking for a church, they say they’re mainly looking for 3 pages too. - [Using AI in Pastoral Ministry (ChatGPT): Reach More, Ethically](https://beknownforsomething.com/using-ai-in-pastoral-ministry-chatgpt-reach-more-ethically/) - As technology advances, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly relevant in many fields, including pastoral ministry. In this article, with the assistance of the free, AI content generator, ChatGPT (chat.openai.com), we’ll explore how pastors can leverage AI to enhance their messages and potentially reach a wider audience while being mindful of ethical concerns. The potential - [Keeping Church Volunteer Morale High (5 Tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/keeping-church-volunteer-morale-high-5-tips/) - It can be challenging to manage the morale of church volunteers. But there are many reasons why volunteers may experience low morale; from burnout, to volunteer stress, to interpersonal conflicts. However, a church's success often relies on its volunteers' engagement, and it's impossible to achieve much without happy, motivated volunteers. In fact, their happiness is - [Pastor, 7 controlled messages your church needs every week](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-7-controlled-messages-your-church-needs-every-week/) - Every church member needs to hear controlled messages that are repeated so they understand and remember them. Often, when messages are left uncontrolled, the church member doesn’t know critical things that every Pastor wishes they did! “Why don’t our people know?” is often asked in churches that don’t disciple well with controlled messages. Here are - [Know Your Benefit (Talk It - 5 Steps)](https://beknownforsomething.com/know-your-benefit-talk-it-5-steps/) - Everyone seems to be yelling. I’m not talking mean yelling because there’s “good” yelling too. Everyone has something they want to communicate! And because we live in a marketing-noisy world, talking quietly (like we do in a small group) will be ignored. Unless you practice this one tip. Talking a benefit will cut through the - [Stop! Church social media content requires branding](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-church-social-media-content-requires-branding/) - Do you wonder if you’re wasting time on your church social media content? You could be if you’re creating random posts about various themes and events. There’s a better way. It’s called branding: identifying what makes the content your church’s, and controlling it so your followers recognize and want it. It’s building a framework for - [Leading a Ministry Online: 5 Communication Tips](https://beknownforsomething.com/leading-a-ministry-online-5-communication-tips/) - When leading a ministry online, there are many differences from leading an in-person ministry. Don’t be fooled like many Pastors who, during COVID especially, decided it’s as simple as putting a video on your website. All while running church, as usual, in the building. Leading a ministry online adds several complexities since most of our - [5 Church Logo Ideas Free to Use for your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-church-logo-ideas-free-to-use-for-your-church-2-2/) - Are you looking for church logo ideas, free to use, that will help create a visual wrapper for your church brand? I want to help. First, let’s discuss overarching principles that will help you design a logo that will stand out and truly represent who you are as a ministry. Do you really need a - [Church, how to generate a QR code and 5 tips for using them](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-how-to-generate-a-qr-code-and-5-tips-for-using-them/) - The little bitmapped symbol is everywhere, but how do you generate a QR code? Even more, how does the church use them effectively? Or should they? The short answer is “yes!”. Here’s why. Basically, the QR code should be used any time you want to take the congregation to digital content from an analogue (in-person) - [3 Steps for a Pastor to Communicate in a Small Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-for-a-pastor-to-communicate-in-a-small-church/) - You’ve been called to communicate in a small church. This is no small task though! God works through you and your church to make a difference in the world. But often the role of informing the congregation is all-consuming since “regular attendance” has dropped to less than “regular”. How do you let people know about - [Your church doesn’t need a printed bulletin (3 reasons)](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-doesnt-need-a-printed-bulletin-3-reasons/) - Few good things came from COVID; except perhaps, many Pastors realized their church doesn’t need a printed bulletin. During that period of time, Churches couldn’t distribute printed bulletins because attendance went online; and when we returned, many stopped handing out printed materials. And the church didn’t fail because of it! But, if the church doesn’t - [3 Church Fundraising Ideas to Overcome Attention Challenges](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-fundraising-ideas-to-overcome-attention-challenges/) - Effective church fundraising ideas are required to capture people’s attention and have them willingly open their wallets in generosity. But there are many organizations requesting donations on a regular basis, and all those fundraising requests combine with other marketing messaging to become noise. Our world is full of marketing noise right now. And it’s impossible - [Church welcome time: 5 essentials to include](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-welcome-time-5-essentials-to-include/) - The church welcome time is so important in your church for three reasons: 1) to be friendly to regular attenders, 2) to demonstrate the way for members to be friendly to each other, and 3) to make guests feel appreciated for attending (so hopefully, they’ll return)! When your church welcome time occurs during the service - [3 Things People Need to Know about Your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-people-need-to-know-about-your-church/) - How can you tell the things people need to know about your church? Online communication, with the help of analytic data, shows what people are looking for. If the majority look in a specific place on a church website, then we can assume that most people want to know that information about you. And it’s - [4 Communication Essentials](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-communication-essentials/) - Getting your church communication essentials accomplished is critical. Why? Effective communication rises and falls on how well you know your audience. So, the necessary communication essentials for your church? Establish a foundation to know your audience! Churches actually have two audiences: internal and external. Those who know you well (congregation) and those who need to - [How to do a church welcome well (5 Tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-to-do-a-church-welcome-well-5-tips/) - It's important to know how to do a church welcome during a Sunday service. Welcoming visitors properly is the first step to creating longtime new church members. Church growth starts by making people welcome! Based on the many churches I’ve visited as a "mystery visitor", here are 5 tips for ensuring first-time guests feel welcome, - [Your Church Communication Strategy Checklist](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-communication-strategy-checklist/) - A church communication strategy checklist could be very long for most churches! In fact, trying to get communication correct (for any organization) is a customized, difficult task. Why? Because every church’s audience is quite different, with different needs. Combine that with the multiple ministries you can offer. It’s difficult to get all the pieces effectively - [Is Church Branding Scriptural?](https://beknownforsomething.com/is-church-branding-scriptural/) - Many pastors wonder, “is church branding scriptural?” It’s important to know! And a great question that stems from a misunderstanding of what branding is. Church branding is simply differentiating your church so you’re known for something that defines your ministry focus. It’s more than a name, denomination, mission, or vision statement. Instead, it allows someone - [Communication ideas: thinking outside of the (church) box](https://beknownforsomething.com/communication-ideas-thinking-outside-of-the-church-box/) - Thinking outside of the box has become another way to say “be creative”. How creative are you? What about your church members? If your members need to be more creative with ministry, there’s ways to properly communicate to them. And, when referring to ministry, many only think of activities happening inside the walls of their - [1 simple end-of-year church website fix](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-simple-end-of-year-church-website-fix/) - It’s a busy time with your church’s Christmas festivities but you should have time for a simple church website fix before the end of the year. Why? This one improvement will make your website instantly better. Your church website should be the center of all your communication. Most churches have correctly moved from relying on - [5 church email mistakes to avoid weekly](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-church-email-mistakes-to-avoid-weekly/) - Church email mistakes abound as weekly emails are sent from many churches. Why do weekly emails make sense? Here’s why: after keeping your website up-to-date with upcoming events and opportunities, you need a regular communication tool that reminds people of what’s available for them on your website. Therefore, church emails are an important tool for - [3 Ways to Say Merry Christmas to a Congregation](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-say-merry-christmas-to-a-congregation/) - Christmas is in a few weeks! In the hustle and bustle of the shopping season, we often hear many saying Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays but the more we hear it, the more the importance of it fades. When a church or pastor says it, is there a way to make it have a real - [Get Noticed! 6 Tips for naming your Church Christmas Event](https://beknownforsomething.com/get-noticed-6-tips-for-naming-your-church-christmas-event/) - The proper naming of your church Christmas event can determine its success. People attend Christmas events for many reasons (secular and spiritual) and the name will be the first thing to get their attention. And hopefully will compel them to come. Or at least, to allow your event to not be ignored with all the - [What should a church be known for? (4 critical things)](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-should-a-church-be-known-for-4-critical-things/) - Answering the question “what should a church be known for?” is the beginning of a thought process that has the potential for growing your church. Why? Today, everyone’s faced with the availability of too much information. So, communication noise forces people to ignore anything they perceive as unimportant or irrelevant. Sadly, local churches discover their - [Church budgets: 5 ways to save in communication](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-budgets-5-ways-to-save-in-communication/) - No church wants to hurt momentum while seeking to save money, and no one wants to waste God’s money. Yet the fact remains that most are looking for a productive communication strategy while striving to stay within church budgets. Is that possible? Here are 5 ways I’ve discovered over my decades of helping churches. Save - [3 Church Communication Myths](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-communication-myths-2/) - Church communication is a popular topic in the church world. But the expectations of how to fix communication are often overinflated. It’s not a cure-all. In fact, effective communication takes time as the correct messages are produced consistently. Producing the right messages takes talent and skill especially when consistency is required. Here are 3 church communication - [3 Church Communication Mistakes](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-communication-mistakes/) - Jesus shared the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew and Luke) because we need to weigh the cost of what we’re building and start with the proper foundation. The church today is scrambling to replicate communications from other churches. They see them spending money on something interesting, so they think they should do - [5 Practical Email Improvements](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-practical-email-improvements/) - Everyone uses email. The younger you are, and the older you are, the less you’ll rely on it; but almost everyone has an email they’re checking regularly. Although, thanks to texting and social media, people are using email differently. Most don’t like reading long emails, and they don’t like getting inundated with SPAM-looking emails. Therefore, - [Checklist: Create headlines that work (sermons, social, blogs)](https://beknownforsomething.com/checklist-create-headlines-that-work-sermons-social-blogs/) - Your job to create headlines that work is fairly clear but certainly not easy: put the right words together to describe your expanded content so it captures the interest of your audience. But write a “wrong” headline and you'll risk having your potential audience ignore the rest. And once an audience starts to ignore content, - [5 simple ways to communicate appreciation to your Pastor](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-simple-ways-to-communicate-appreciation-to-your-pastor/) - It’s good to communicate appreciation to your Pastor throughout the year. And since 1992, many churches have been celebrating October as Clergy Appreciation Month with the second Sunday of October becoming Pastor Appreciation Day more recently. It’s good to have it on your church calendar! Pastors need encouragement especially after COVID-19 scrambled the church world. - [4 Common Website Mistakes (with Simple Fixes)](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-common-website-mistakes-with-simple-fixes/) - Sadly, common website mistakes abound on church websites. And we’re called to better! Let’s correct these online errors so our audience will find solutions and discover what they need on our websites. Today, most prefer getting information from a website. They don’t want to carry around a printed bulletin or remember where they put it. - [Who else wants sermons that engage? (6 SEO solutions)](https://beknownforsomething.com/who-else-wants-sermons-that-engage-6-seo-solutions/) - Sermons that engage is the same goal communication leaders attempt through effective email subject lines and webpage headlines that get noticed. Why? Because open rates of emails teach us what motivates an audience to participate in communication. Much like getting an audience to stop and consume web content because of its headline. It’s an art - [How to Use Social Media as a Church (4 Struggles)](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-to-use-social-media-as-a-church-4-struggles/) - Social media, as a church, should be on every pastor’s list of communication channels. Why? Because half the world’s population uses social media. Social media should be part of making disciples of all nations, as we seek to answer the Great Commission properly (Matthew 28:16-20). Social media allows a church to reach two audiences: those - [3 Must-Learn Church Communication Lessons](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-must-learn-church-communication-lessons/) - It’s a great time to learn church communication lessons in order to get your congregation and community listening again. For years, the church has been talking in a way so many ignore our important message. No longer does the church have to rely on people visiting a building, getting a church bulletin, or driving by - [Communicate Collecting Church Offerings (3 Essentials)](https://beknownforsomething.com/communicate-collecting-church-offerings-4-essentials/) - If you’re trying to communicate the collecting of church offerings, don’t let your congregation down. Often in our services, the offering time has become relegated to a time for checking phones, the time for a musical selection, or seen as an abrupt interruption to the flow of worship. In other churches, it’s barely mentioned! Of - [5 Church Communication Strategy Ideas](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-church-communication-strategy-ideas/) - Looking for some church communication strategy ideas? We’re in the summer months on your church calendar, so vacation bible school’s probably over, and regular church ministry groups are somewhat paused for a much-needed break. It’s relatively quiet. However, fall anticipation is upon us. So, let’s use this time to get your church communication ready! Here - [4 surprisingly simple church website improvements](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-surprisingly-simple-church-website-improvements/) - Here are 4 church website improvements to add to the top of your to-do list. Why? We’ve moved from reliance on a print hub (ie. church bulletin) to a digital hub; therefore, we prefer getting information from a website rather than being forced to locate printed material. A church website is only a simple click - [6 Essential Church Branding Components](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-essential-church-branding-components/) - Church branding components are the essential ingredients to helping a church be known for something relevant and needed. In order to impact a community and connect them to the gospel. Being known for the right things are critical to having someone consider attending your church! These church branding components help shape the perception of an - [10 essential demographic questions for every church](https://beknownforsomething.com/10-essential-demographic-questions-for-every-church/) - Your church has essential demographic questions needing answers. Since effective communication engagement rises and falls on how well you know your audience, demographics are the foundation of understanding your community. Regularly discover your community through solid research. Where can you get a demographic study? Your Association or Convention may offer it to their local churches. - [Can’t afford to hire a church branding agency? Here are 7 DIY tips](https://beknownforsomething.com/cant-afford-to-hire-a-church-branding-agency-here-are-7-diy-tips/) - Church Branding 101 provides the basics with which you can do it yourself (DIY). Many churches can’t afford to hire an agency, nor do they have a qualified staff member, but they understand church branding is important. And it is! Remember, church branding is more than a logo: It’s understanding what you’re known for and - [6 revealing questions to ask your congregation regularly ](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-revealing-questions-to-ask-your-congregation-regularly/) - A pastor cannot go wrong by listening to the answers to these questions to ask your congregation. In fact, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of local ministry by processing what they reveal. But how do you regularly ask these revealing questions? There are at least two ways: Focus Groups: set up homogeneous groups based on - [STOP! 8 Church communication mistakes you’re probably doing](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-8-church-communication-mistakes-youre-probably-doing/) - Church communication mistakes abound. Today, effective church communication is a complex connection between ministry and audience. Many feel they’ve mastered it, but it’s often broken. Communication for a church used to be as simple as changing the church sign and maintaining a church bulletin. Now, it’s a complicated interconnection of channels and tools bombarding everyone - [3 steps to reach people not listening (it’s possible!)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-reach-people-not-listening-its-possible/) - If you want to reach people not listening, it feels like an overwhelming, impossible task! There are a few reasons people don’t listen: the world is noisy so, as a defense mechanism, they can’t listen to everything. Instead they pick and choose what they want. they also tune out messaging that’s beyond their shrinking attention - [Church Branding 101 (6 DIY evangelistic steps)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-branding-101-6-diy-evangelistic-steps/) - Church branding 101 are the basics that you can do-it-yourself (DIY). Many churches can’t afford to hire an agency, nor do they have someone qualified on staff, but they understand church branding is important. And it is! Remember, church branding is more than a logo. It’s understanding what you’re known for and deciding if that’s - [3 Roles of the Communication Director (paid or volunteer)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-roles-of-the-communication-director-paid-or-volunteer/) - Often roles of the communication director are discussed when communication goes wrong or the congregation isn’t aware of what’s going on. Even more importantly, when your community is ignoring ministry activity that should interest them. If the budget allows, it’s certainly worth hiring a part-time or full-time communication director to tackle this challenging job. Times - [4 Ways Church Branding will Evangelize the Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-church-branding-will-evangelize-the-community/) - Church branding will evangelize the community if done properly. As Christ-followers, we’re commanded to go into the world and make disciples; but for many, we drop the ball. So how can church branding help evangelism? An effective church branding process helps your members start the right conversations by focusing on community needs, concerns, and goals; - [Improve your Church Bulletin so they’ll read it (5 Tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/improve-your-church-bulletin-so-theyll-read-it-5-tips/) - Want to improve your church bulletin? So your printed worship guide will be wanted and needed? You have an uphill battle since the print medium is dying. The vast majority receiving a bulletin don’t read it. Most throw it away while some churches conveniently provide recycle bins to save the planet from the castaway printed - [How to communicate location change (or time change)](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-to-communicate-location-change-or-time-change/) - Churches occasionally need to communicate location change. Why? Because the only thing consistent in life is change. Church locations and times often need adjusting. Best case? A church is expanding because their location can’t fit the growing current or potential audience. If a new building isn’t viable for the budget, then adding services and restructuring - [How to get your church emails read (5 tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-to-get-your-church-emails-read-5-tips/) - Is it possible to get your church emails read since there are low open rates? Is there a trick to it? Yes. Most churches need to talk with their congregation throughout the week. Whether it’s to remind, promote, encourage, or motivate, churches want a regular way of communicating with their congregation. You just have to - [Your Church Website needs Spring Cleaning (4 Things)](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-website-needs-spring-cleaning-4-things/) - It’s website spring cleaning time! Like the way we do for our house when the weather warms and the showers arrive to clean the winter grime. So much needs attention even after a few months! Your church website has probably also picked up a ton of content over the fall ministry launches, Christmas busyness, and - [Pastor, be heard more: 5 Tips for Church Videos ](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-be-heard-more-5-tips-for-church-videos/) - Pastor, videos may be the solution you didn’t know you need. Often social media popularity helps us see what attracts and holds people’s attention. A 2021 Pew Survey revealed the social media channel that dominates: YouTube (an online collection of videos about everything-under-the-sun including church videos) has captured 81% of Americans (95% of 18-29 year - [3 differences between preaching in a room and preaching online](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-differences-between-preaching-in-a-room-and-preaching-online/) - Pastor, there’s differences between preaching in a room and preaching online. You understand, because the last few years has been a challenge! For hundreds of years we’ve been communicating to people, in real life (IRL), in a room. Growing that audience has been a challenge throughout our history but we’ve gone into the highways and - [4 Crucial Tips to Communicate Missions Better in Your Church  ](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-crucial-tips-to-communicate-missions-better-in-your-church/) - Do you communicate missions enough in your church? As Believers, missions is important to us. But is it to each person who attends your church? Perhaps you think you’re communicating it properly but there are 4 crucial tips to communicate missions better in your local church: Make it personal. Missions can’t primarily be about you - [Use AVL to establish your church brand! (4 ways)](https://beknownforsomething.com/use-avl-to-establish-your-church-brand-4-ways/) - Yes, you can use AVL to establish your church brand! In fact, it’s required! Since church branding is about controlling what your church is known for, AVL controls the senses around that church brand. In fact, it’s AVL control that solidifies the church brand, and allows it to “stick” longer in our memories. A church - [Your Community Isn’t Listening to Your Church (3 Reasons)](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-community-isnt-listening-to-your-church-3-reasons/) - “The community isn’t listening to my church” is a difficult statement many Pastors exclaim. Is it that the church message is wrong? Is it that people don’t want spiritual truth? Or are there other reasons the community isn’t listening? It’s important to make sure your gospel message isn’t ignored. Often the church can be blamed - [3 Cautions: Controlling Your Church Perception](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-cautions-controlling-your-church-perception/) - Your Church perception matters. What you’re known for is critical if you want people to pay attention to you, engage with you, or believe what you say. Did you know you can control church perception? It’s called church marketing. No, it’s not evil or sinful. It’s not about getting profits or gaining power. Instead it’s - [4 Simple Steps So Your Church is Known for Something](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-simple-steps-so-your-church-is-known-for-something/) - Being known for something is important for a church. And it’s even more important to be known for the right things! The steps are pretty simple; and I actually started learning them when I was young. I grew up near an elementary school and our yard became the cut-through where kids would walk through it - [7 Habits of Highly Effective Church Communicators](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-habits-of-highly-effective-church-communicators/) - The habits of highly effective church communicators are actions regularly practiced in churches so they become routine. This year, Pastors and communicators don’t know what the year will hold but I can guarantee one thing: you’ll need to hone your communication skills and your communication strategy. People are listening less and less. The digital age - [4 Church Focus Group Questions (Surprising Answers) ](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-church-focus-group-questions-surprising-answers/) - Focus group questions can help prove your love for a church audience. To get to know your audience, focus groups are excellent. And, with an outside consultant facilitating, your groups will feel anonymous enough to share genuine feelings. Having conducted many focus groups over the years, there are 4 focus group questions that reveal a - [4 Critical Church Website Changes Required in 2022](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-critical-church-website-changes-required-in-2022/) - There are four church website changes (or updates) to prepare your church digitally for the New Year. In this complex church communication world, many Pastors aren’t sure where to start with the plethora of channels and tools: social media, website, email campaigns, bulletins, etc. So why should you start with the website? We know the - [3 Cardinal Rules to Attract a Crowd from any Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-cardinal-rules-to-attract-a-crowd-from-any-community/) - Do you attract a crowd? “Go into the highways and byways and compel them to come in.” from Luke 14 rings in your ears. You want to reach people. But is your church compelling to your highways and byways (your community)? There are 3 cardinal rules to attract a crowd. Surprisingly, these foundational rules apply - [5 Ways a SEO Focus Phrase Improves a Church Sermon](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-a-seo-focus-phrase-improves-a-church-sermon/) - A focus phrase is an important SEO (Search Engine Optimization) principle. People go to Google (or similar) looking for solutions, and since Google must deliver results quickly and effectively, they’ve developed content rules based entirely on how we search. Follow these rules so people get exactly what they’re seeking. It keeps people happy! Content expectations - [A New Year: Communication Updates (For Now)!](https://beknownforsomething.com/a-new-year-communication-updates-for-now/) - Communication updates are essential for your church. The new year is a great time to remember to check your church brand, your communication tools, and your communication content. And then improve as needed. BONUS: assess your communication strategy. Like the best resolutions, don’t attempt too many communication updates all at once. Instead, methodically use new - [5 Ways Church Vision & Mission Statements Fail You.](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-church-vision-mission-statements-fail-you/) - Most pastors understand the importance of their church vision and mission. These statements hold key church leadership onto a path with a clear destination. They’re critical! Most churches invest into several months of internal investigation, soul-searching, and artistic crafting, in order to pen the perfect vision and mission statements. Some even itemize values to coordinate - [Yikes! 5 Things Pastors Aren’t Saying. And Should (Weekly)](https://beknownforsomething.com/yikes-5-things-pastors-arent-saying-and-should-weekly/) - I understand. It’s difficult to talk about things Pastors aren’t saying since they juggle so much! They’re responsible for delivering weekly Biblical messages, leadership of staff and volunteers, engaging the congregation, and studying on top of that. Plus, many other tasks go unnoticed too! The time the Pastor spends as the on-stage church communicator is - [Cheap Church Branding: Why a Knockoff Brand Doesn't Work.](https://beknownforsomething.com/cheap-church-branding-why-a-knockoff-brand-doesnt-work/) - Don’t be a knockoff brand. It rarely works as you’d think it would. Especially for a church! But isn’t the Oscar Wilde quote, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” true? Well, from the imitated vantage it is. You probably want people to imitate you! But for the brand imitator, it usually falls flat (and - [Who Else Wants a Web Visitor to Attend a Church Service?](https://beknownforsomething.com/who-else-wants-a-web-visitor-to-attend-a-church-service-heres-what-to-consider/) - Effective marketing, promotion, or advertising is designed to motivate someone to improve, acquire, or move. Often to get people into your store. Now the world is changing. Many businesses and organizations understand that getting someone through their doors is not the ultimate end goal. Why? Because, over the last decade (and especially during COVID), we’ve - [The Basics: What’s a Communication Strategy?](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-basics-whats-a-communication-strategy/) - A communication strategy is essential. When left uncontrolled, church communication spirals into “we do what’s right in everyone’s mind”. And when every ministry runs its own communication playbook, it creates a chaotic, noisy, and ineffective stream of messaging that’s ignored. Your communication must be controlled by a pre-determined and pre-approved communication strategy that calms messaging. - [Leaders: 5 Critical Things You Must Say Every Time](https://beknownforsomething.com/leaders-5-critical-things-you-must-say-every-time/) - Many are talking. This communication noise distracts from hearing you or even wanting to listen to your message. Being a leader is tough. Perhaps you’re a Pastor, a speaker, a consultant, or a salesperson. You need to encourage people to want to listen to you. Or they’ll ignore you as part of a noise defense - [Church: Are You Viewed as a Commodity? Fix That (4 Steps)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-are-you-viewed-as-a-commodity-fix-that-4-steps/) - A commodity is a product that’s indistinguishable from the many others available. In the commercial world, commodities are chosen based on price rather than quality. It’s not what a church should be known for: “just another church”. Is your church viewed as a commodity? Are you perceived like other churches in the area? Does Google - [Click Here: The World’s Best Church Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/click-here-the-worlds-best-church-website/) - Speaking at national and regional church conferences keeps us busy! As we lead informative and practical keynotes, sessions, and workshops, we have QnA time so we can 1) clarify what’s been discussed, and 2) understand the needs that exist in churches (our target audience). One of the most-asked questions during our Church Communication sessions? “What’s - [5 Cautions for Churches with Wordpress Websites](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-cautions-for-churches-with-wordpress-websites/) - Congratulations! Choosing to create your church website on Wordpress means you’re using the very popular church content management system (CMS) that’s open source, free (non-proprietary), and highly adaptable. We highly recommend it for creating and maintaining your church website! But before you celebrate too much, remember a church website is never done. Your content must - [Every step needed: to create an effective church brand ](https://beknownforsomething.com/every-step-needed-to-create-an-effective-church-brand/) - Church branding is not rocket science. But from the scarcity of effective church brands, you’d think it was! From our decades of creating church brands that engage with the community (while informing the congregation), we’re taking on the task of listing EVERY step needed to establish a Church Brand. There are 7. The perfect number - [Branding should make sense (5 senses to be exact) ](https://beknownforsomething.com/branding-should-make-sense-5-senses-to-be-exact/) - As we go through life, we identify things through some or all of our senses. The average human has 5 senses to assist us. If a brand is what you’re known for, you need to ensure your brand focuses on as many senses as possible. And controlling them so your audience instantly recognizes you. Can - [Say no more (4 ways the church talks too much)](https://beknownforsomething.com/say-no-more-4-ways-the-church-talks-too-much/) - Many believe a communicator is someone who can craft a story, engage an audience, and/or supply content with solutions to an audience with concerns. Well, they may do all of those things and more. But I believe a real-effective church communicator knows what NOT to say! Almost everyone knows how to be wordy and undisciplined - [7 Steps Every Church Graphic Needs Before Using Them](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-steps-every-church-graphic-needs-before-using-them/) - You post church graphics on social media and your church website. Many use them in video/projected announcements. Even bulletins and sermon series occasionally need them! But do you struggle with designing them so they’re effective? Maybe you don’t consider you’re a designer. Another issue: perhaps your church graphics are provided through curriculum, free or subscribed - [4 Reasons a Church App won’t solve your Communication Issues](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-reasons-a-church-app-wont-solve-your-communication-issues/) - “Our church needs an app!”, I often hear. I cringe. When this is exclaimed, it’s THE thing that will fix all their church communication. But a Church App probably won’t solve your communication issues. After working with churches for 2 decades, I usually look no farther than the website to see if the church is - [What’s your 1, 2, 3? Essential: Design Hierarchy](https://beknownforsomething.com/whats-your-1-2-3-essential-design-hierarchy/) - We prefer order over disorder. We love hearing a sermon if we understand the simple outline. We also prefer a list of things as long as we understand it's overarching topic. But when presenting anything in a series, there is a universal serial effect. The first and last items are best remembered. This happens naturally - [4 Rarely-Used Church Communication Tasks (Start!)](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-rarely-used-church-communication-tasks-start/) - All churches are communicating. A lot. But are people listening? Sadly, most of the communication coming from churches today is ignored: by the congregation (internal audience) and community (external audience). Yikes. Let’s stop that. The gospel is so important, we NEED to ensure people will listen and engage. These 4 rarely-used church communication tasks are - [Church: Write Your Headline or be Ignored (4 Tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-write-your-headline-or-be-ignored-4-tips/) - A quick glance at social media and we know the majority of our community likes reading a headline and not bothering to read the entire story. So for most posts, the headline IS the story. Why? Because we have too many stories in our social feeds. And far too much information in our lives to - [Don’t Forget Font Fences (7 Branding Guide Tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/dont-forget-font-fences-7-branding-guide-tips/) - We need to be known for consistent visual cues. That visual brand guidance is critical! So you need a brand standard or branding guide document that creates fences for your creative branding playground. Similar to the chainlink fences around a busy children’s playground; a brand guide protects the fun that goes on within the creative - [20 Surprising Things From 20 Yrs of Church Branding (Part 2)](https://beknownforsomething.com/20-surprising-things-from-20-yrs-of-church-branding-part-2/) - Here are the final 10 of the 20 other surprising things I learned over the 20 years since starting my Be Known for Something agency for church branding and communication strategy. Wait. You missed the first 10? They’re posted here. Focus is lacking in most churches. Along the way, churches started believing they need to - [20 Surprising Things From 20 Yrs of Church Branding (Part 1)](https://beknownforsomething.com/20-surprising-things-from-20-years-of-church-branding-pt-1/) - August 2001, 20 years ago, a very naive Canadian moved from a big secular agency job to the US to work for churches. I was switching audiences: Canadian to American and businesses to churches. Why was I naive? Because I didn’t fully understand that the church focus would be quite different. Here are 20 other - [11 Clues: Your Church Website Sucks (FIX Them) - part 2](https://beknownforsomething.com/11-clues-your-church-website-sucks-fix-them-part-2/) - Your church website is critical for your digital hub communication strategy. If your church website sucks, your communication strategy probably struggles too. Want to improve? This completes our 11 clues. Read the first 5 clues here. Your church management system (CMS) is restrictive. The website infrastructure system (discussed in #5) is your CMS. You should be - [11 Clues: Your Church Website Sucks (FIX Them) part 1](https://beknownforsomething.com/11-clues-your-church-website-sucks-fix-them-part-1/) - It’s pretty simple, we live in a digital world. People rely heavily on the internet to provide information. That’s why your church website is critical for your digital hub communication strategy. If your church website sucks, your communication strategy probably struggles too. Want to improve? Check these 11 clues to assess how you’re doing — and - [The Best Time to Launch your New Thread (7 Factors)](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-best-time-to-launch-your-new-thread-7-factors/) - You’ve invested research and creativity time discovering your church thread. This is huge! No one will fully understand how much is packed in your simple brand story. Or the work that went into it. Until you unpack it. But it’s worth it. It will reconnect you to your community and congregation and help them engage - [5 Communication Mistakes for Launching Church Branding](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-communication-mistakes-for-launching-church-branding/) - Launching a new church brand (or brand) is done for many reasons. The best reason? You’re connecting less with your congregation or your community. Your perception has become ignorable. Done properly, church rebranding/branding provides a revitalized reconnection to a potential group. Completing the components correctly with a well-planned launch is critical to your success. Remember, - [Shhhh....... 5 Secrets about Church Branding](https://beknownforsomething.com/shhhh-5-secrets-about-church-branding/) - Imagine having the opportunity to talk with a church branding expert with decades of experience. Having a conversation about things that most people don’t understand. I wish I had had that relationship back when I got started in the industry. Perhaps I could’ve but was too focused on design, logos, fonts, and the latest software. - [5 Summer Church Communication To-do Items](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-summer-church-communication-to-do-items/) - Summer’s just around the corner! This month should be an exciting time after a crazy ministry year and getting past Easter and Mother’s Day. There’s some time to breathe! I hope you feel fulfilled. Simon Sinek has said, “Excitement comes from the achievement. Fulfillment comes from the journey that got us there.” If you’re like - [Being Known for Workplace Joy](https://beknownforsomething.com/being-known-for-workplace-joy/) - I landed my first job in 1980. It was at a soup and sandwich restaurant in a local mall. I thought I had gained independence (along with joy) because of the money I pocketed. But is a salary what creates joy? I later learned it’s not. My full time career positions started in 1986; and - [4 Reasons You DON’T Need New Church Branding](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-reasons-you-dont-need-new-church-branding/) - Don’t you hate when you ask a salesperson if you need their product (or service) and they quickly launch into all the reasons you (of course) need it? Forgetting to ask anything about you? They just presume the worst! I’m not like that. At Be Known for Something (and in my 20-yr Church Branding consulting - [5 Steps to a Missional Church Brand that Attracts](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-steps-to-a-missional-church-brand-that-attracts/) - Believers are called to fellowship (Heb 10:25) and encourage one another. Our local churches become our family. But if we focus internally only, our churches will never grow. We’re called to more. Church branding is simply being known for something relevant and needed to a specific group. Something that’s reliable and recognizable — the heart - [81% Use This Online Platform; Is Your Church On It? ](https://beknownforsomething.com/81-use-this-online-platform-is-your-church-on-it/) - In our fragmented world today, we rarely have 81% of American’s doing similar things. There are so many choices for an online platform! And the internet has given us access to all the choices. It used to be that we’d have commonality in what we watched when we had limited channels to watch. Now, I - [Church, Scratch an Itch (3 Steps to solve a concern)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-scratch-an-itch-3-steps-solve-a-concern/) - I’ve broken both arms. Not at the same time but in separate accidents (involving a tree house first and then a bicycle). Both falls resulted in broken bones requiring casts. I can remember how aggravating it was to have an itch deep inside the cast and not have the ability to reach it. I would - [Effective Church Communications Requires This](https://beknownforsomething.com/effective-church-communications-requires-this/) - The other day I drove up to the little drive-thru speaker, paused while trying to make my ordering decision, and a garbled voice asked to take my order. I think. I politely said, “I’m sorry, I’m not quite ready yet”. There was another incoherent reply. After a few seconds, I questioned aloud, “Hello?” and got - [2 Symptoms of Deep Communication Issues](https://beknownforsomething.com/2-symptoms-of-deep-communication-issues/) - I like indoor plants. They supposedly clean the air with big health benefits, but I really just like the way they look. In a room of hard edges, plants soften the look of a room. I monitor their growth, prune, water and fertilize them as I need to. Occasionally as I’m tending to them, I - [5 Important Ways to Weave a Church Branding Thread](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-important-ways-to-weave-a-church-branding-thread/) - Every church needs to be known for something (a branding thread) that makes them relevant and needed. This doesn’t happen randomly! It needs to be managed by you. Because, without control, your organization becomes known for too many different things; and you become known for a lot of noise. Plus, you can’t control messaging so - [The Beginner’s Guide to Church Websites (4 Steps)](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-beginners-guide-to-church-websites-4-steps/) - There are many communication channels for your church. You can talk from the stage, in your bulletin, through text or email messaging, on one or all social media channels, and your church websites. What matters most? That you communicate where most in your congregation have access to — and where your community can discover you. - [Church Communication Essentials to COMMcentrate on (6 Things)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-essentials-to-commcentrate-on-6-things/) - Squirrel! Better chase it! Wow, there’s many distractions and options when thinking about church communication essentials. Focus is the key. And that COMMcentration (ChurchCOMM concentration) is required for a church to become noticed. Each person in your community and congregation has a lot of competition for thoughts and actions too. The shotgun approach rarely works. - [Develop Your Church Website by Doing These 3 Things](https://beknownforsomething.com/develop-your-church-website-by-doing-these-3-things/) - You’re trying to achieve a great online presence and develop your church website. You’re looking at other websites and wondering why they’re so informative and entertaining. You even get pulled into clicking around and finding several things that capture your interest. Why can’t you? Why does your website feel lackluster?! It’s not as simple as - [Church Trifecta: Benefits, Expectations, Consistency ](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-trifecta-benefits-expectations-consistency/) - I love to eat. And I especially enjoy experiencing food from new places. But, I’m sure you agree, it’s difficult to choose new restaurants without relying heavily on recommendations. Many things can go wrong at restaurants! Bad service, subpar food, dirty environment, long lines and an unappealing menu. They need to juggle everything properly or - [Channel Preference: How Most Want Communication Content](https://beknownforsomething.com/channel-preference-how-most-want-communication-content/) - Imagine establishing a restaurant. You’re aware that most in your community like hamburgers. But you decide to offer only hot dogs instead. Think they’ll understand? It’s difficult to keep people happy if you don’t provide what they’re looking for. Your congregation and community consumes communication content a certain way (a channel). Over time it’s become - [Building a Website? Don’t Forget this 1 Surprising Thing](https://beknownforsomething.com/building-a-website-dont-forget-this-1-surprising-thing/) - We live in an online world. According to research by USC Annenberg, average internet consumption has jumped from 9.4 hours (2000) to 23.6 hours currently. Most of this increase is because of our insatiable urge to not miss out. Plus the fact we have mobile devices constantly near us. According to the same study, the - [7 Warning Signs Your Church Needs Branding Help. Now.](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-warning-signs-your-church-needs-branding-help-now/) - “You mean our church logo, right?” No. Your brand is more than a logo. It’s the emotional aftertaste of an offered product or service. What you’re known for. Something that’ll bring a particular audience back. Sure, your logo is a visual representation of that promise but it’s not your brand. Does your church have a - [3 Tips for Winning with Communication Goals](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-tips-for-winning-with-communication-goals/) - I confess. I love setting communication goals. It grounds and focuses me — and let’s me know if I’m winning. It’s the difference between practicing a golf swing without a ball. Or even worse? Without a hole. Imagine if Topgolf didn’t have targets. Or if a driving range didn’t have markers indicating distance. We all - [Does Your Community Know Your Church? (5 Questions)](https://beknownforsomething.com/does-your-community-know-your-church-5-questions/) - One of the opportunities I do in the church world is being a Mystery Visitor. This is when a church asks me to experience and report about a first-time visit. I start with a good demographic report of the community. From that, I know who the church needs to reach (and see if the church - [5 Communication Knowns about the Year of Unknowns (2021)](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-communication-knowns-about-the-year-of-unknowns-2021/) - 2020 has proven that the only consistency in life is that we should expect change. And our definition of “change” certainly broadened in the last 12 months! Looking to 2021, we know that we don’t know. It’ll be a year of unknowns. After working 30+ years in communication, here are 5 things that we DO - [5 Critical Questions to Improve Your Church Communication](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-critical-questions-to-improve-your-church-communication/) - In school, test questions check the student’s knowledge like a good test will improve your church communication. An instructor guides the questions and skillfully contracts them. Once we graduate and get into the working world, we often don’t have someone who’s asking the right questions, so we end up doing what we think is correct. - [STOP COPYING: Do These 3 Things Instead](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-copying-do-these-3-things-instead/) - Communicators have a high expectation of creativity. In planning, concept, design, and execution. Maybe, we should also toss in “mind-reading” to fill the rest of a communicator’s creative thoughts. We also don’t live in a closed microcosm either. While we’re juggling our many tasks, everyone on staff (along with us) see other amazing church communications. - [3 Unlikely (but Essential) Ways to Communicate Generosity](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-unlikely-but-essential-ways-to-communicate-generosity/) - God, in scripture, demonstrates unlikely generosity. In 1 Kings, we enter Elijah’s world that was being punished with drought. The perfect time for God to shine since He loves to provide in a time of need. Instead of God doing a miracle Himself, He introduces His prophet. God loves to use His people. God tells - [Church! 3 Communication Things Learned from a Birthday Mistake](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-3-communication-things-learned-from-a-birthday-mistake/) - Another birthday in the books. It’s done. Before the celebration I googled all the restaurants that offer something free for a birthday and signed up for about 20. Yes, as promised, I got emails from each giving me their totally free product (from ice cream, dessert, meals, burgers, etc.). I’ve gained weight trying to eat - [Caution: Church Avoid Category Exhaustion! (5 Ways)](https://beknownforsomething.com/caution-church-avoid-category-exhaustion-5-ways/) - An attractive church brand is known for something that’s beneficial. Of course a church is needed because it speaks to our spiritual deficits. Plus it’s a fellowship of Christ-followers who wrestle with similar issues all while loving neighbors as Christ loved us. But everyone doesn’t know that. Jesus said we’d be known for having love - [STOP: 14-Minute Church Communication Checkup](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-14-minute-church-communication-checkup/) - We all need a checkup every now and again. I visited my doctor this week and I was amazed how simple the basic questions we’re they used to get a baseline of my health. But they work. Your church needs to pause and take a checkup to see the health of your communication. Each question - [5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Graduated from College](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-things-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-graduated-from-college/) - I was interviewed for a college webinar about church communication. After a lively discussion with the Integrated Marketing Communication professor, he made me pause with his final question: “Many college students are listening to you. What do you wish you knew then that you know now?” Here are the 5 things that came to mind: - [3 Biggest (and Prevalent) Church Communication Fails](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-biggest-and-prevalent-church-communication-fails/) - Everyone wants success in their jobs and ministries. It’s the reward for their hard work! To get success, it’s often discovering what is failing and fixing the issues. Church Communication is a very complex, ever-changing ministry (note I didn’t say support role) that requires constant attention, juggling, and fixing. Here are 3 failures that many - [3 Ways to Simplify Church Content (To Get It Noticed)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-simplify-church-content-to-get-it-noticed/) - Attention spans are incredibly low. And dropping. People stop listening and paying attention a lot sooner than you’d expect! Why? Because we have so much communication noise all around us. Every moment there’s so many things competing for our time. Our phones, alone, have dozens of options competing for our attention. There’s no way we - [5 Ways to Guarantee Church Communication Failure](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-to-guarantee-church-communication-failure/) - I normally try to be positive. Much like many of you as you take the Gospel to your community. That’s positive! Being known FOR something is important for communication acceptance. However, after decades of working with Pastors and communication ministry experts, I understand things that happen in our church that almost certainly cause our Church - [3 Drastic Changes the Church Must Understand Now](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-drastic-changes-the-church-must-understand-now/) - In the popular book (from a couple of decades ago), “Who moved my cheese” the mice got complacent in their maze since they knew where the cheese was located. Then the cheese started to run out. So the smart mice set out to discover a new supply of cheese. Similarly, the Church finds itself in - [For Mobile Viewing, Ensure 3 Things on Your Church Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/for-mobile-viewing-ensure-3-things-on-your-church-website/) - The little screens we carry around in our pockets have changed everything. Because of its proximity, we tend to jump on a mobile web browser far sooner than walking to our desktop computer, sitting down and calling up a website. More and more we’re doing everything digital on our phones! But don’t take my word - [3 Quick Fixes for Your Church Website (Get Started Now!)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-quick-fixes-for-your-church-website-get-started-now/) - Things you should consider when tackling your website? Speed to content. People want to discover what they’re looking for, as quickly as possible, and have it delivered exactly how they want it. Simple, eh? Not so fast. To do this, you’ll need to identify who your typical web viewer is, what their needs are, and - [WARNING. Avoid the TL;DR Curse. 5 Ways How:](https://beknownforsomething.com/warning-avoid-the-tldr-curse-5-ways-how/) - Social media has changed us. Or maybe it’s just exposed things we’ve kept secretive (but thought of regularly). On social media, we love to use fun acronyms or abbreviations to state the obvious for the masses. If something is humorous, we use LOL (laugh out loud). Or if someone oversteps or meddles, we use MYOB - [7 Design Tests for Effective Church Communication](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-design-tests-for-effective-church-communication/) - Many organizations try to communicate with their audience every day (design tests this!). A ton of messages! This noise causes people to choose whether to engage with content or simply ignore it because it doesn’t interest them. And all of this is done very quickly. Your church is in the middle of this noise trying - [Every Church: 5 Social Content Ideas From Every Sermon](https://beknownforsomething.com/every-church-5-social-content-ideas-from-every-sermon/) - Church communication is NOT all about the tools. It’s more about content. It’s like saying that every church needs a Sunday service but not creating engaging components in the service. Your church needs to build content regularly that engages your congregation and attracts your community (when they are considering a local church). How does someone - [6 Steps to Make Web or Social Content More Interesting](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-steps-to-make-web-or-social-content-more-interesting/) - So you have a website or social media account and you get content for pages and/or posts. But everything seems a bit boring and uninteresting. It’s understandable though. Why? Because most people don’t know how to write for online consumption. Every piece of content needs an improvement process before it gets posted. It all starts - [Every Church Needs a Thread (4 Reasons)](https://beknownforsomething.com/every-church-needs-a-thread/) - We live in a crazy loud world (that's why every church needs a thread). A world that’s decided it doesn’t “need” a church. That’s perhaps understandable for your non-churched community, but our congregations are also slowly deciding to attend only occasionally. Most local churches are experiencing a decline in attendance. In our loud world, we - [Why a Church needs Marketing (4 Reasons)](https://beknownforsomething.com/why-a-church-needs-marketing-4-reasons/) - “We don’t need marketing, we’re a church!”, said the Pastor. Sure, it was awhile ago but it was said with such intensity that it rattled me. Is marketing wrong? Does the Church need marketing? The short answer: YES! Many people think that marketing is just for businesses and leads to profitability. Well, maybe it does - [Do You Know These 3 Things about Your Community?](https://beknownforsomething.com/do-you-know-these-3-things-about-your-community/) - Effective communication rises and falls on how well you know your audience. For the church you have 2 audiences: internal and external (congregation and community). Most of you (hopefully) understand your congregation because they regularly let you know what they like and dislike. Plus you meet with them every week or so. But if you - [Your Church Mission (and Vision) Needs a Conversion](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-mission-and-vision-needs-a-conversion/) - I love Chick Fil-A. In fact I regularly drive out of my way to get to their restaurant. My favorite thing to order? A Chicken Sandwich. While driving, I start thinking how amazing everything will taste. The perfect combination of a soft bun with rich buttery flavor, the crispy moist fried chicken, that’s topped with - [A Surprising, Often-Overlooked Church Communication Tool](https://beknownforsomething.com/a-surprising-often-overlooked-church-communication-tool/) - There’s nothing worse than discovering a problem that requires a specific tool; and the tool isn’t quickly available. In fact, availability is the essential requirement for all tools! Multi-functioning tools are even better — they accomplish so much and take up less room. Almost everyone has a multi-functioning church communication tool in their pocket. It’s - [Test: Is Your Logo a Good Visual Brand? (7 Questions)](https://beknownforsomething.com/test-is-your-logo-a-good-visual-brand-7-questions/) - All great brands have memorable logos. Your thread, positioning statement, or tagline, is REALLY your brand — but a logo is critical in our visual world. That symbol and stylized words quickly attract attention, remind of what you’re known for, and establish a link to an emotion, trend, or style. So every church needs a - [5 Website Issues Your Congregation Find Annoying](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-website-issues-your-congregation-find-annoying/) - A few weeks ago I heard a Pastor say that I needed to visit their website for some information. I thought, “Yes! A pastor is promoting their website!” and it was about something that actually interested me. Before I would forget it, I pulled my phone out to discover the information. And then the frustration - [Pastor: 3 Essentials for Your Website Bio](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-3-essentials-for-your-website-bio/) - Your congregation visits your website more than your community will. But both audiences are important. And where they look on your website is critical since both audiences look for different reasons. Often your congregation clicks on your staff (or leadership) page to identify who’s in charge, additional personal details, and how to directly contact you. - [Signs that Your Church Brand isn’t Working](https://beknownforsomething.com/signs-that-your-church-brand-isnt-working/) - What exactly is a church brand? It’s more than your logo — although your visual brand is the “outfit” your church brand wears. So what is it then? It’s the controlled promise (or story) that is consistently spoken so your congregation understands why they attend. It should be compelling, needed, and relevant. And your logo - [6 Essentials for Launching a New Church Brand](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-essentials-for-launching-a-new-church-brand/) - Church leadership has determined they want a new church brand. You’ve worked with a professional to build it (I hope). This is huge! It’s like updating your wardrobe so you’re known for something different than now. Changing perception of who you are. A new wrapper around all ministries. If you don’t understand the importance of - [Are Church Emails Worth the Effort?](https://beknownforsomething.com/are-church-emails-worth-the-effort/) - A church recently lamented that they only have a 14% open rate for their emails. Plus their click-through rate was extremely low. Their church communicator was wondering, “is it worth the effort?” It’s a great question. It’s a bigger issue though. Much like a parent who’s telling their teenager something, if the teen doesn’t appear - [5 Places the Church Talks Too Much (Stop It)](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-places-the-church-talks-too-much-stop-it/) - Interestingly, in order to effectively communicate, the church needs to stop talking before the congregation (or community) stops listening. Or we’re just wasting our time! It’s crazy how short the average attention span has gotten all while we drone on and on. Here are 5 (somewhat unexpected) locations that deserve a good hearty edit. Is - [6 Steps to a Great Church Video](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-steps-to-a-great-church-video/) - People love church videos. If your church communication does not contain video, you need to start considering how to add it to your mix. But it’s difficult! Writing is simple compared to good photography but a video adds even more complexity that’s very difficult to master. In order to shoot and edit a great church - [Best Practices: 6 Steps for Communication Approvals](https://beknownforsomething.com/best-practices-6-steps-for-communication-approvals/) - The role of communication approvals encompasses every ministry detail in your church. An effective communication director will need to juggle many details for a ton of events and materials. Your church communication strategy. Because they need to send projects to the printer, the website or posting to social channels, the approval process needs to be - [7 Building Blocks for Church Social Media Success](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-building-blocks-for-church-social-media-success/) - It’s difficult to believe we’ve had social media for almost two decades. We once wondered if it would have staying power — and now we question if we use it too much! It’s become the “normal” way we keep in touch and the best way to build a following (outside of our physical world). You - [Is Branding Too Perfect for an Imperfect Church?](https://beknownforsomething.com/is-branding-too-perfect-for-an-imperfect-church/) - Recently someone tweeted “Branding is for products. Also for Cattle. People aren’t products.” and implied that a church (of people) shouldn’t brand themselves but instead be “wild, weird, and ever-changing”. Is the church (known for being sinners saved by grace) too imperfect to brand themselves perfectly? The false premise to this question is that a - [Social Media Isn’t Easy: Here are 5 Reasons Why](https://beknownforsomething.com/social-media-isnt-easy-here-are-5-reasons-why/) - Church is about fellowship (which by definition is social). And social media is simply a (mostly free) communication channel that has millions of potential followers on it. Because of this, it’s an excellent way to extend your ministry reach while being involved in the daily lives of your members. So why do many churches struggle - [Why a Church Naturally Does Social Media Well. But Doesn’t.](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-naturally-social-media-well-doesnt-2/) - It’s been several years since we realized social media is a valid means of church communication. Many have adopted Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as their channels. Some have been brave by using SnapChat, Pinterest, and Linkedin. And there are so many others! Which channels should the church be using? Surprisingly, the church should actually be - [How to Resurrect a Church Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-to-resurrect-a-church-website/) - Easter’s has come and spring is hopefully taking hold near you. New life is everywhere (especially as we emphasize the Gospel). Now, it’s time to resurrect your church’s website. Please! If you created your website (and it still looks similar) more than 3 years ago, it’s dying. And if you’re not updating your website content - [All your church NEEDS for Easter](https://beknownforsomething.com/all-your-church-needs-for-easter/) - All your church needs for Easter? Before quickly answering, consider this: I grew up in the church; you probably did too. But the sobering news is that about a third of our communities have no connection with a church. Does that mean 2/3s are fully connected? No. We know that even though someone knows about - [Last Minute Easter Communication Checklist](https://beknownforsomething.com/last-minute-easter-communication-checklist/) - The big day is arriving soon. Everyone is in a full court press. Leadership is making last minute adjustments and you’ve not worked so many hours… since last Easter. So, what more needs to be done? You may be asking, “I have more things to do other than my crazy to-do list?!”. All church comm - [Spend a Ton of Time on Your Website to Save a Ton of Time](https://beknownforsomething.com/spend-a-ton-of-time-on-your-website-to-save-a-ton-of-time/) - For 30+ years I’ve worked in communication with about half that time working with websites. Over the last 10 years I’ve spent a ton of time helping others work with their websites as they’ve developed a website-centric communication hub. This past year as Communication Strategist of a statewide denomination, I’ve gotten deep in the weeds - [Why Your Church Communication (Probably) Isn't Working](https://beknownforsomething.com/why-your-church-communication-probably-isnt-working/) - So, your church communication isn’t working like you think it should. Perhaps your congregation attendance is shrinking or many of them don’t know about the important ministry events. Sure, it could be communication staff issues, ministry problems, bad design, a lackluster reputation, or many other issues that could be blamed. But ultimately what decides if - [Church Communication Role: Leadership or Support Services?](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-role-leadership-or-support-services/) - Historically, local churches have divided staff into two areas: the called ministry leadership (who come up with ministry ideas) and talented support-services people (often called Ministry Assistants, Secretaries, etc. who help finish the ideas without much input). Where does the Communication Role find itself? Decades ago, Church Communication was much simpler. It was basically changing - [Spring Clean Your Website Communication (5 Tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/spring-clean-your-website-communication-5-tips/) - You’re busy. You juggle a ton of details and maybe even manage a group of chaotic people. And that’s in your personal life! Then you duplicate that in your ministry life and it doesn’t leave much time for anything else. On top of that, you know you should keep up with the news cycles, your - [3 Symptoms You Have Ministry Silos (How to Fix Them)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-symptoms-you-have-ministry-silos-how-to-fix-them/) - When it comes to effective Church Communication, ministry silos are bad. Usually church leadership understands that siloing is defined when a church feels like a series of competing departments that simply gather on a campus. Rather than a vibrant church that is known for something in the community with various subgroups helping different groups of - [5 Tests for an Effective Thread](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-tests-for-an-effective-thread/) - Imagine if your church maintained focus on a solution to their community. Something that instantly got their attention and made the church relevant and needed to them. And then used those content “fences” to make their congregation known for something. That’s what I call a communication thread. A brand promise or brand story that is - [7 Rules to “Tidy Up” Your Church Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-rules-to-tidy-up-your-church-website/) - Marie Kondo’s Netflix Show (Tidying Up) has been all the rage. Why? We innately like living in a decluttered space where we can find things that make us feel fulfilled. It doesn’t take a Japanese organizing consultant to discover how to do this, however her simple tips have captured the world. Let’s mirror her fervor. - [10 Church Communicator Personalities (Check the Mirror)](https://beknownforsomething.com/10-church-communicator-personalities-check-the-mirror/) - I’ve always been fascinated by people. In fact, my college psychology courses established the understanding that we mostly tend to do similar things while typically resistant to changing ways. Accountability meetings declare that understanding and recognition is a huge step towards improvement. From decades of working with comms, here’re personalities I see (did I miss - [Quiet Church! 7 Steps to “Saying Less So They Listen More”](https://beknownforsomething.com/quiet-church-7-steps-to-saying-less-so-they-listen-more/) - If you’re in a quiet room and someone says something, you will probably hear it. As soon as you add ambient noise (like I have as I sit in an airport with so much going on); you really can’t hear anything. We’ve learned to tune out the noise. If a church rarely makes a stage - [Church Communication Must Show You Care (Here’s How)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-must-show-you-care-heres-how/) - I recently spoke to a church about effective church communication. In my talk, I reminded the congregation that Jesus told His disciples that we’re to be known for loving those around us. However, when the world is asked about the Church, most of them know what we’re against (and not for love and caring). We’ve - [3 Negatives Required for Positive Communication](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-negatives-required-for-positive-communication/) - Often, because church communicators are required to lock down a brand, control messaging, and control ministry leaders, we become negative sounding: “No, you can’t do that”, “stop writing things like that”, “you can’t use that color”, “sorry, the logo can’t be used in that manner”, “no, social media isn’t an advertising channel” and the list - [STOP Abbreviating (Plus 7 Other Content No No’s)](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-abbreviating-plus-7-other-content-no-nos/) - Content. Content. Content. Effective communication relies on the content more than the channels. But many churches want to talk about their social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) or the CMS system for their website (Wordpress, Joomla, Clover, etc) rather than what their content should be. Let’s concentrate on the important! Often, if the content - [4 Requirements for Personas](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-requirements-for-personas/) - A communication persona is a focused community group that you’re targeting with a particular message based on a stereotypical description that encompasses their needs, concerns, and goals. Your church needs to define them. It’s the easiest way to connect with your community! To successfully reach people with a product, ministry, or service, persona descriptions help - [Stop! 5 Things to NEVER Do With Your Church Logo](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-5-things-to-never-do-with-your-church-logo/) - Your church logo is a visual representation of your church’s brand. It’s not your brand. Your brand is the emotional aftertaste once someone has experienced your church. The story they remember, the benefit of attending, or description of who you actually are down deep. It’s their real answer to the question “why do you attend - [The 12-Days of Communication](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-12-days-of-communication/) - The countdown is on. What if it only took 12 days to establish an effective Church communication strategy? What if it just took a couple of weeks of intense attention? Just imagine where you can be. So many in your community would know about your ministry and actually be interested! Or at least they could - [1 Month Before an Event. What to do, what to do?!](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-month-event/) - I’m sure you’re aware — in a month or so you have a big event happening or finishing. Is it too late to be thinking about effective communication? Yes. In all honesty, you need more prep time to get people interested and excited to attend. But what now? What are the last 3-4 weeks good - [1 Website Change for Your Church that Matters](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-website-change-for-your-church-that-matters/) - Almost every time I talk to a Pastor, I get the same response to the question about whether he’s pleased with the church’s website. “No” is the regular answer. It seems so clear. However, most Pastors don’t even visit their own church’s website except occasionally when they click on a social media link. But even - [3 Steps to Editing Web Content](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-editing-web-content/) - People want to discover the information they’re looking for, when they need it, in the easiest format preference possible. That’s why we’ve all grown attached to websites. We want some information and then quickly pickup our phones to find it online. But there’s nothing worse than getting to a webpage that has too much information - [5 Steps to Developing an Engaging Sermon Series](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-steps-to-developing-an-engaging-sermon-series/) - There are only a few constants in a church service. Singing, the offering, and the sermon. In most churches today, the singing isn’t original to the church (unless they have talented songwriters), the offering is a means of worship but is rarely original, while the sermon is what truly attracts an audience. Or at least - [Want to Love? Start with a Persona.](https://beknownforsomething.com/want-to-love-start-with-a-persona/) - We’re called to love. In fact, Jesus told His disciples that we’d be known for love if we’re properly following Him. So, who are we called to love? Everyone (especially our enemies). It’s a crazy goal. Can a local church love everyone? Yes. But maybe it’s more reasonable to say that we should love anyone - [4 Basic Steps to Creating a Brand Standard](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-basic-steps-to-creating-a-brand-standard/) - Your church brand is important. It’s what you’re known for and a great specific reason why someone may consider choosing your church. Controlling that messaging and your visual will establish the brand and maintain it. It’s essential to lock this control down into a document so others can be held to the same brand standard. - [4 Ways to Save $$$ on Bulletins (Start Now)](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-to-save-on-bulletins-start-now/) - Churches thrive on information. Each ministry has lots of information to provide and, we hope, our members actually want to discover ministry information to use. The problem? People today are very fragmented in the ways they want to receive information. Some want it by text, some by email, then there’s others who want to go - [Protect Your Communication Mode (or Lose It!)](https://beknownforsomething.com/protect-your-communication-mode-or-lose-it/) - Remember when we had to write letters in order to communicate? We’d send a letter, wait several days, then hopefully receive a reply in the mail. Then there was fax correspondence. Now email and texting. The modes keep changing (even when most of them are still around). Which should you use?! Maybe your go-to communication - [Pastor, why what you wear is important to what you say](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-why-what-you-wear-is-important-to-what-you-say/) - We live in a consumeristic world. I realize most Pastors and ministry leaders don’t like this reality. So we have two choices: change the world or adopt the reality (without sinning). Transparency moment: I’ve had agents representing me for 30+ years as I’ve walked fashion runways, acted in movies, appeared in TV ads, and sold - [Most Are Doing Social Media Wrong (4 Reasons Why)](https://beknownforsomething.com/most-are-doing-social-media-wrong-4-reasons-why/) - I’m not sure why the church struggles with social media so much. It seems like our leaders, the congregation, and even communication teams have problems when it comes to being social on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The church, of all places, should understand what it means to be social since the definition of “church” is - [Know Your Benefit (Talk It)](https://beknownforsomething.com/know-your-benefit-talk-it/) - Everyone seems to be yelling. I’m not talking mean yelling because there’s “good” yelling too. Everyone has something they want to communicate! And because we live in a marketing-noisy world, talking quietly (like we do in a small group) will be ignored. Unless you practice this one tip. Talking a benefit will cut through noise. - [6 Tips to Must-Read Headlines and Sermon Titles](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-tips-to-must-read-headlines-and-sermon-titles/) - Everything in communication today involves editing. Why? Because our attention spans make us resist spending time reading or listening to something perceived as “long”. Our headlines or titles are the ultimate summary of what’s to come in the content. They’re SO important. But some research suggests that people don’t read an entire headline any more. - [3 Reasons why Church Social Media isn’t that Social](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-why-church-social-media-isnt-that-social/) - Many churches rely on church socials (fellowships). From my youth there were many great memories from church suppers, ice cream socials, and dinners on the ground. We’d gather with people you’d only see on Sundays in order to do “fellowship” stuff. Like eat, talk, and laugh. Socialize! Social media is the new church social. Except - [4 Simple Changes to Make Your Foyer More Welcoming](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-simple-changes-to-make-your-foyer-more-welcoming/) - We all want guests to visit and stay at our church. Our well-produced websites, social media, and flyers will lead them to our building (along with an excellent, word of mouth invitation), but our foyer (or lobby) is the place that gives a guest one of their first impressions. We must get it right! In - [4 Power Steps to Engaging](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-power-steps-to-engaging/) - A church is called to love. Jesus said His followers will be known by our love. Yet, when the community is asked about the Church; they‘re quick to point to things we’re against. Many are quick to say “but guiding people to avoid sin is an act of love!” and this is true. But rarely - [3 Church Communication Myths](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-communication-myths/) - Church communication is a popular topic in the church world. But the expectations of how to fix communication are often overinflated. It’s not a cure-all. In fact, effective communication takes time as the correct messages are produced consistently. Producing the right messages takes talent and skill especially when consistency is required. Here are 3 church - [Connect Better: Become a Pain Expert with Your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/connect-better-become-a-pain-expert-with-your-church/) - In church communication we try to connect with our congregation and community by becoming known for an audience’s needed solution. And ultimately, that solution should point to Jesus Christ. This solution becomes your brand; what you’re known for. But, if you only lead with solutions, people may still not authentically connect with you. It seems - [4 Benefits of a Centralized Church Communication Process](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-benefits-of-a-centralized-church-communication-process/) - Most churches try 2 process structures to effectively communicate. Or a hybrid (as a third possibility). The choice is yours! It really doesn’t matter how many people are on your team either. It’s more about the flow of ideas and the production of the communication work. Your 3 choices? Let’s examine them: Decentralized: When all - [Church, Control “Their” Tongue](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-control-their-tongue/) - The Bible is clear about controlling tongues. Why? Because our communication shows our hearts. And like a bit in the horse’s mouth or the rudder on a large ship, it directs and turns something much bigger than the small muscular organ. The tongue becomes huge! The church needs to control the tongues of others too. - [“Leave Me Alone!” (3 Essentials a Church Must Do)](https://beknownforsomething.com/leave-me-alone-3-essentials-a-church-must-do/) - I fly a lot, and I pray before each flight that God would allow me to have an effective conversation with the person next to me. Effective? That means I’ll represent the Church in a good light and talk about Jesus or faith somehow. Occasionally, the Holy Spirit prepares the stranger and, through questions and - [Pastors: 5 Employment Questions to Anticipate from Church Communicators](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastors-5-employment-questions-to-anticipate-from-church-communicators/) - Let’s be clear, employment transitions are complicated and have the potential for concern. Pastors, from your vantage you want to protect yourself and establish a church communication team that will encourage ministry and improve systems to inform your congregation while you engage your community. It sounds perfect. The Church Communicator (Comm) should want the same - [6 Signs Your Church Has Ministry Silos (Tear Them Down)](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-signs-your-church-has-ministry-silos-tear-them-down/) - As churches grow and Pastors (ministry leaders) are hired to look after various ministries, the healthy church-focus becomes threatened by the inevitable: Ministry Silos. This is when ministry areas become myopic — nearsighted — to the point they rarely look at the entire organization or even at another ministry outside of its narrow walls. It can - [Leader, Are You Using Social Media Correctly?](https://beknownforsomething.com/leader-are-you-using-social-media-correctly/) - He rolled his eyes. That’s the reaction I got recently as I talked with a church leadership team. I simply asked the senior pastor, “Do you post on social media?”. Social media, even with all of its issues, is the method most people communicate, connect, and get news and information. So why shouldn’t the church - [Creating Better Church Web Pages (3 Principles)](https://beknownforsomething.com/creating-better-church-web-pages-3-principles/) - Most churches have websites but sadly, most church websites are created so that many won’t be interested in looking at them. It’s a lot of wasted effort. Let’s fix that. Let’s commit to building our websites so that we deliver what people (your congregation and community) are looking for. That’s summed up in one word: - [Good Email Communication is Like a Good Sermon. (Rare)](https://beknownforsomething.com/good-email-communication-is-like-a-good-sermon-rare/) - You want people to read your emails. They’re important! But every day we’re bombarded with emails that we don’t fully read. Most are desperately trying to get your attention and: inform you, entertain you, or lead you to something you need. But emails only work if they can get your attention. Since we receive dozens - [Good Church Websites Matter](https://beknownforsomething.com/good-church-websites-matter/) - “It’s the front door to your church”. At least that’s what many are saying. But is it? Let’s make sure we understand our audiences first. Because they find this front door differently and open it for different reasons too. Every church has an internal audience (congregation) and an external audience (community). Our role as the - [4 Ways Your Church Sign Lets You Down](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-your-church-sign-lets-you-down/) - Drive around the streets of your town near your church. There are signs everywhere. Seriously, everywhere. If you’re looking you’ll see them but for the most part you’ll stop remembering most of them. We live in a loud, marketing-saturated world. Your church needs to have a sign that stands out and is remembered. For the - [Why Few Are Following Your Church Facebook Page](https://beknownforsomething.com/why-few-are-following-your-church-facebook-page/) - Sure, Facebook changed their algorithm so that people will see more of what Facebook believes they want to see on their wall feed. This happened. Since promotional material isn’t desired by most, they’re limiting a lot of Facebook Page content such as YOUR content. But, seriously, I don’t think that’s the issue (although we should - [Is your Church Communications Ready for Summer?](https://beknownforsomething.com/is-your-church-communications-ready-for-summer/) - It seems like spring just started but we’re almost into summer. Yes, time flies — especially when it comes to church communication. Summer brings added complication to your communication team: vacations, less attention from ministries, and your congregation drifts away from a regular schedule. Summer relaxes. Your communication team can’t. Here are 4 things needing - [3 Real Reasons Why Your Church Comm May Be Broken](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-real-reasons-why-your-church-comm-may-be-broken/) - When something isn’t working properly in our body, we go to a doctor. But before she gives us a pill or direction to do something differently, she has to diagnose the problem. And it all starts with a truthful confession of the symptoms. Many churches aren’t willing to admit that their communication is broken. Even - [Why Being Different is Critical to Every Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/why-being-different-is-critical-to-every-church/) - Have you noticed? Products and services are dropping from existence regularly. Toys”R”Us have closed their doors entirely and more than 5000 individual stores closed across the country as major retailers decide it’s best for their bottom line. What’s happening?!? Even worse, 4000 evangelical churches disappeared from the United States. I wonder if many even notice? - [A Pastor’s Guide to a Basic Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/a-pastors-guide-to-a-basic-website/) - Many Pastors from smaller congregations are being tasked with getting a website together for their church. How are they expected to know everything about a website?! That’s usually when they call a consultant like me to help. Let’s talk website basics so you can do most of this yourself: Every website starts with a Domain. - [5 Budget-Wise Communication Tips (Save Money)](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-budget-wise-communication-tips-save-money/) - Churches need to demonstrate good stewardship. Especially if you want people to donate hard-earned money to your ministry. No one wants to give to a non-profit that looks wasteful. Communication is often seen as a disposable and temporary item. You promote an event for a few weeks and it’s done. But this isn’t ultimately the - [Communication Tip: Turn Boring into Interesting](https://beknownforsomething.com/communication-tip-turn-boring-into-interesting/) - I’m fascinated how someone can attend two similar church services (maybe even with the same Pastor) and have the 30-minute sermon seem long and boring in one while the other can feel interesting and not enough time. And it’s the same amount of time. And maybe similar content! Or you can watch a youtube video - [4 Ways to Peacefully Understand your Church Communicator](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-to-peacefully-understand-your-church-communicator/) - Weekly I hear concerning stories from Pastors or church leaders. They often start with something like, “We have a church communicator who just doesn’t seem to be working out”. Because I lead a large network of church communicators, I focus on what they should be doing better. However, I’ve found that many church leaders don’t - [Why a Church Naturally Does Social Media Well. But Doesn’t.](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-naturally-social-media-well-doesnt/) - It’s been several years since we realized social media is a valid means of church communication. Many have adopted Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as their channels. Some have been brave by using SnapChat, Pinterest, and Linkedin. And there are so many others! Which channels should the church be using? Surprisingly, the church should actually be - [Churches Vanish for this One Reason (Here’s the fix)](https://beknownforsomething.com/churches-vanish-one-reason-heres-fix/) - Research shows that thousands of evangelical churches close their doors annually in America. The reason? Because their congregations have stopped valuing or understanding the benefit of the local church. We must stop this. People in the community regularly drive past empty church buildings and don’t miss anything. Many don’t even know who previously owned the - [Pastor, Change Your Website Picture. Here’s Why.](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-change-website-picture-heres/) - Most church website research shows that your staff page is a critical, well-hit page. Go ahead and check yours to see if it’s in the top 10 pages on your website! It probably is. Don’t know how? Install Google Analytics (it’s free; search for it on Google.com) and after a few weeks, check the results. - [Winning Church Essential: Speed to Benefit](https://beknownforsomething.com/winning-church-essential-speed-benefit/) - Everyone knows how to win a running race. Be the fastest while following the rules. But do you know how to win a church communication race? Many don’t know what a win even looks like! It’s getting your audience to the finish line (what they’re looking for) as fast as possible. In communication this important - [Calm Down (Communication Design, That Is)](https://beknownforsomething.com/calm-communication-design/) - Marketing communication is tough. There’s so much to say and people are only half listening or reading. After 3 decades of professionally designing and communicating, I’ve identified the main problem. Our communication is often delivered in a busy, non-organized, and complicated design. So, calm down. Please. Or risk never being heard, read, or understood. Here - [Does Your Congregation Really Know What’s Going On?](https://beknownforsomething.com/congregation-really-know-whats-going/) - It happens all the time. Someone in your congregation sees you and asks about an upcoming event or a regularly occurring ministry. They have no idea if it’s happening. What’s scary? It was just announced in the service PLUS someone crafted a paragraph about it in the bulletin that’s tucked in their Bible. People don’t - [How to Convert Church Vision to a Communication Thread](https://beknownforsomething.com/convert-church-vision-communication-thread/) - Many churches are spending large amounts of resources (time, money, etc.) to figure out their mission and vision. That internally-focused process is necessary — although I’d caution church leaders to check the Divine Handbook (the Bible) and you’ll see that our mission and vision are clearly described. Stop trying to come up with something new. - [(Short) Checklist so People Will Receive Your Communication](https://beknownforsomething.com/short-checklist-people-will-receive-communication/) - Sad truth: People aren’t paying attention to most (church) communication. In fact, most people are only half-listening or half-reading. An exasperated church communicator recently asked me, “how do you change this trend!?” Stop wasting people’s time. That’s the easy answer. Then, after a little thought, I added “there’s probably 4 things you have to ask - [3 Resolutions Every Church Communicator Must Make](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-resolutions-every-church-communicator-must-make/) - It’s the new year! For a goal-oriented person, I find myself giddy with the prospects of this clean slate where I can project future outcomes. All this while most are deciding resolutions for the new year. The difference? Resolutions are slight course corrections that will impact your goals. Sure, you may want to set goals - [3 Email Scheduling Tips](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-email-scheduling-tips/) - Church communication is easy if you can get people to pay attention. Except we live in a world that only half-listens because they have so much noise around them! We’re all bombarded with messages, promotions, and information in a multi-level, continuous track so that we end up with 1000’s of communications available to us. The - [3 Ways to Lead Your Church Differently in 2019](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-lead-church-differently-2019/) - I understand. It’s difficult to lead a congregation. Trying to communicate effectively to a group is a large task since so many people want so many different things. You’re also guiding them spiritually and chiding them for veering from the spiritual path. So much to do, so little time to do it. Here are 3 - [3 Free Ways to Improve Your Website by Spring](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-free-ways-improve-website-spring/) - I’ve found that the winter is a great time for refreshing things. And your website needs your attention. Why do I know this? Because every website needs constant updating and quickly becomes lackluster. Since Easter is just around the corner, why don’t you commit to making your website amazing in the next few months. If - [3 Ways to Say Merry Christmas to a Congregation](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-say-merry-christmas-congregation/) - Christmas is in a few weeks! In the hustle and bustle of the shopping season, we often hear many saying Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays but the more we hear it, the more the importance of it fades. When a church or pastor says it, is there a way to make it have real impact? - [1 Way to Control Why People Like Your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-way-control-people-like-church/) - We know the most effective way to get people to visit your church: word of mouth promotions. It’s the most cost-effective method of evangelism. Why? Because most people know and interact with people similar to them. If they like your church, the people around them will probably like the church too. How do you control - [5 Ways to Communicate Gratitude](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-communicate-gratitude/) - Happy Thanksgiving! As America concentrates on this admiral quality this week, may we as the Church demonstrate and communicate biblical gratitude so that it permeates our lives. You’re either known for gratitude or you’re known for narcissistic undertones. Where you subtly communicate how much you’ve accomplished. Alone. Here are 5 ways that a church, a - [Control Your Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/control-your-communications/) - I’m a control freak. I admit it. Most leaders fear feeling out of control and seek to gain (at least) the appearance of knowing what’s going on, setting specific goals, and doing what it takes to reach or surpass them. It’s that control that is desired and valued in a senior leadership role. But it’s - [How Your Church Can be Relevant Again](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-can-relevant/) - I walked by a gentleman selling newspapers on a street corner. It appeared that very few people were paying attention to him let alone buying papers. Why? Because people are busy and the newspaper has lost relevance. It’s easier to ignore than to engage. The church is similar. Our communities pass our buildings as part - [3 Church Website Home Page Issues To Resolve (Now)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-website-home-page-issues-resolve-now/) - I keep hearing that a church website is the front door to a church. True; since very few people in your community will ever make it to the door. Sadly, either door. This is the unfortunate reality with church attendance. And with church websites. Mostly your church congregation will seek to enter. So what does - [No, An Annual Emphasis isn’t your Thread. Neither is a Vision.](https://beknownforsomething.com/no-annual-emphasis-isnt-thread-neither-vision/) - Every ministry in your church needs to focus their communication on your community. Well, if you want the people in your community to pay attention. We know that if you talk about a solution that someone is seeking or about a pain (or concern) that’s troubling them, they will listen. So, when we discover our - [3 Complicated Components of Church Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-complicated-components-church-communications/) - Recently, I was talking to someone about their ability to bake bread. He said, “it really isn’t that difficult”. Then I challenged him further and he admitted, “well, once you figure out how to get the yeast to rise properly”. Maybe this is why everyone doesn’t make bread, even though there’s something wonderful about the - [Your Staff Web Page is Crucial (How to Improve It)](https://beknownforsomething.com/staff-web-page-crucial-improve/) - Your website should be the center of your digital communications. Everything should rely on it: to inform your congregation and to engage your community. Most will approach a website for answers. Check your analytics (data that’s kept to see where people click on your website) and you’ll probably discover (if you have one) that your - [4 Daily Social Media Hacks](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-daily-social-media-hacks/) - Every church should be building an online audience with social media. Done properly, every church should have more people following their social media accounts than attend on a weekly basis. The channels have been created and most of your community is scrolling on it right now. What are they looking for? Something that’s entertaining, revealing, - [Can a Church Afford Good Communications?](https://beknownforsomething.com/can-church-afford-good-communications/) - I often hear “we’re the best kept secret” and then “if more people understood all the good things we had to offer, we’d be turning people away”. That’s a communication problem. And since the overwhelming majority of churches don’t turn people away on Sunday morning, we can assume one of two things: The ministries aren’t - [5 Critical Paradigms if a Church Wants Their Community to Listen.](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-critical-paradigms-church-wants-community-listen/) - The Bible clearly says “go and tell”. But what if the community isn’t listening? I often hear Pastors say “we can’t make the community listen, it’s only up to us to tell”. Can you imagine if we took that approach with our kids? We’d be talking a lot without them paying attention (and our kids - [7 Things Weeks of Church Shopping Has Taught Me](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-things-weeks-church-shopping-taught/) - We recently moved to a new city and state. I’m regularly a church-attending, church-consultant, and outgoing Christian. It only makes sense that my wife and I want to find a church near our new home. But it’s been hard for us — I can only imagine how hard it is for an unchurched person or - [Are Church Emails Worth the Effort?](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-emails-worth-effort/) - A church recently lamented that they only have a 14% open rate for their emails. Plus their click-through rate was extremely low. Their church communicator was wondering, “is it worth the effort?” It’s a great question. It’s a bigger issue though. Much like a parent who’s telling their teenager something, if the teen doesn’t appear - [Yikes! I Don’t Have a Communication Budget.](https://beknownforsomething.com/yikes-dont-communication-budget/) - Most ministries don't have extra money. So, most ministries are forced to do a lot with very little. Often though, I see many of those ministries producing very good communication! Why? Because most effective communication doesn’t require large budgets — it just requires great content. Good communication requires ministries to have the ability to tell - [“Leave Me Alone!” (3 Essentials a Church Must Do)](https://beknownforsomething.com/leave-alone-3-essentials-church-must/) - I fly a lot, and I pray before each flight that God would allow me to have an effective conversation with the person next to me. Effective? That means I’ll represent the Church in a good light and talk about Jesus or faith somehow. Occasionally, the Holy Spirit prepares the stranger and, through questions and - [10 Simple 10-Minute Communication Tasks (you can do now)](https://beknownforsomething.com/10-simple-10-minute-communication-tasks-can-now/) - I’m a goal-oriented person (who loves accomplishing dreams). I’m also a creative (who has a tendency to procrastinate). I’m also a passionate communicator who loves the church. I’m also often conflicted (I feel constant tension about “getting it all done” and “I need more time to get it right”). I often get bogged down with - [3 Tips to Picking Your Church Communication Thread](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-tips-picking-church-communication-thread/) - I’ve committed my life to helping local churches become known for something so communities will understand that ministries should be included in their busy lives. It’s difficult for most of us since we’ve been active in the church world for years or associated with church culture. About a third of our communities don’t have any - [3 Horrible Reasons to Get a Church App (be warned!)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-horrible-reasons-get-church-app-warned/) - It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize MANY in our congregations have a mobile device with thousands of apps. In fact, if your service dims the lights during the service, you can see the glow of screens across the room. This past week, our screens showed an establishment video shot looking on the main - [2 Critical Communication Errors (and how to overcome them)](https://beknownforsomething.com/2-critical-communication-errors-overcome/) - There have been many times while working on my house, when I was seriously in the middle of fixing something, that I realized I’d made foundational errors that would not allow me to complete the task. The church has a serious task in front of us. To share the love of Christ with our communities - [Hiring? 4 Traits A Church Communicator Must Have](https://beknownforsomething.com/hiring-4-traits-church-communicator-must/) - A church recently asked me for a job description for a church communication role. We discussed things like Photoshop, Illustrator, Wordpress, Writing, Design, Creativity and other skills. But as we were talking, I realized those things can be learned quite easily. Yes, good communicators need them, but if someone doesn’t possess them, they can simply - [(Guest Post) The Most Powerful Thing Your Church Can Be Known For](https://beknownforsomething.com/known-something-powerful-thing-church-can-known/) - I want to present another way of looking at the “be known for something” concept. So often, people define themselves by what they do. Their careers become their identity. Or their weekend Jeep drives. Or the fact that they pastor. Our identity is about doing. And churches are no different than that. But I bet - [Pastor, 3 Things You Do from the Stage Each Sunday (other than Preaching)](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-3-things-stage-sunday-preaching/) - As a teaching Pastor, you have a lot happening in your church and life. In a very small, similar way, I teach a large adult Bible Class each week. After preparing for my lesson, prayerfully considering what I should teach, and building my Keynote (like Powerpoint) presentation and rehearsing, I’m easily spending 6-7 hours a - [3 Social Media Problems that Must be Fixed. Today.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-social-media-problems-must-fixed-today/) - At conferences, I often have someone approach me and want to ask me a question. They awkwardly describe their position and the church where they work. Finally, I ask “how can I help you?” before they say they are in charge of their social media accounts and are struggling with the task. No wonder. They - [3 Communication Traits all Pastors Should Practice](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-communication-traits-pastors-practice/) - A great church myth is “all Pastors are good communicators”. This sadly isn’t the case. Pastors may love Bible study, love God, and love sharing what God’s teaching them, but a lot don’t have good communication skills. A good communicator works on their craft (on top of their subject matter). Ensuring that they engage, connect, - [3 Summer Church Communication Preparations](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-summer-church-communication-preparations/) - How can it be already! It’s right around the corner. Summer. Depending on who you talk to, summer may have already started for families with college-aged kids. However, for most school systems, we’re starting summer vacation within only a few short weeks. Are you prepared? For the church there are 3 preparations you should be - [3 Cautions for Copying Other Churches](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-cautions-copying-churches/) - Everywhere you turn (or google), it’s obvious that local church leaders and Pastors are copying each other. The same sermon series, same graphics, same communication strategies. In fact, I recently saw one church using a very similar logo from another church. Ugh. According to them, they’re in a different area of the country so “it’s - [4 Must-Dos before Posting on Social Media](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-must-dos-posting-social-media/) - I post regularly to social media and train churches how to create a strong brand presence that engages on social media. It seems like only a few days ago that we were trying to convince churches that they needed to be on social media, and now most churches are posting regularly. Is it all worth - [Does the Church Need Old School Advice?](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-need-old-school-advice/) - The latest research reveals Pastors are getting older on average. Barna reports that it’s at an all-time high of age 54. Headlines are screaming it everywhere. The church world is gasping from the numbers that crept up from 44 in 1991, but is it really a concern? Is 54 that old?! In full disclosure, I’m - [3 Reasons You Need Communication Coaching](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-need-communication-coaching/) - Have you wondered why sports teams need coaching? Can’t the team members get together and decide what they should do? Anyone who serves on a committee, a team, or a board knows that every group requires a person to be in charge. That’s why there’s a person leading communications at your church, right!? And most - [Speaking to a Group? 3 Must-Dos to Battle Second-Screens](https://beknownforsomething.com/speaking-group-3-must-dos-battle-second-screens/) - I’m blessed to communicate with live audiences at least once a week. At an adult Bible Study presenting a simple Bible lesson for 45 minutes, at a conference for several hours, for quick workshops or at church leadership sessions; I’m amazed how people hire me to share knowledge. I never want to take it for - [3 Signs Your Church Isn’t Connected to Your Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-signs-church-isnt-connected-community/) - Has someone been talking with you and you start wondering if they realize you’re not listening? Perhaps your spouse? A friend? You feel like they’re saying things that don’t make sense to you or interest you at all. You feel like you could walk away and they wouldn’t notice. Perhaps your community thinks that about - [3 Steps to Revitalizing a Church Reputation with Good Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-revitalizing-church-reputation-good-communications/) - What are you known for? What’s your perception in your community? What’s your reputation? These are questions every leader and church should be asking. Why? A community makes decisions about engaging with you based on a quick understanding of what they know about you. Reputation matters. And the Church has not done a great job - [Whoa! Here’s a huge Church Communication problem.](https://beknownforsomething.com/whoa-heres-huge-church-communication-problem/) - We say too much. Do you ever catch yourself talking to your child, spouse, or friend trying to get them to understand your perspective? The more you talk, the more they seem to disengage. So when you feel they’re not listening, you talk more. And it becomes self defeating. But we’ve all been in the - [All your church NEEDS for Easter](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-needs-easter/) - I grew up in the church; you probably did too. But the sobering news is that about a third of our communities have no connection with a church. Does that mean 2/3s are fully connected? No. We know that even though someone knows about church doesn’t mean they go to church. And that number is - [Church Vision isn’t Enough](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-vision-isnt-enough/) - Many churches go through a vision process. Hundreds of committee hours researching, praying, and formulating a vision statement, a mission statement, and purpose platitudes. What I’ve discovered is that the church leadership LOVES the navel gazing. Leaning forward to examine their belly buttons: the inner workings of who they are and how they do it. - [Pastor, What Should You Be Known For?](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-what-should-you-be-known-for/) - While scrolling on social media, you’ll see name after name on your wall. You probably don’t have to read their posts to know the probable content they’ve written. Everyone’s known for something. Mention a well-known Pastor and you can probably name their book theme or what they’re known for. Rick Warren: Purpose Driven. Joel Osteen: - [Your Church Brand can Learn from Cattle Branding](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-brand-can-learn-cattle-branding/) - Branding originated with cattle farmers who wanted to make sure others could distinguish their cattle from others when they roamed together in a field. They used a hot iron to mark them. Ouch. Church branding is the same, but thankfully different. However, several principles are similar. The logo needs to be unique. Imagine if every - [Scary Indicators: If You’re Not Connected to Your Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/scary-indicators-youre-not-connected-community/) - What’s the biblical response to shrinking numbers? “Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23 is quite a command! It’s saying “Connect to the Community!” Church is like throwing a ministry banquet and, of course, we’re expecting our congregation to attend. But - [The Secret to Reconnecting with Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/secret-reconnecting-community/) - Ever had a relationship that slowly fell apart? Perhaps you’ve said, “we used to be close, but I’m not sure what’s happened”. Churches need to reconnect with their communities. The communities around us are growing at a faster rate than our churches. 80% of churches aren’t even growing at all! Churches used to spring from - [Read in Case of Emergency](https://beknownforsomething.com/read-case-emergency/) - Driving to the gym this morning, a Red Cross radio commercial promoted emergency tips and ended the spot with “download our app to get instructions for what to do during times of crisis”. I wonder how often (when a house is burning down) someone pulls out their phones, searches for their Red Cross app, and - [The Problem with Talking to Everyone](https://beknownforsomething.com/problem-talking-everyone/) - This article is for people interested in doing effective church communications. If you aren’t interested, you’ll not like this article, and you should stop reading. It sounds strange, right? But most people don’t have the time to read something that isn’t interesting. So you’re doing them a favor. As a church communicator, you need to - [5 Lies Communicators Believe](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-lies-communicators-believe/) - We’re gullible. We want to believe that everyone has our best interest in mind. That our perceptions are accurate and our best days lie ahead. Church communicators are no different. I engage with hundreds who are attempting to communicate for busy ministries, and I often hear lies or gullible misconceptions. It’s wise, if you’re in - [Communication Process: Foundational Issues](https://beknownforsomething.com/communication-process-foundational-issues/) - The wise man builds his house on… a good foundation! Many times in our haste, we renovate the top floor before the bottom is finished. Or started! The complexity with a solid church communication process? Every church has an established process, so as changes are requested and the church tries to improve existing elements, the - [Change is a good thing. Change is a bad thing.](https://beknownforsomething.com/change-good-thing-change-bad-thing/) - At the end of a season, good leaders look back and realize what’s been accomplished. And quickly identify what went well and what didn’t. What needs to change to get better results. Is your church growing? Has it plateaued? Are you making more excuses than positive steps forward? Are you ready for change? CAUTION: Some - [3 Ways to Engage with an Audience Better](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-engage-audience-better/) - We recently had a party for our large Bible Study group. Several dozen were present and there were games, food, and fellowship. I’m a people-watcher, so I love seeing how people interact with conversation. Some are awkward, some only talk about themselves, some fully engage and the conversation could last for hours. Church needs to - [5 Ridiculously Practical Email Improvements](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ridiculously-practical-email-improvements/) - Everyone uses email. The younger you are, and the older you are, the less you’ll rely on it; but almost everyone has an email they’re checking regularly. Although, thanks to texting and social media, people are using email differently. Most don’t like reading long emails, and they don’t like getting inundated with SPAM-looking emails. Therefore, - [Your Church Needs a Communication Thread](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-needs-communication-thread/) - Most people love consistency while fleeing chaos. A busy church tends to have so many messages and activities that even church staff aren’t fully aware of the busy calendar. People in the congregation hear the occasional announcement, but even those who regularly attend can’t possibly know everything about the church. Take another step into your - [3 Practical Ways to Thank Your Church Communicator](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-practical-ways-thank-church-communicator/) - As believers, we’re called to be thankful. Not just around Thanksgiving, but throughout the year. Are you thankful? Do you have gratitude? How do you practically demonstrate it? Gratitude becomes more valuable with action. Someone is in charge of your church communication. They’re a secretary, a media person, a director of communication, a graphic designer, - [The Recipe for a Great Church Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/recipe-great-church-website/) - It’s the most wonderful time of the year. When family and friends visit and bring lots of food. Everyone ooo’s and ahhh’s over the delectable treats until someone inevitably asks for a recipe so they can replicate the wonderful flavors. Imagine baking up a church website that everyone will enjoy, engage with, and eat up. - [How Social Media Can Help Your Church Brand](https://beknownforsomething.com/social-media-can-help-church-brand/) - Social media is a communication tool that will make or break your church brand. Our marketing cluttered world is demonstrated on social media. Simply open the global Twitter feed and you’ll see millions of people saying something. In real time, your feed churns so quickly you can’t keep up and very little breaks through. Except - [3 Costly Church Communication Mistakes](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-costly-church-communication-mistakes/) - Jesus shared the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew and Luke) because we need to weigh the cost of what we’re building and start with the proper foundation. The church today is scrambling to replicate communications from other churches. They see them spend money on something interesting, so they think they should do - [How a Church Communicator Should Listen Better](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communicator-listen-better/) - There should be a constant tension: a communicator enjoys talking and pushing information, but an effective communicator must listen more than they talk. See, to truly engage with an audience, it has to be a conversation. And there’s nothing worse than a one-sided conversation! The struggle often comes when a communicator feels they’re being paid - [5 Tips for Social Media Scheduling](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-tips-social-media-scheduling/) - For years the church lamented that they had little budget to advertise in newspapers, on the radio, or on primetime TV. We instead turned to word of mouth as our best promotional tool. Then social media came along. It has free tools PLUS it empowers word of mouth promotion. That’s a win/win for the church! - [Can You Afford Good Communication?](https://beknownforsomething.com/can-afford-good-communication/) - Autumn is upon us and many start thinking about Christmas shopping. I just heard a statistic that a million Americans are done with their shopping already. That sounds ridiculous! Or maybe you’re one of them? When it comes to any shopping, you must consider 3 things: What do I need? Can I afford it? Will - [Stop Marketing That You’re a Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-marketing-youre-church/) - There’s nothing more exciting than discovering something unique. Not “more unique”; but truly unique. One of a kind. That feeling you finally found the perfect solution that you never thought existed. Jesus is unique. He alone is the Solution to everything we need. He is God and He is Man (that’s unique!). He’s our salvation - [Quick! 1 Thing To Do Today To Help Your Website.](https://beknownforsomething.com/quick-1-thing-today-help-website/) - When someone shows up at the door of your church and they’ve never attended before, you should have a protocol for guests. But pretend that you’re the only one nearby when they carefully open the door with that “am I at the right place?” look on their face. You greet them, “Hi! I’m glad you’re - [Tell Them What to Say (But Be Careful)](https://beknownforsomething.com/tell-say-careful/) - “You’ve got to try Bob’s restaurant! Their food has unexpected ingredient combinations!”, your friend says. So the next time someone asks “where should we eat?”, you suggest Bob’s. And then without thinking, you say “because I hear they have unexpected ingredient combinations”. You go and no matter how good the service, awesome the parking, amazing - [Does Your Church Have a Thread?](https://beknownforsomething.com/does-your-church-have-a-thread/) - Today’s church is a collection of diverse ministries housed on one campus. These ministries have a tendency to become an island and work alone, especially if there’s a separate Pastor or Leader in charge of each area. What often happens? Ministry silos are established where each area becomes known for something different. Perhaps your ministries - [3 Ways Administrators Are Skeptical About Church Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-administrators-skeptical-church-communications/) - We recently finished a successful The Church Network conference in DC. Hundreds of church administrators gathered together to learn and fellowship. I spoke at the communications Fast Track, conducted live on-the-spot web and brand analyses, met with dozens of people who stopped by our expo booth, and finished the week with a session about church - [Pastor, You’re Talking to Goldfish](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-youre-talking-goldfish/) - Communication is difficult in the church. You stand in front of the congregation with many important thoughts to share. Things that God has put on your heart. You’ve prayed, prepared, and positioned yourself in the right place. When you start speaking, you have everyone’s attention. Then, slowly, you’re aware of people not fully paying attention. - [3 Critical Ways to Cut Costs in Church Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-critical-ways-cut-costs-church-communications/) - When buying an older house, the money pit concern nags at us. Are we getting into something that will cost far too much to operate? Are there underlying issues that will continue to cause problems? Are we spending more money on things that should be replaced rather than fixed? Many churches have an antiquated communication - [Church Doesn’t Need a Writer; You Need an Editor.](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-doesnt-need-writer-need-editor/) - More and more, people are reading less and less. Attention spans are being reduced where we barely pay attention to the entire sentence anymore. With a standard paragraph, we lose interest after the first line! We no longer read the entire email. Nor read the entire contents on a web page. Studies even show we - [A Surprising Use of Church Social Media](https://beknownforsomething.com/surprising-use-church-social-media/) - Your Pastor stands up in front of the congregation each week and shares what’s on his heart. They listen intently. They go home and tune into a TV show that entertains them. They enjoy it intently. Later, they pick up a book and read what interests them. They read intently. It wouldn’t be appropriate or - [4 To-Be-Feared Indications of Ministry Silos](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-feared-indications-ministry-silos/) - Each time Ministry Silos are talked about, I think about the huge farms I grew up around. Their silos were predominant as someone approached. They towered over the barns, equipment, people, and fields. They seemed self-important; except the farm, in its entirely, was much more critical in order to make sure the silo remained full. - [4 Beginner Tips to Church Branding](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-beginner-tips-church-branding/) - All this talk about branding and the church. Is it really that important? Is it totally new talk and thinking? Is it all crazy or is it necessary? Perhaps the words sound too business-based and not ministry-based. Perhaps the idea seems contrary to the Bible. Church branding is not new, although the words may be - [4 Surprising Revelations from Church Focus Groups](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-surprising-revelations-church-focus-groups/) - I travel around the US talking to demographic church groups to better understand what’s happening in a specific local church. Successes, failures, and themes to help the church communicate more effectively to reach deeper into their community. I’m alone with an anonymous group so they can talk freely. We hear regular themes, some surprising when - [3 Essential Church Branding Tips for Growth](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-essential-church-branding-tips-growth/) - People who follow after Christ are far from a majority in this world. We find ourselves struggling in a community that has little concept of who we are as a Church. Most think it’s a closed group of unintelligent “sheep” who are overwhelmed with rules that have no benefit other than satisfying a fictitious, controlling - [The Building Blocks for an Effective Church Website Foundation](https://beknownforsomething.com/building-blocks-effective-church-website-foundation/) - Growing up, I was a dedicated Lego builder. I was even a paying member of the International Lego Builder’s Club. I was featured a couple of times in their magazine with my Lego constructions. I learned how to build things even with the limitations of a toy. I’ve moved on to building sheds, decks, and - [Church Communications on a Tight Budget](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communications-tight-budget/) - You’re headed into late spring and summer which often reduces church attendance; and therefore, offerings. Meanwhile, every church is talking about doing church communications better to engage their congregations and invite their community. But how do you improve everything on the small budget you’ve been given? Caught with a small budget and a dream of - [One Big Cause of Declining Church Attendance](https://beknownforsomething.com/one-big-cause-declining-church-attendance/) - We want quick fixes for what’s bothering us. A fast diet that will make us instantly fit or a 3-minute meal that will feed our entire family. Rarely is there a truly easy solution. Often there isn’t a clear or easy reason for the original problem either. The church attendance dilemma is an issue that - [3 Ways Your Lobby is a Barrier](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-lobby-barrier/) - For years I’ve been conducting church Mystery Visits. Some call it a secret shopper but ultimately I’m walking into churches across the country with church culture knowledge coupled with the community’s demographic research. This formula produces definitive steps to helping churches become relevant while removing barriers to those entering for the first time. When someone - [No. Your audience.](https://beknownforsomething.com/no-your-audience/) - Church communicators are fighting a battle. Trying to keep the church leadership happy while trying to keep the congregation happy. It’s almost impossible. The Church Leadership certainly has a vision and believes they know what the congregation needs. They also are planning, preparing, and praying about the sermons that will be preached. If you ask - [Oh yeah, it’s Mother’s Day!](https://beknownforsomething.com/oh-yeah-mothers-day/) - Church communications is not an easy task. Many people think its as simple as telling everyone what’s going on in your church (and that isn’t always simple!). But it’s more than that. An effective church communicator is a leader who intently loves, knows, and understands the people who come to your church. But it doesn’t - [Be Known For Something: Too Good to Read Alone](https://beknownforsomething.com/known-something-good-read-alone/) - Be Known For Something is "the motherlode, jackpot, unbeatable WIN for a Staff and Board team-read!", a Pastor exclaimed. I bet you've read something and thought: It's Too Good to Read Alone! Amazon Best-Seller Be Known For Something: Reconnect with Community by Revitalizing Your Church's Reputation was designed to lead a team to a decision. What you should be - [How to: Church Guests Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-guests-communications/) - Church guests (visitors) should come to your church regularly since members naturally invite friends and family to attend with them. People are also moving into your community who are church seekers. And of course, there are those who haven’t gone to church in a long time and because of a transition in their lives (funeral, - [Spring Cleaning for Effective Church Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/spring-cleaning-effective-church-communications/) - Spring. It’s finally here! For most of the country, the winter seemed to linger. But now that the warmer temperatures have started to blow in, spring fever starts to bite. After the winter, everything seems to need cleaning, doesn’t it? I know my truck is in need of a polish. But how about your church - [Be Known For Something Church Branding Book](https://beknownforsomething.com/book-available-now/) - So exciting! The Church Communication and Leadership book, Be Known For Something: Reconnect with Community by Revitalizing Your Church's Reputation (Post-COVID edition), is AVAILABLE NOW. Thanks to you it's an Amazon Bestseller! #2 Bestseller (Church Growth) AND #3 Bestseller (Church Leadership) That's amazing. It was written for you and you're loving it! Since most churches aren't - [4 Things Your Congregation Hates About your Church Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-things-congregation-hates-church-website/) - You approach someone who's slapping their face. You get closer and they complain “it hurts when I do this”. You suggest stopping. So they do. People are trying to get information on your church website but it hurts. So they just stop. And sadly, they turn back to your printed bulletin for their information. Why? - [Your Last-Minute Easter Communication Checklist: 4 Things](https://beknownforsomething.com/last-minute-easter-communication-checklist-4-things/) - Tick. Tick. Tick. The days are passing quickly as we approach one of the largest days on the Christian calendar. Many of you are prepared for Easter while other church communicators are scrambling to make sure people will attend church next week. Is there anything more you can do? Here’s a quick checklist of things - [Church, Calm Down (7 Website Tips)](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-calm-7-website-tips/) - You walk into a local coffee shop to get some work done. After a few moments you realize the place is more crowded than usual. Several people decided a toddler was a wise addition to their caffeine ritual. The calm place you wanted is overwhelmingly chaotic. You stay for a short time, can’t get your - [Get the Attention of Your Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/get-attention-community/) - I travel a lot for my job helping churches communicate better. Walking through airport terminals, I’m struck by the amount of busy people. All of them with places to go; they’re on a mission! People moving in various directions almost colliding into each other. Stores and kiosks with glittery things encompass the hustle trying to - [5 Must-Haves For Church Websites](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-must-haves-church-websites/) - Websites are changing. As experts are watching the way people interact with them on a regular basis, we’re seeing trends that are consistent with our research with church communications. Every church website MUST have these 5 things to be effective with the average web user: Simple, Flat, Responsive Design. Gone are the overly-complicated designs of - [4 Tricks To Conquering Church Social Media](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-tricks-conquering-church-social-media/) - Social Media is here to stay. 45% of users feel “worried or uncomfortable” when email or Facebook aren’t accessible (neotericUK). We like scrolling though our feeds with many of us getting our news from it. With Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snap Chat capturing most of the people in your church, why shouldn’t you show up - [5 Ways to Pray for Your Church Communicator](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-ways-pray-church-communicator/) - We need to pray for all ministry leaders in our churches. Prayer catapults the individuals who lead us into the hands of God and allows us to intercede on their behalf. It also helps us understand their weaknesses and enables us to think selflessly about them. Leaders who are looked after by God are better - [Is Your Church Known by Love This Way?](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-known-love-way/) - Church is a group of Christ-Followers, and Christ asked us to love like He does. When each of us follow His example, we will be known for Love. Being known for something requires consistency and strategic intention. It’s not easy. Often we find ourselves apologizing for the Christian on Facebook or for the inappropriate workplace - [Your Church Logo Doesn’t Need a Religious Symbol](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-logo-doesnt-need-religious-symbol/) - “Put a cross in it please”, said the Pastor who recently asked our studio to design a new logo for his Church. I believe he’s wrong so I challenged the notion. He said he wasn’t sure, but the committee he reports to requested it. Good logos are rarely designed by a committee. But if you’re - [Every Sentence Needs Editing. Here’s How.](https://beknownforsomething.com/every-sentence-needs-editing-heres/) - Barriers are obstacles that keep people from gaining access to something. With churches, for example, that can be receiving information. Our ministries are rich with information that needs to connect with our congregations and communities. We need to eliminate all barriers that obstruct important information by editing communications. Have you ever asked a simple question and - [A Simple Way to Say Something Complex](https://beknownforsomething.com/simple-way-say-something-complex/) - I was talking with someone recently and it felt like I needed to draw a flowchart in order to understand his conversation. He gave me so much detail that I got lost in it. We run into those people; they can answer a simple question with a very complex discussion. I feel like interrupting by - [3 Practical Tips to Be More Creative in 2017](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-practical-tips-creative-2017/) - A new year begins and somehow everything becomes fresh and different. But it quickly has a tendency to become the same-old, same-old routine. Creativity is often elusive. Internal mental blocks and external critics stifle us. We know we want to be creative, but we often run out of ideas. After 3 decades of being a - [Church Goals? It’s all about the baseline.](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-goals-baseline/) - I love dreaming up goals for myself personally, for ministry, and for business. Have you done it yet? January tends to be the time to set goals and start thinking about fresh ideas. I’m not talking about resolutions that will be forgotten in a few weeks, I’m talking about committing time to focus on things - [3 Foundational Church Communication Tasks for Starting 2017](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-foundational-church-communication-tasks-starting-2017/) - Christmas 2016 has come and gone and now the ministry pause happens before the realization of 2017 hits us. After such a busy time of year, it's an excellent time to rest and start planning how the new year will be the best ever. If you’re like most active churches, there are many church communication tasks - [3 Church Communication Failures](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-communication-failures/) - No one wants to fail at something. A company doesn’t set out with a product and hope it fails. A politician doesn’t want to lose. Yet, many fall. The Church, with its critical message of hope, grace, and life, can’t afford to fail. Nor does it try to fall flat in communications. But sadly, it - [The Church Asked. They Didn’t Answer.](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-asked-didnt-answer/) - Churches need to collect stories and answer questions from their community. How do they do it effectively? Recently, a church posted on their social media page a request for questions they wanted to be answered in an upcoming sermon series. Something like, “do you have a burning Biblical question that you’ve always wanted the church - [7 Crucial Church Communication New Year Preparation Tips](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-crucial-church-communication-new-year-preparation-tips/) - We’re down to a few weeks! The New Year is around the corner and, unfortunately, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas distract us. After the flurry of work, or even during it, you need to focus on 2017. It’s going to be your best church communication year ever! Here are 7 tips to becoming ready for - [Whew. The Church Event is Done. Not.](https://beknownforsomething.com/whew-church-event-done-not/) - Throughout my life, I’ve been involved in church events. Either planning, writing, acting, singing or promoting large (and small) church activities. Although, as a church communicator, we spend most of our time before events —in preparation and promotion. Then, what seems like seconds before the event, you are overcome with relief as you realize your - [Is Your Church Merry about Christmas?](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-merry-christmas/) - Culturally, Christmas is getting a bad rap (or is that wrap?). Companies are trying to secularize the holy day by promoting materialism and jolliness instead of any religious affiliation. It seems the only time the Church is mentioned in news stories is to talk about how we’re complaining that the world is making this a - [Want a Church App? Think Twice.](https://beknownforsomething.com/want-church-app-think-twice/) - There are two kinds of churches: ones who hate change and those that want all the latest gadgets. We need to create churches with a balance. Churches should establish the best communication tools and stick with them until something truly better comes along. Mobile devices have taken over. We use them for email, shopping, browsing, - [4 Sermon Tips to Help Them Communicate Better](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-sermon-tips-help-communicate-better/) - I’m not a Minister or a Pastor. However, I’m a communications person. All communicators aren’t Pastors; and sadly, all Pastors aren’t effective communicators. I’m not talking about you. I’m talking about the leader in charge of the church down the road. We all need to be reminded of effective communications. Especially if we are in - [You Can’t Do Church Communications Alone](https://beknownforsomething.com/cant-church-communications-alone/) - Remember when most churches' total communications to their congregations consisted of a sign that was changed weekly, a simple newspaper ad with service times, and an informative bulletin (worship guide)? The sign and ad were intended for community outreach (along with an expensive annual yellow pages ad). The bulletin was “the” place for all the - [3 Reasons Every Church Needs a Communications Director](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-every-church-needs-communications-director/) - When we started our church communication’s company 15 years ago, very few churches had full-time communication directors. We talked mainly to Pastors, Worship Leaders, Secretaries and Volunteers. Now, many churches have a full-time dedicated person who’s committed to the communications of their local church. Finally! It’s not just the large churches either; we see medium-sized, - [5 Quick Improvements to Your Church Facebook](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-quick-improvements-church-facebook/) - Almost everyone has a Facebook account. Checking it and posting to it regularly (follow me at www.facebook.com/BeKnownForSomething). The majority of churches have (or should have) a Facebook page, but most need to improve their social media presence. If you’re a church communicator, you’re juggling a lot of things and don’t have a lot of time, - [Advocate for your Audience](https://beknownforsomething.com/advocate-audience/) - I wanted something at a local department store (FYI: it’s like amazon.com except in a building). I had received their promotional email about a small appliance sale. When I looked at their shelves, there was a demo model but no new appliance for sale. The next hour became a blur of chaos, questions, ridiculous answers, - [3 Simple Church Social Media Tips](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-simple-church-social-media-tips/) - People get together in various places. You simply have to realize why they’re a group, what they need, then deliver it, and they’ll be happy. Mostly. The world is shifting to online social areas. Yes, groups still meet in churches, bars, restaurants, and community centers too but the ease of “showing up” online is so - [Your New Church Communication Economy](https://beknownforsomething.com/new-church-communication-economy/) - We put up with a lot in life. I just got back from the gym where I lifted heavy weights until every muscle in my upper body is crying out in pain. A few days ago I spent a couple of hours out in the heat mowing my grass, trimming, and edging. This isn’t a - [You Don’t Need More Time. You Need A Deadline.](https://beknownforsomething.com/dont-need-time-need-deadline/) - Time. There never seems to be enough of it. And I should know. I’m a creative and I’ve worked in the agency business for 30 years. No one ever gets enough time. As an underlying foundation, you, as a church communications person, need to give up on trying to gain more time. Instead you need - [4 Limitations Every Church Communicator Must Understand](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-limitations-every-church-communicator-must-understand/) - In life there are few truly unlimited things. There’s God. But even He’s limited to His nature (He can’t sin, for example). Often “unlimited things” come with fine print that controls the expectations. Think about unlimited data for phone services or cloud storage. Ministries have limits and certainly you’re not unlimited. In order to establish - [Knowing Your Audience: Effective Church Communication](https://beknownforsomething.com/knowing-audience-effective-church-communication/) - The other day I drove up to the little drive-thru speaker, paused while trying to make my ordering decision, and a garbled voice asked to take my order. I think. I politely said, “I’m sorry, I’m not quite ready yet”. There was another incoherent reply. After a few seconds, I questioned aloud, “hello?” and got - [Preaching to an Empty Room](https://beknownforsomething.com/preaching-empty-room/) - Imagine your Pastor standing behind the pulpit. All the lights are on, the microphone is working nicely, and the doors are unlocked so people can freely come in. He’s worked for hours on a great sermon that he knows many people will respond to. He clears his throat and delivers an eloquent message. Except it's - [Church Storytelling is Essential](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-storytelling-essential/) - When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I remember walking around in a haze. It rocked my world, and every task was clouded by the realization that she was terminally ill. I walked by people and wondered if they knew my personal turmoil. People I dealt with at restaurants and retail stores didn’t seem to - [3 Church Social Media Mistakes](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-social-media-mistakes/) - We all have limited minutes to accomplish all the demands on our time. Clearly, we need to be strategic while questioning what we’re doing during our busy schedules. Social media comes down to our return on investment. Not necessarily monetary investment; but our time too! It is important and takes time, but if it’s not successful, - [Act the Age of Your Community!](https://beknownforsomething.com/act-age-community/) - The (big-C) Church covers the globe through a web of local ministries. We’re part of the Church because of our relationship with Christ. Why are we part of our local (small-c) churches? Because it’s in our local community and represents our faith understanding. Based on the community’s diverse beliefs, denominational churches arise so that there - [Your Church Communication Elusive Magic Bullet](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-elusive-magic-bullet/) - A friend recently texted to request help with a computer issue. I knew how to do it, so I gladly offered to sit and show them. There was a pause and they asked, “can you just give quick instructions now?” They obviously wanted me to text back a single tweet that would educate them to - [3 Steps to Being Discovered in a Marketing Saturated World](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-discovered-marketing-saturated-world/) - The other day I picked up a “Where’s Waldo” book (the discovery books from the 80’s and 90’s). I used to love gazing at the intricate drawings, trying to find the little striped-shirt kid. Slate.com took the time to research and publish a strategy to find him at least 50% of the time — you simply - [3 Critical Church Website Errors](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-critical-church-website-errors/) - When the world started building websites, people were amazed. They instantly questioned, “will they catch on?” I remember my first conference in the mid 1990’s that talked about their power. Most of us got caught up in the technical programming complexities and how the tool was actually created. I left wondering if anyone would want - [You Need This Kind of Church Communication’s Calendar](https://beknownforsomething.com/need-kind-church-communications-calendar/) - My wife and I have a busy, active family with two sons. We’ve constantly tried to juggle details of work, church, school, and play. It’s been frustrating and impossible with all of us living on our own schedules. My wife started a written family calendar that quickly became a shared iCal calendar once we all - [Be Known for Love](https://beknownforsomething.com/be-known-for-love/) - Jesus called his disciples together in John 13 and washed their feet just before His evil betrayal. In the chaos over the discussion of who it was that would betray Him, Jesus says to his disciples “Love one another. Just like I love you; Love one another” Why you might ask? Then He continues “because - [Fall Church Calendar: Be Social](https://beknownforsomething.com/fall-church-calendar-be-social/) - We clearly know the best means of transportation. If I’m headed across the street, it’s easier to walk. If I’m traveling several states from here, I’d choose to fly. It comes down to what I want to achieve, the time needed, and the transportation methods available. When it comes to effective church communications, it’s also - [The Difference Between Likable and Sharable Social Media Posts](https://beknownforsomething.com/difference-likable-sharable-social-media-posts/) - Thinking about shareable social media posts, I remembered a conversation I had. “Hey, do you remember Susan Branscombe from elementary school?”, I was asked recently by someone from my old neighborhood. I couldn’t recall her. That’s not unusual since a few decades have gone by. They went on trying to get me to remember her. - [Change Nothing? Nothing Changes.](https://beknownforsomething.com/change-nothing-nothing-changes/) - The church has (rightfully?) been accused of keeping everything the same. “We’ve never done it that way before” is heard throughout many churches. We are afraid of change. Of course, important tenets of our faith need to stay the same because that’s the truth that makes us the Church! But when it comes to ministry - [Tips to Effective Church Greeters](https://beknownforsomething.com/tips-effective-church-greeters/) - Every week you have families arriving at church. They walk through the main doors of your building and follow the same path that they usually take to “their” seat. I regularly do church mystery visits in order to get an impartial feeling for a congregation. I attend each Sunday service, and I’m surprised about my - [7 Things Every Church Communication Team Needs](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-things-every-church-communication-team-needs/) - For a Church Communication Team (CCT) to work in an average church, a lot has to coordinate correctly. I talk to a lot of CCTs who feel defeated and not appreciated. This helps nobody. These are symptoms of greater needs. Every CCT wants church ministries to be successful. They need 7 things for that to - [Your Church Website Says No; But You Say Go](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-website-says-no-say-go/) - I was driving down a city street in a school zone and a Police Officer was directing traffic. He had 8 lanes of traffic and his arms were swinging with various gestures in various directions. I thought he was telling the lane next to me to stop and for me to go. I was wrong. - [3 Church Communications Time Savers](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-communications-time-savers/) - As I visit churches across the country I realize that ministries have so much to communicate: events, promotions, services, requests and stories. Sadly, the more I research behaviors of church staff, I see we’re doing more and more while having less time to get it all done. Since we have limited time, we need to - [Eliminate All Parking Barriers at your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/no-parking-barriers-church/) - Most church properties have things that tells the community it’s a gathering place for worship. A steeple, a sign, stained glass windows, architecture, and, of course, a parking lot. What does your parking area say to your community? Is it full looking? Tidy? Always empty? Is it welcoming? Could it be a barrier to worship? - [Seriously: there’s no Secret to good Church Websites](https://beknownforsomething.com/no-secret-good-church-websites/) - A few years ago, during a meeting, someone asked a question about an upcoming national event. We all guessed at the answer. Then someone suggested to “Google it”. They “found” the answer on a desktop computer in the next room. Fast forward about 10 years and this time the meeting was around a restaurant table. - [Internal Understanding Isn’t Good Church Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/internal-understanding-isnt-good-church-communications/) - Churches love to talk to themselves. We create internal groups, names, and acronyms that try to sound clever but no one outside of our church would ever know their meanings. This isn’t a good way to communicate! Recognize any of these Internal Acronyms? FROG = Forever Relying On God DIVAS = Divine Inspired Victory Against - [3 Ways Church Websites are Broken](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-church-websites-broken/) - Imagine driving a car that doesn’t work properly. Every time you get into it, there are constant reminders that you need to update your vehicle. Perhaps it’s a convertible with the top constantly down while it’s cold outside. Warning lights are going off all the time and everyone around you knows the car is totally - [3 Post-Easter Communication Changes](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-post-easter-communication-changes/) - It’s hard to believe that Easter is finished for another year. All that preparation and planning -- especially with communication! Hopefully your church used this holy day to reach into your community and minister to their needs. After any large event, you should have a post-analysis of successes and weaknesses. The sooner that happens after - [Spring Break: 3 Reasons You Need One](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-you-need-a-spring-break/) - It’s difficult to take a spring break when running full speed on a treadmill. That’s the thought I had at the gym this morning. We’ve convinced ourselves that we can’t possibly rest when we’re in a fast-paced ministry world. It’s a lie. God didn’t really need to rest at the end of creation; except He - [Last Minute Easter Communications Tune-up](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-easter-communications-tune-up/) - Spring breezes are barely starting to blow and air conditioning companies have started suggesting a tuneup for your AC unit. Tuneups are simply wake-up checklists to make sure everything is performing properly when challenged. Lent season is underway so… Easter communications need a tuneup for the challenge to come! Easter is the climax of the - [Your Church Needs an Alarm Clock](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-needs-an-alarm-clock/) - I got my first Walkman® when I was 16 so I could listen to the radio while I delivered newspapers. Imagine! Coupling music with work. Having that flexibility was a great solution. Back in the Canadian city where I grew up, my parents listened to CFNB; but I preferred the more “hip” CIHI. Occasionally I - [4 Ways to Make Shareable Sermon](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-to-make-shareable-sermon/) - Pastors have a lot to say in a Sermon. God has put these important messages on their hearts. But the impact of a sermon is only as good as the people who hear it. If no one comes to listen, no one will be influenced by it. That’s why every Pastor has to develop a - [A Church Quitter: Tips to Reaching Them](https://beknownforsomething.com/dealing-with-a-church-quitter/) - Are you a quitter? Most would say, no, I'm not a quitter. But I think there’s lots of ways we quit. Some statistics say as many as 95% of dieters fail. With 45 million Americans dieting each year, there’s some quitting going on. Should I ask about your daily quiet time? Sadly, I realize I’m - [The Church Communication Secret (Shhhh)](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-church-communication-secret/) - Church Communication must be broken. Thousands of churches are closing every year; only 1 in 5 are growing, and it’s estimated that 3500 people abandon church DAILY. Only a small amount of churches seem to be working, so church communication must be a secret. Have you ever watched one of those viral videos with clever - [Seriously Church, Stop Using Facebook This Way](https://beknownforsomething.com/seriously-church-stop-using-facebook-this-way/) - Facebook celebrates its 12th birthday next month. Time flies. Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) has changed our lives. I remember the first time I registered on Facebook’s website. I thought I’d be the only person with an account but no friends. Then, almost like magic, people found me from the past. And I located - [“My Church Website is my favorite!”, Said No One Ever](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-website-favorite-said-no-one-ever/) - What is your favorite website? What site do you go to over and over again? It’s probably not your church website. Even if you designed and developed it! And the sobering truth is; your congregation will never say your church website is their favorite place to go online either. It’ll never happen. So should we - [Church Website: Stop Apologizing Now](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-website-stop-apologizing/) - You’d never go to church wearing something that forced you to apologize each time you saw someone. “I’m sorry I have this huge stain on the front of my shirt”. There’s only one time to make first impressions. Imagine if you’re in charge of welcoming visitors! You’d spend time deciding what to wear and what - [Church Personas: Fat Ones. Fit Ones. New Ones.](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-fat-ones-fit-ones-new-ones/) - Awhile back, after almost a decade of going regularly to the gym, I took 6 months off. Fortunately, I returned after realizing my clothes were strangely shrinking. I was drifting away from being fit. During my break, I discovered if I didn’t workout daily and continued to eat what I’m accustom to, I would change - [Quickest is Rarely the Best Choice](https://beknownforsomething.com/quickest-is-rarely-the-best-choice/) - You can have it good, fast, or easy. But you can only pick two. We’ve seen this statement. We chuckle over it and nod in agreement. But ministry staff doesn’t seem to get it. I talk to Church Communicators regularly and they often have complaints like “I’d love to do more to communicate the great - [Pastor, do you need an Optometrist?](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-hows-your-vision/) - I visited the eye doctor. I have the issue that “older” people get: my arms just aren’t long enough to hold the book to read well. I hate to admit it. I need reading glasses to help my vision. I’ve never needed glasses. I’ve prided myself with perfect eyesight, but now my age has caught - [3 Ways to Get a Response When You Don't Have Big Budgets](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-get-a-response-when-you-dont-have-big-budgets/) - Flip on your TV and you get bombarded. Go to your favorite internet site and you get barraged. Pick up the newspaper and you get the same. Everyone is trying to get your attention: political ads, holiday ads attempting to drive traffic to large national chains while local businesses running poorly designed ads that no - [3 Sanity Checks When Caught in the Middle](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-sanity-checks-when-caught-in-the-middle/) - My wife’s a middle child. She tells stories about how she felt left out and sometimes caught in the middle. You may feel like you’re always the middle person on the team. Not the best, not the worst. And we're caught in the awkward couple of weeks in the middle of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The - [3 Ways the Church Could Learn from Black Friday](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-the-church-could-learn-from-black-friday/) - The Black Friday name originated in Philadelphia about 4 decades ago as a description of the crazy traffic that occurs as people race to stores for after-thanksgiving sales but later became the day that describes when retailers start to turn a profit (according to wikipedia). It’s become the Sabbath day of materialism. We celebrate Thanksgiving - [Are You Practicing Thanksgiving Authentically?](https://beknownforsomething.com/are-you-practicing-thanksgiving-authentically/) - We’re just days away. Thanksgiving comes before Christmas although you wouldn’t know from the Jingly commercials on TV! Thanksgiving has sadly become little more than the official start of the holiday season. And that’s a shame. We have so much to be thankful for. Our salvation, grace, mercy, family, friends, and the list goes on - [3 Church Things Google Cares About](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-things-google-cares-about/) - Church communications is complex. Anyone who thinks it’s easy isn’t doing it the right way. It requires creativity, lots of time, juggling of information, plus volunteers and staff working on it all. Many churches are spending a lot of time feeding their digital hub. The website’s the central hub with social media and email complementing - [Creating an Effective Church Communication System](https://beknownforsomething.com/creating-an-effective-church-communication-system/) - My garage and workshop needed organization. A quick look and it was obvious. I hate not being able to find stuff. The more disorganized something is, the harder it is to get started. They say that recognizing the problem is half the battle. I think they lie. Recognizing the problem is really only the start - [3 Do’s and 3 Don’ts for Church Websites](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-dos-and-3-donts-for-church-websites/) - We understand the purpose of fences. Without them, we wouldn’t know the boundaries of our properties. Fences also give comfort. I’ll walk close to a fence that has a cliff on the other side while I’d avoid the area if the 3” thick divider wasn’t there. Church websites need boundaries too. Not specifically listed rules, - [Please Read These 297 Words](https://beknownforsomething.com/please-read-these-297-words/) - I have a confession. I rarely finish books. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy browsing but I don’t read much. I read the introduction, the first chapter (for the premise) and then flip through the pages looking at chapter titles, section headers and the occasional callout. Why? I get enough information and motivation from that. - [Churches Need a Well. What’s Yours?](https://beknownforsomething.com/churches-need-a-well-whats-yours/) - Jesus sat down at Jacob’s well (John 4). His Disciples weren’t with Him since they had other things they needed to be doing. Jesus was alone but He knew that people with a need would be coming to that location. Knowing He was in the very spot that ministry would happen, He set out to - [Church Storytelling Tips: Social Media Edition](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-storytelling-tips-social-media-edition/) - We’ve been there: in a church service listening to the teaching. Your mind wanders to the game that’ll happen in the afternoon or where you’ll eat after the service. Then the Pastor pauses and starts, “The funniest thing happened to me yesterday at the grocery store” ...and almost audibly, you hear everyone’s attention directed - [Your Church isn’t Social. 3 Proofs.](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-isnt-social-3-proofs/) - Have you been invited to a social event recently? Or even more importantly, have you invited people to yours? What about your church services or special events? Of course you have (I hope). We love to get together. The church is called to this fellowship. God knows we need to be around other like-minded people - [2 Ways to Stretch Your Church Communications Budget](https://beknownforsomething.com/2-ways-to-stretch-your-church-communications-budget/) - It’s that time of year. A lot of churches are establishing budgets for next year and most want to do more with the limited funds that are budgeted. When it comes to a church communications budget, there’s usually two goals for your church: 1) Engagement: Let your congregation know what’s going on and 2) Evangelism: - [SnapChat for the Church? Possibly!](https://beknownforsomething.com/snapchat-for-the-church-possibly/) - Special Extended Snapchat/Social Media Article The rules of communications changed the day that social media launched. I remember hearing about the new platforms of communication. My kids were talking about them and I knew I needed to discover their power. It was 2006. WFX Conference called and asked if I’d teach a workshop on emerging - [No One Likes a Copycat](https://beknownforsomething.com/no-one-likes-a-copycat/) - If you’ve ever heard me in a seminar, workshop, or conference, you’ve probably heard my rant about Pepsi Max. The history is clear in the cola wars. Coca-Cola invents something and Pepsi appears to copy it. From their initial offerings in the late 1880’s, to their diet concoctions, to the masculine diet drinks (Zero and - [3 Ways to Get a Response](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-get-a-response/) - Flip on your TV and you get bombarded. Go to your favorite internet site and you get barraged. Pick up the newspaper and you get the same. Everyone is trying to get your attention: political ads leading up to an election where very few will actually vote, holiday ads attempting to drive traffic to large - [12 Church Website Tips (Cheat Sheet)](https://beknownforsomething.com/12-church-website-tips-cheat-sheet/) - In college, as I took classes and studied, I often created “cheat-sheet” cards that I hole-punched, put on a large hoop, and hung on my belt loop. I’d concisely write information that seemed to be exam-worthy on each card so I could review it between classes. I wanted to be ready for the exam! As - [Can Print Communications Co-exist with a Digital Hub?](https://beknownforsomething.com/can-print-communications-co-exist-with-a-digital-hub/) - I tell my kids that it’s rarely “either/or” and usually “both/and”. Then I regret teaching the axiom since Biblical “truths” contradict the slogan. Like a traffic light some admonitions require a red light or a green light; never both on at the same time. But when it comes to finding solutions and creativity, the best - [What Color is your Church Wearing?](https://beknownforsomething.com/color-your-church-wearing/) - I have a few friends who seem to only wear black. And then there are Pastors I know who always seem to be wearing a sweater vest. Or khaki’s and an oxford shirt. In fact, you’re probably known for wearing a certain style. We’ve learned that clothes “make the man”. Mark Twain extended that though: - [3 Church Changes Required for the Next Generation](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-changes-required-for-the-next-generation/) - “How can I get more people to be regular attenders at our church?”, a Pastor asked me recently. Like most of our church clients, they have excellent ministries and a great campus of buildings. But they’re starting to decline in numbers. Everyone wants a large group. People engaged with the ministry and committed to the - [Your Welcome Card Needs Updating](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-welcome-card-needs-updating/) - I recently entered a grocery store and a person approached me out of the corner of my eye. I had the feeling a torpedo was locked on me. I didn’t know him so I stepped aside to let him pass. He altered course with me. Gulp. “Do you have a few moments to answer some - [No Money Church Communication Solutions](https://beknownforsomething.com/no-money-church-communication-solutions/) - I was out running errands the other day and realized I needed to stop for gas. I reached for my wallet and discovered that I must of left it at home. I pushed my hands into my pockets hoping I’d find some stray dollar bills. Nothing. I had money, just not when and where I - [Church Communications: 3 Ways to Energize It | Part 2](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communications-3-ways-to-energize-it-part-2/) - Church Communication Energized: continued from PART 1 Many are slipping behind with their church communications. Make your church communication energized! There is a proper way to do Church Communications. Here are the last 2 ways to energize your communications (see the first one here): 2. Have you centralized your church communications? Often a Senior Pastor - [Church Communications: 3 Ways to Energize It | Part 1](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communications-3-ways-to-energize-it-part-1/) - Church communication has gotten incredibly complex. We have additional ministries, satellite and multi-site campuses, a progressive attendance decline, along with a plethora of ministry communication tools that require content, updating, editing, and time. Most churches are adding communication staff to handle this growing challenge while some are simply promoting their current staff and adding to - [Pareto Principle | Why 20% Do 80%: And How to Fix it](https://beknownforsomething.com/pareto-principle-and-how-to-fix-it/) - I was having breakfast with a good friend. He’s an active participant in ministry and we were lamenting the Pareto Principle. That law of the “vital few”; where 20% of a congregation seems to do 80% of the work. I hear it so much in ministry meetings that it doesn’t hardly register anymore. But as - [Does Church Cost Too Much?](https://beknownforsomething.com/does-church-cost-too-much/) - Remember when you had to get up and walk (all the way) across the room to turn the TV channel? Or when you had to actually drive to a store to buy something? Or stop at a gas bar to ask for directions? Or go to the Library to research something? It’s hard to believe - [3 Marketing Lessons from Jesus](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-marketing-lessons-from-jesus/) - I get push-back regularly from church leaders when it comes to "Marketing". And I understand why. Often marketing feels like “compromising our message” or “manipulating an audience” for monetary profit. And both of these are absolutely wrong for the church. We deserve better. Instead, I believe that churches need to become known for something. For - [3 Instant Improvements for Church Social Media](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-instant-improvements-for-church-social-media/) - Friendster, MySpace and Facebook started only a decade ago. Then came YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and the list goes on and on. Social Media is everywhere. I spoke about the power of church social media at WFX near the beginning of the social explosion. People stared blankly at me as I explained that the - [Pastors, Make Your Church Logo Smaller](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastors-make-your-church-logo-smaller/) - Have you noticed things are changing with communications? Probably not. You have so much going on that church communication issues probably don’t register. So, allow me to call your attention to a change that speaks loudly to the church. Make your church logo smaller. You may think that branding is all about your logo. But - [You Can’t Do it All. Rest.](https://beknownforsomething.com/you-cant-do-it-all-rest/) - At creation, God rested on the seventh day. The trees, plants, grass and even the bears are getting ready to rest for a few months. Tonight, virtually everyone will close their eyes in slumber. We need a rest. We can’t do it all. Perhaps you’re juggling a ton of things with your church communications, leadership - [People Hate Reading. But Please Read This.](https://beknownforsomething.com/people-hate-reading-web-content/) - Memorial Day is coming soon, our children are finishing school, vacation Bible school is being planned, and vacation is on the horizon. Can you smell the grill and feel the warm ocean air? It’s usually about now that I contemplate a great book to read while I’m relaxing somewhere on a blanket or nestled in - [3 Tests to Building a Social Media Team with Trusted Voices](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-tests-to-building-a-social-media-team-with-trusted-voices/) - Occasionally we ask a Professional Communicator to let us know what they’re doing well (or learning). Welcome Jonathan Jones, a friend who understands the importance of social media and promotes brands such as: Willow Tree®, Silvestri®, Nat & Jules®, Glow-ology® and more. Who Do You Trust when you build a Social Media Team? One of the - [2014 Called: Wanting your Church Website Back](https://beknownforsomething.com/2014-called-wanting-your-church-website-back/) - I enjoy looking at Throwback Thursday postings on Facebook. Seeing the way people looked “back when”. Sometimes it’s concerning though that we once wore the things we did. Clothing styles certainly change from season to season and year to year! When it comes to digital church communications and your church website, there’s many changes that - [Church Website Paradigm: The Right Side is the Wrong Side](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-website-paradigm/) - A few years ago I traveled to the Turks and Caicos Islands. After flying, I was picked up by a limousine to take me to my client’s location. I was so glad I didn’t drive that first day. Because it’s a British territory, everyone drove on the left side of the street (most of the - [3 Turnaround Tips for a Shrinking Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-turnaround-tips-for-a-shrinking-church/) - 80% of churches are in decline or stagnation. What’s up with that? Do people not need the church anymore? Most communities are growing while local churches are shrinking. Let’s turn that around. The church hasn't done a great job communicating why its needed. Maybe we don’t know how to verbalize it? This is evident over - [One Math Equation You Need for Easter Communications](https://beknownforsomething.com/one-math-equation-you-need-for-easter-communications/) - 20% of the community is “undecided” whether they’ll attend church this Easter. Take a few moments and calculate that for your local church to put it into perspective: _________ (total population within a 20 minute radius of your worship center) x .20 = _________ (the staggering total in your community that “may” go to church - [Steps to Ensure Your Church Social Media is Working](https://beknownforsomething.com/steps-ensure-church-social-media-working/) - There are a few who are blessed to stand in front of a crowd -- but they have little worthwhile to say. And there are those with important messages to say but they don’t find themselves in front of a crowd that they can influence. Both situations are a shame. We’re blessed to live in a - [Important Open Letter to Church Communicators](https://beknownforsomething.com/open-letter-to-church-communicators/) - Dear Church Communicators, For almost three decades I’ve worked in this crazy, ever-changing field. I jumped into it the moment I saw Darrin Stephens (played by Dick Sargent) in the original Bewitched TV series. He was an “ad guy” who was always put on the spot in front of his clients as he tried to - [The Worst Church Communication Strategy Ever](https://beknownforsomething.com/worst-church-communication-strategy-ever/) - “We’re the best kept secret in our community” a Pastor recently said to me. I immediately thought of the song “Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m going to let it shine!”. Often, I’ll be traveling to a new location and someone will take me to dinner at a great restaurant that’s also “the best - [3 Church Communication Issues You Must Fix](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-issues-to-fix/) - I use an app called "Things" to keep the list of tasks I must do. As I read an email or think of something randomly; I can quickly add it to my list with a few keystrokes. Due dates? No problem. The app does a great job reminding me each day of the things I - [*Poof* A Church Disappears](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-poof-who-cares/) - We have a small restaurant near our home. It serves… er… ah… food. Its name doesn’t contain any descriptors to let me know what kind of food it does serve. Occasionally, they post a poorly-made handwritten sign boasting the special of the day. I seem to see the sign when I don’t want to stop - [Is your Church Jumping the Shark?](https://beknownforsomething.com/jumping-the-shark/) - Every service or product has a lifecycle. It’s rare that a successful product starts out with an instant “win” and maintains it. There’s a natural bell curve that occurs throughout a life cycle. And it all takes a lot of hard work. TV shows often have the same thing occur. It takes some time for - [The Word a Church Business Administrator Shouldn’t Be Known For.](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-business-administrator-should-not-be-known-this-way/) - I’m sure that in the early years of raising a child, you found yourself saying “no” a lot. As they grew, you probably realized you said the word less, but used it to avert more serious consequences. While I was raising my two sons, I also ran a communication’s agency. I had people working with - [There's 11 Weeks to...](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communications-easter-failures/) - Easter! Yes, it's right around the corner. Your church should be planning for this "big day" on the church communications calendar. There are 3 communication failures that we see regularly as churches plan to invite the community to their Easter services. We’re told that Easter Season is the most effective time to invite an unchurched person to - [2015 Church Communication Trends to Watch](https://beknownforsomething.com/2015-church-communication-trends-watch/) - It’s that time of year. We look back across the months of 2014 to identify buzzwords and topics for church communication trends. Looking back is only good if it can help you anticipate the future. What's the church communication trends for 2015? I have a formula for that. Simply identify what’s risen above the noise - [Your Church isn’t Social. 3 Proofs.](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-doesnt-use-social-media-well/) - Have you been invited to a social event recently? Or even more importantly, have you invited people to yours? What about your church services or special events? Of course, you have (I hope). We love to get together. The church is called to this fellowship. God knows we need to be around other like-minded people - [“ We can’t afford to update our Church Website ”](https://beknownforsomething.com/cant-afford-to-update-church-website/) - You’re hungry so you enter a neighborhood restaurant. You eat out occasionally, but to be honest, you find it easier to put meals together at home. You drive by this business many times since it’s on your way to work. Before you decided to stop in, from the comfort of your living room, you picked - [Stop Your Church From Singing This Way!](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-church-singing-way/) - I was walking in a park and heard musical tones from the other side of a treed area. A brass instrument and drums, I think. I thought I heard some singing too. There was really no way to make out the song. Nothing sounded like it was mixed properly. Our churches do the same thing. - [3 Surprising Communication Items Missing From Your Church Budget](https://beknownforsomething.com/communication-items-missing-from-your-church-budget/) - Ah, November. Church budget time for most. Pastors, communication leaders, and members want to reach communities better for Christ, and do it in the most cost-effective manner possible. But how do we do it? Since 4000 evangelical churches close their doors every year in America, we hear it loudly: the church can disappear in our growing communities and very few seem - [What Can I do With a Limited Budget?!](https://beknownforsomething.com/limited-budget/) - “Help. Our church needs better communications but I’m not sure where to start with our limited budgets”, said a Pastor at a recent conference. Church communications is a hot topic! I’ve just finished speaking at several national church conferences and people want to know where to start. Or continue. Budgets. The mere mention sets church - [Church Bulletins: 2/3’s of Congregations WASTE Them](https://beknownforsomething.com/congregations-waste-church-bulletins/) - Church Bulletins: SPECIAL Extended Article I walked toward the Worship Center. An usher briefly caught my eye and handed me a church bulletin. I didn’t really want it but I felt like I was obligated. Greeters are good like that. It’s like they’ve been challenged to give away the most bulletins. Whether you call it a - [2 Symptoms of Deep Church Communication Issues](https://beknownforsomething.com/deep-church-communication-issues/) - I like indoor plants. They supposedly clean the air with big health benefits but I really just like the way they look. In a room of hard edges, plants soften the look of a room. I monitor their growth, prune, water and fertilize them as I need to. Occasionally as I’m tending to them, I - [3 Instant Improvements for Church Social Media](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-instant-improvements-church-social-media/) - Friendster, MySpace and Facebook started only a decade ago. Then came YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and the list goes on and on. Social Media is everywhere. I spoke about the power of “social media” at WFX near the beginning of the social explosion. People stared blankly at me as I explained that the mechanism - [3 Improvements Your Church Website Needs this Fall](https://beknownforsomething.com/fall-improvements-church-website/) - The kids are back in school and your fall church programs are beginning. I used to love going to school in the fall. I remember the feeling when I arrived at school in my new clothes with my new backpack loaded up with fresh notebooks. I’d open the notebook cover to a clean, first page - [2 Ways Church Bulletins Need to Play with Digital](https://beknownforsomething.com/2-ways-church-bulletins-need-to-play-with-digital/) - When I visit family and friends in Atlantic Canada (where I grew up) I have to remind myself and my family to please wear nice socks. It sounds odd. But I’ve been living in North Carolina for 14 years and it’s easy to forget the “ways” of my homeland: when you enter a home, you - [3 Church Social Media Tricks](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-social-media-tricks/) - Churches (and individuals) can quickly extend their ministry by using social media. It’s mostly a free signup and costs you only time. More than three quarters of Americans are using social media so our reach can be amazing. We connect to people who know us and other people who are interested in what we have - [3 Steps to Creating a Viral Church Video](https://beknownforsomething.com/creating-a-viral-church-video/) - Viral. It used to describe how a high school student could create a Mono epidemic. One popular kid catches the virus and “somehow” some girls start yawning. Then other guys mysteriously feel lethargic. Soon, an entire school is talking about the outbreak. All from one kid. Now, in a similar manner, someone thinks up (or - [3 Church Website Failures (Bless Their Hearts)](https://beknownforsomething.com/three-church-website-failures/) - “Bless his heart.” I love that non-genuine statement we say when we see someone trying their hardest but not quite having the ability to accomplish the task. You know, the nervous, wet-handed soloist who attempts a song that is just a little too high for his voice. Most churches have purchased the URL to represent - [1 Guaranteed Way to Reach Farther](https://beknownforsomething.com/reach-farther/) - Growing up, my family had music blaring from our house. And it could be heard easily since, living in Atlantic Canada, we didn’t have air conditioning (we didn’t need it for most of the year and on the days that required cooling off, we relied on the mostly-present breeze), so we kept our windows open - [Return On Investment](https://beknownforsomething.com/return-on-investment/) - Occasionally we ask a Pastor or Church Communicator to let us know what they're doing well (or learning). Welcome Bill Segroves! The Church at Cross Point has always been very friendly to college students. Around 8 years ago we began hosting a venue/coffee shop for students called Bonhoeffers. The bands that play vary wildly in style - [3 Most-Asked Questions at NACBA](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-most-asked-questions-at-nacba/) - Orlando was hopping! 100’s of churches were represented at the 2014 National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA) conference in Orlando. We were honored to be part of their re-branding and launch of The Church Network at the conference. Mark MacDonald, our Sr. Church Brand Strategist, spoke four times and we had a trade show booth - [Making Church Bulletins Better](https://beknownforsomething.com/making-church-bulletins-better/) - Don’t get me wrong. My last blog may make you think print is dead. That’s far from the truth. Instead, the print world is figuring out how to co-exist within the digital world. Get it correct, even though it’s diminishing; and print will continue to have influence. We still read books and flip through print - [Time to KILL your Worship Guide? 4 Things to Consider](https://beknownforsomething.com/kill-your-worship-guide/) - It seems that every day we hear stories of secular newspapers realizing it’s not worth the cost of their reporters, the paper, or the printing. Even with advertising revenues helping to pay their costs! So why do we think it’s worth the church’s expense to pay for bulletins? Actually, it’s not really the “cost” that’s - [1 Web Trend Churches Should do Well](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-web-trend-churches-should-do-well/) - I love taking my kids to a fun outing and quizzing them at the end to find what they “got out of it”. Someone can experience the same things as another and hear or see something different. It’s all because we translate experiences through our own prism. It’s ultimately “what’s in it for me”. Website - [1 Thing My Dad Taught Me. And Why It Matters to You.](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-thing-my-dad-taught-me-and-why-it-matters-to-you/) - What did you do yesterday? Can you remember the details? What about last week? Our memories blur the farther we get from them. When my Dad died 4 yrs ago, I remembered many details. His voice, laugh, and manner. And as years separate me from the details, there's a standout memory that Dad continually taught me: A - [2/3’s of Congregation WASTES the Bulletin. #Crazy](https://beknownforsomething.com/23s-of-congregation-wastes-the-bulletin-crazy/) - I walked toward the Worship Center this past Sunday. An usher briefly caught my eye and handed me a ministry guide. I didn’t really want it but I felt like I had to. Ushers/greeters are good like that. It’s like they’ve been challenged to give away the most in order to win something. We started - [3 Reasons Church Websites Aren’t Being Read](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-church-websites-arent-being-read/) - Communication budgets are being wasted by churches. Almost every ministry has a website now and sadly the investment may not be wise. The mentality (that we hear all the time) is “it’s not very good, but it’s better than not having one”. I disagree. For 3 reasons: It wastes donated money to have something that doesn’t - [Out with the Old, In with...](https://beknownforsomething.com/out-with-the-old-in-with/) - I love sitting down to a new book. Starting a clean notebook. Entering a new year. 2014 is exciting to think about. 12 months of uncharted waters. In order to adequately prepare yourself for the year: Review last year. Successes are fun to remember. Build on them. But take time to look at failures (anything - [3 Odd Things Learned from a Snowstorm](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-odd-things-learned-from-a-snowstorm/) - I’m Canadian. I still remember my youthful excitement for impending snowstorms. We’d get up to 48” of the white stuff at a time. The Province where I grew up (NB) gets over 9 FT of snow each year. Now, living in North Carolina, we can only dream of a few flakes in the air. I’m - [More and More. People are Reading Less and Less.](https://beknownforsomething.com/more-and-more-people-are-reading-less-and-less/) - I can still remember my Mother telling me to “turn off the TV and read a book”. I think she truly believed that my brain was turning to mush. And that the TV literally sucked brain cells that only a book could replenish. During a recent conference I blurted out “no one’s reading anymore! And - [Imagine An Expert Mentoring You - Atlanta](https://beknownforsomething.com/imagine-an-expert-mentoring-you/) - I recently heard a story about a very successful business man who wanted to help the next generation. He decided that once a year he would spend an afternoon with a promising (rising) person who was just entering the field. One ground rule: You can ask any question as long as you accept the honest - [3 Choices We All Have](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-choices-we-all-have/) - I was recently in Houston conducting a mystery church visit, demographic study, and website analysis. I grew up in a smaller city and I’m still amazed when I see big city infrastructure. Roads, overpasses, signs, and tons of traffic. Heading to the church, I was following my GPS closely but ended up in the far - [1 Guaranteed Way to Website Failure](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-guaranteed-way-to-website-failure/) - I watched someone loading their car at IKEA. They put several small boxes in first to “try and fill the nooks and crannies”. Having packed a car many times in the past, I envisioned a large stamp reading “Failure” stomped onto their attempt. Even before it was completed. You have to start with the large - [3 Reasons You're Wasting your Time on your Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/wasting_time/) - Have you ever done something and wondered why you seem to be wasting your time? Perhaps talking to your teenage kids or telling a mechanic what seems to be the problem with your car. Or maybe it's when you preach a passionate sermon about stewardship. Are you just wasting time? No one wants to "waste - [8 Principles So People Choose You](https://beknownforsomething.com/8-principles-so-people-choose-you/) - I recently had the privilege of speaking at the National Association of Business Administration (NACBA) general conference. So many people, churches, organizations, and businesses want to have relevance; and they need to control the perception of their organization. It all comes down to Choice. You need to have people choose "you" to be successful. In - [People Try Different Things](https://beknownforsomething.com/people-try-different-things/) - Yesterday was National Ice Cream day. So a group of our friends had an ice cream social last evening. We all brought ice cream, toppings or drinks. And had a ball while ingesting 1000's of calories. It was heaven. Looking at the table of ice cream choices, I had a huge choice. We had flavors - [Old MacDonald Taught an Important Lesson](https://beknownforsomething.com/vacation/) - Having the name "MacDonald" almost precludes that I'm from a farming family. In fact I grew up thinking that the familiar children's tune was about my grandfather. In my mind, he embodied "Old MacDonald". He had a farm. And animals. And amazing tomatoes, strawberries and apples. My Dad got a piece of land from the - [3 Reasons For a Business Failure](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-for-a-business-failure/) - All the signs are happening again. The restaurant near our office has changed ownership again (the 4th time in as many years). They've changed the business name, sign, and even painted a few things. The menu is a bit different; but most people in our community couldn't clearly define that. Mrs. Winners Chicken and Biscuits - [5 Biggest Ministry Website Problems](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-biggest-ministry-website-problems/) - Ever go to the doctor for 1 problem and find out it's something totally different (than what you expected)? Doctors move past symptoms and try to get to foundational issues in order to stop the surface problems. Doctors could simply deal with 5 things: stress, overeating, sedentary lifestyle, hereditary, and bad diet to eliminate most - [5 Steps to Making Ministry Social Media Effective](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-steps-to-making-ministry-social-media-effective/) - This morning I was reminded in our church service that we're called to Christian Fellowship. Perhaps why the church has taken social media by storm. But there are still many churches not doing it as effectively as they should. "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread - [3 Essentials for Business Relaxation](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-essentials-for-business-relaxation/) - It's finally summer. It's mainly warm, the beach or pool is calling; and you simply want to relax. "A cheerful frame of mind, reinforced by relaxation... is the medicine that puts all ghosts of fear on the run." George Matthew Adams Do it. But may I suggest 3 essential things to do while relaxing: Recharge. - [3 Summer Tasks](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-summer-tasks/) - Summer. The very thought of the word elicits a memory. Or an emotion. Often it's what you've experienced in the past or maybe it's a romantic notion that you've seen in movies or read in a book. Summer is known for many things. But ultimately, the majority of us think the same. It's rare that - ["Best Way To __________"](https://beknownforsomething.com/best-way-to-_____________/) - Just after my wife and I were married; someone shared with us a secret: "Never wallpaper together" They were wrong. They should have added "Never remove wallpaper together". One word makes all the difference. We've purchased older homes and every one of them had horrible, glued, tacky wallpaper. And each time we've tried to tackle - [After 18 years, I graduate this week](https://beknownforsomething.com/after-18-years-i-graduate-this-week/) - It was 1995, a little over a year after my wife and I welcomed our first son into the world, and Isaac was given to us. We jump forward 18 years and Isaac graduates this week from High School. The "formal" ending to us raising him. He jumps from our parental nest. His brother spread - [A Few Sobering Words. About You.](https://beknownforsomething.com/a-few-sobering-words-about-you/) - Our friends' son graduated this weekend from our church's high school. It was a different ceremony than most. The graduating class had a lot of personality and they showed it with their decorated caps and small adaptations to their simple strut across the stage. Each student seemed to be unique in their own skin. The - [Don't be a NEW Xbox One](https://beknownforsomething.com/dont-be-a-new-xbox-one/) - Underwhelming. That's what someone told me after listening to the HUGE Xbox announcement from Microsoft. I can only imagine the amount of time and money that went into this updated device. But the more I talked to early-adopter-type people (the kind who drool at new digital stuff like a bee does looking at a clover - [Churches: Want a 1-Day Primer in Communications?](https://beknownforsomething.com/churches-want-a-1-day-primer-in-communications/) - Everyone needs a pick -me-up. If you're working in; working on; or leading a church communications team (website, worship guides, eblasts, social media, etc) -- then this is a 1-Day Communications Workshops Seminar for you! Conveniently happening in conjunction with the NACBA’s national conference in Charlotte, July 12. This day-long intensive is focused on bringing - [Help! I need to be Found.](https://beknownforsomething.com/help-i-need-to-be-found/) - I remember when I was about 8 yrs old. I was walking in the downtown of the city that I grew up near. It was some sort of huge gathering. People everywhere. I wasn’t paying attention (even though this was clearly in a time I wasn’t preoccupied with a texting or game device). I just - [Pick a suit. Any suit.](https://beknownforsomething.com/pick-a-suit-any-suit/) - My younger son asked me if I'd help him get ready for prom. I, of course, said "sure!" With a teen, it's not always clear what his expectations are. And whether I would come close to the unestablished standard. I asked him what he'd like from me (see, I've learned from previous occurrences): I needed - [Brute Force Attack on WordPress: Caution!](https://beknownforsomething.com/brute-force-attack-wordpress/) - What's going on with the world? We hear of global internet slowdowns because of people attacking servers and over taxing them. We also see that some famous people are being "swatted" by people calling SWAT teams to investigate false burglary reports. And then people are breaking into accounts and revealing personal information, photos, and financial - [3 Tips to Stop Hackers](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-tips-to-stop-hackers/) - Recently we blogged in our sister blog about hackers attacking WordPress. Be sure you read it! As we were writing it, several ideas came to mind about how to be safer online. It's always good for a refresher course. Hackers are becoming more and more sophisticated. We need to be smarter! Here 3 Tips to - [Resurrect a Dying Brand](https://beknownforsomething.com/resurrect-a-dying-brand/) - Easter is an important time for me (and millions of Christians). Jesus (who lived a sinless life) was crucified and buried. 3 days later He did what He promised. He arose. That resurrection empowers me because I put my full faith in Him to have power over death for me when I die. NOTE: The - [6 Things Every Church Needs. Or You’re Wasting Time. And Money.](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-things-every-church-needs-or-youre-wasting-time-and-money/) - After 27 years of working with churches, ministries and organizations; I’ve noticed most people don’t have money or time to waste. Here’s 5 things your church needs; to stop wasting money and time! Simple Vision. Can you and the average person in the pew (in 1 simple sentence) clearly explain why your church exists and - [Plug your Audience in.](https://beknownforsomething.com/plug-your-audience-in/) - I stayed at a hotel in Charleston this week. After several hours of driving I finally got to lay down. Not to sleep, but to check email and catch up on a few jobs on my MacBook Pro. You know the drill. I booted my laptop and needed to plug it in. Adapter in hand - [3 Steps to “White Smoke”](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-white-smoke/) - The Pope was selected this week. We watched with anticipation for the white smoke. After only few hours of waiting, poof. A new Pope. If only it was that easy to find a new Pastor! Our church has been looking for over a year; waiting for “white smoke” to rise in a service. Although we - [Jesus and Sushi. Authentically.](https://beknownforsomething.com/jesus-and-sushi-authentically/) - The Pastor at the church I was visiting recently was preaching through the book, The Story. The previous week they had ended the narrative of the Old Testament and today they started the New. With a refreshing exhale. For weeks they’ve been pointing toward this person called the Messiah; and then the Pastor “introduced” us - [Brochure Copy Doesn’t Belong Here](https://beknownforsomething.com/brochure-copy-doesnt-belong-here/) - My wife and I headed to Charleston, SC this weekend. We enjoyed talking for the first 3 hrs but then the last couple of hrs we started to have awkward silent periods. I didn’t want to quickly turn on the radio and to seem like I didn’t want to talk (especially if she still wanted - [Please Love.](https://beknownforsomething.com/please-love/) - Valentine's Day has come and gone. Now what? It's easy to "love" someone on a day that is dedicated to "love". And although it's not wrong to love when it's "expected"; Jesus said that we (the Church) are to be Known for Love. What does that mean? On a recent mystery visit with a church; - [I'm a Cookie Thief](https://beknownforsomething.com/im-a-cookie-thief/) - It's true. I was caught with a cookie at my local grocery store. An ugly scene. The grocery store close to our old office; regularly had their manager handing out cookies. They had a clear glass cookie jar and little wax paper "picker-uppers" so we could sample. I felt loved. To be honest, I got - [Your Church is Hiding under a Bushel. No?](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-is-hiding-under-a-bushel-no/) - Hide it under a bushel? NO! I'm going to let it shine. I think we all know the childhood song. No one wants to feel like we're hiding the enlightening message of Jesus. Why? People need Jesus. And if anyone is honest about their lives; they realize they need "Something/Someone" bigger than what they can - [3 Simple Things Most Don't Do.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-simple-things-most-dont-do/) - Common Sense. I think it's the reason most businesses fail. Sense isn't that common anymore. We all buy from various companies because of specific reasons. We put up with crazy business decisions if the benefits outweigh the bad. And we'll part with a lot of money to get unique benefits. Business is essentially giving people - [Businesses: 3 Things You Must Love.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-businesses-must-love/) - Valentine's is just a few days away. I'm amused when I walk by the Valentines' Card section and see men standing and roaming through cards on the rack. None look impressed. Too many to chose from. None feel like something they'd actually say. But men are expected to give a card and a gift so - [4 Ways to Tell a Great Super Bowl Ad](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-to-tell-a-great-super-bowl-ad/) - If you're anything like me; I totally enjoy the commercials during the Super Bowl. In fact 40% of American viewers say they find it the favorite part of the game (Lab42). I would agree since I don't follow sports very closely. That's a higher percentage than people choosing the food, the halftime show and the - [The Principle Learned from Our Wing Dive](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-principle-learned-from-our-wing-dive/) - We have a ridiculously, horrible-looking restaurant near our house that we drove by for over a year, until someone at church (that we fully trusted) told us that the restaurant was known for incredible pizza and wings. She saw me turn my nose up and simply said, "don't knock it for its outside, you'll love - [Super Bowl Trademark Rules You Should Know](https://beknownforsomething.com/super-bowl-trademark-rules-you-should-know/) - There's always a lot of hype about the "big game". You know... the Super Bowl. The football game we're not supposed to use that "special" term for. Because it's supposedly "protected". But not actually (in the way we'd expect). You can refer to the game; much like you can refer to a car as a - [Do our Churches Drip?](https://beknownforsomething.com/do-our-churches-drip/) - Yesterday I tried to fix our shower from dripping. A simple fix I convinced myself. I reviewed several You Tube videos and armed with that (admittedly) little bit of knowledge, I headed to the do-it-yourself big-box store. I needed validation and some correct parts. I got neither. That visit started 4 hrs of driving, removing - [12 Tips for Calming Your Communications.](https://beknownforsomething.com/12-tips-for-calming-your-communications/) - Chaos abounds in life. Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any given work day. We are barraged with images, videos, sounds, cries, barks, etc. We have honey-do lists, our own must-do priorities, demands on our time, and requests from clients, friends, and family members. Should I even mention emails, spams, direct mails, and iMessages? If you live in - [1 Way Your Church is Like a Restaurant](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-way-your-church-is-like-a-restaurant/) - Everyone has to make decisions. We make them everyday. If there's not many to choose from (like: "I wonder what color pen I'll write with today?" -- and there's only a blue or a black pen near you) then it's easy. But when there's lots to choose from (like: "I wonder what restaurant I should - [3 Things to Reflect on This Time of Year](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-to-reflect-on-this-time-of-year/) - The Bible talks about the stupidity of looking into the mirror and quickly forgetting what you just saw. Christmas is full of glitter and shimmer. All those little pieces of reflective lights should remind us to do some reflective thought. As we wrap up another year, it's the perfect time to reflect on the last - [3 Christmas Presents for You!](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-christmas-presents-for-you/) - I remember when I was young, I would sit for hours and stare at wrapped Christmas gifts, never touching them (it was a family rule), and wondering what was inside. It's funny that I never figured out that I would get a lot of the things I'd asked for. And I don't think I've ever - [Wow. That was Difficult! And that's Good.](https://beknownforsomething.com/wow-that-was-difficult-and-thats-good/) - I love getting presents. I especially like brainstorming gift ideas for my family and friends. I want people to do it for me; but often, a gift becomes simply a "thing" that represents the generosity of a person. This is, of course, perfectly fine, but don't you love getting that simple gift that says "Wow, - [3 Starting Steps to Community](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-starting-steps-to-community/) - Christmas time. It's hearing a song and almost instantly remembering happy thoughts. Or getting a gift and realizing the thoughtfulness of someone. Baking smells from the kitchen evoke pure comfort. Christmas is (for the most part) a happy comfortable time. Yet, when you visit with people over the holidays, you can have two reactions. I - [4 Steps to People Choosing You!](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-steps-to-getting-people-to-choose-you/) - After church today we started down the road. Normally we eat out each Sunday lunch. So I asked the "regular" question: "Where do you want to go?" I think you've been there. You really don't want anything in particular; no specific ethnicity of food. No one could make a decision. My wife mentioned, "We must - [4 Ways to Help Visitors](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-to-help-visitors/) - I was in a local store (Christmas shopping) and I asked a worker where I could find something I was looking for. I think this was my first time in the store for about a year; and everything seemed new and different. I walked in and knew I was in the right place to find - [2 Timely Things Pastors Should Do](https://beknownforsomething.com/2-things-pastors-should-do/) - Is it just me? Or is life flying by way too fast. We want our food cooked faster, quicker deliveries, and we've realized that our time expires before we run out of all our tasks. The older I get the more things I have to do. And before Christmas it seems that it get even - [The Fatal Website Error](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-fatal-website-error/) - You’ve probably noticed that you don’t like reading long articles or even wordy emails. Everyone is overwhelmed with information. We just don’t have excess time. Website analytics prove this. In fact, most people spend less than 10 seconds on a web page! Based on average reading skills, that’s about 50 words. And research shows that - [The Power of 890.](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-power-of-890/) - They say that "everyone" goes to church at Christmas. Can you imagine if they all did! Instantly, some concerns, of course, come to mind: What would they hear at each church? What message would possibly change their direction? Is telling the simple Christmas Story enough? What is the take-away benefit message of the Christmas Story? - [All I want for Christmas...](https://beknownforsomething.com/all-i-want-for-christmas/) - That tune is stuck in my head. I heard it while shopping today and it's become an ear worm. All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth... But when I typed the first few words into the headline; it made me think: All I want -- this usually indicates 1 thing (and not - [3 Things to Help You Reply](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-to-help-you-reply/) - I have a pet peeve. I hate when people don't respond quickly to emails, texts, voicemails. And it seems like the time frame for hearing back from people is growing. To me, it's like saying something in a conversation and the other person just blankly stares at you with no reply. It drives me crazy. - [3 Ways To Be Known for Thanksgiving](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-be-known-for-thanksgiving/) - Many of you know, I'm Canadian (but lived in the US for the last dozen years). So this week; although we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the US, it seems late to me. I'm used to having Canadian Thanksgiving in October. And, since I'm used to all the questions from Americans, here's the answers: Yes, our - [4 Ways to BE the Perfect Gift.](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-to-be-the-perfect-gift/) - Even this early in November. I'm starting to think about Christmas. I'm one of the "odd" people that over thinks gifts. I want to make sure that the gift matches the person and that they realize I understand them and have discovered an appropriate gift. In order to do this: I need to know the - [3 Things You Must Get Right on Your Church Website.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-you-must-get-right-on-your-church-website/) - I met with a new client in Indiana this week. When I go to a new place, I often use hotwire.com to help me find a nice hotel for a reasonable price. It's all about value when I travel. I add the hotel address to my calendar so that when I land at an airport, - [Look Behind You For...](https://beknownforsomething.com/look-behind-you-for/) - Have you ever set out on a hike and you're in the front. You start down the path, wondering what's around the corner. You break trail, you pull limbs back, and you discover what's behind the brush. You're having fun. You love leading the way. You notice the wildlife and then you see something that - [1 Timely Church Disconnect](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-timely-church-disconnect/) - We gained an hour last night. Early evening I set all the clocks back and as the night progressed, I got more tired than the clock showed. At 9:30 (according to the clock); I was exhausted. Because it was actually 10:30 (my bed time). I finally gave in and went to bed before 10 pm - [Print is Toast.](https://beknownforsomething.com/print-is-toast/) - "So, is print going away?" the Pastor asked me this week. It's an interesting question. And I'm asked it a lot. The newspaper/magazine industry is asking the same question. It seems like the digital age is rolling over the traditional paper printing. Is it going away? I don't know. Except I do know this: Print - [4000 Calorie Lesson.](https://beknownforsomething.com/4000-calorie-lesson/) - Please don't judge me; but I recently sat down with my wife at a new sports restaurant in our town. Our friendly waitress approached us with the menus. Then introduced us to their Football Appetizer Platter. Jalapeno Poppers. Fresh Fried Chips. Buffalo Chicken Tenders. Deep-Fried Mushrooms. Battered Mozzasticks. My mind immediately switched from "eating good" - [45 Amazing Leadership Tips](https://beknownforsomething.com/45-must-learn-must-read-quotes/) - I mentioned in an earlier post that I went to Catalyst East (Atlanta) recently. I'm still churning over my "takeaways"; but more so over how to put them into practice. I pulled my notes out and decided to list some things I'm thinking about from the sessions. Not sure if these will mean as much - [Attention all Armchair Judges!](https://beknownforsomething.com/attention-all-armchair-judges/) - We've all become arm chair judges. It started with American Idol where we started judging "pitchiness" and "song choice". But perhaps it really started with sports. I'm amazed to sit with friends watching sports and how they are critical while yelling at the screen. It's almost like they played professional sports themselves. But they didn't. - [Your Church Needs the Nones.](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-church-needs-the-nones/) - I hate walking into a room full of people I don't know. My inner bashfulness kicks in and I scan the room to see if there's something to do (to look busy) or a small group that I may know. Everyone wants to feel wanted. Or needed. In the past, people developed friends at work, - [Think Small. Really Small.](https://beknownforsomething.com/think-small-really-small/) - I have to confess I love politics. I love the election cycle. I love watching the debates. Politics is marketing gone wrong. People are tuning into a debate to do 1 of 3 things: Love their Candidate More, Decide Who to Vote For, Hate on The Opponent I notice that usually the moderator has a - [1 Way to Get People to Change. I Promise.](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-way-to-get-people-to-change-i-promise/) - I took the last several days and went to Catalyst Atlanta. It's a Christian Leadership conference that I wouldn't miss. It has expected and unexpected moments. Fun, education, motivation, praise, worship, entertainment, speaking. And more. I learn more in 2 days than I learn in several months. I try to note the major points from - [If No One Reads; Would You Write?](https://beknownforsomething.com/if-no-one-read-would-you-write/) - I'm often reminded how we do things only if we are rewarded. You eat because it tastes good and it solves your hunger. You buy virtually everything for it's benefits. iPhone = Organization and Networking. Clothes = Covering/Comfort or To Look Good. You get my drift. So why do you write things down? You probably - [You Have a Mobile Company. Make it Right!](https://beknownforsomething.com/everyone-has-a-mobile-company/) - We went to the Dixie Classic fair this week. It's huge; the 2nd largest in North Carolina. Since moving to the US, we have become addicted to "fair" food. You know; all the traditional and non-traditional deep fried, candy-coated, treats that are rarely offered anywhere else. Except the Fair. Funnel Cakes Krispy Kreme Hamburgers Candy - [What's the big dif?](https://beknownforsomething.com/whats-the-big-diff/) - Imagine if everything around you was the same. Exactly the same. All your friends: the same. Your meals. Your books. Your tasks. Your clothes. You'd be able to make choices easier, right? Actually it makes choices more difficult because there really is no choice. If all hamburgers were equal, then it really doesn't make sense - [3 Problems in Most Websites.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-problems-in-most-websites/) - I love when TV shows do "instant makeovers". The fashion guru wanders through a crowd and finds the diamond in the rough. They identify the fashion issues and make changes as needed. They make it seem so easy. We did that this week. We conducted dozens of Quickie Analysis packages on websites at the WFX - [1 Big Takeaway from WFX 2012](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-big-takeaway-from-wfx-2012/) - I was blessed once again to speak at the WFX Atlanta. And had a booth in their expo too. What a week! We launched our new BeKnownForSomething Brand Strategy team to great fanfare. What we realized: Churches ultimately want to control their image and Be Known For Something. To influence a community. Lots of questions - [Our Church Branding Family is Growing!](https://beknownforsomething.com/our-family-is-growing/) - I've been married for 22 years to the same amazing person. I remember walking down the aisle as a couple. Getting pictures taken. Arriving back to the reception. And almost instantly someone asked us when we were going to start our family. Seriously? First, I believe that when I married Tammy, we already started a - [Kill Your Worship Guide. Now.](https://beknownforsomething.com/kill-your-worship-guide-now/) - I walked into our church yesterday morning and the greeter (aka usherette) stepped forward and handed me a worship guide (aka bulletin). I took it. She said, hi. I took my seat and added the bulletin to my Bible as though it's my favorite bookmark. I see 2 or 3 other bulletins randomly placed throughout - [3 Steps to Creating Your Headline](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-creating-your-headline/) - I'm a sucker for headlines. I pick up my daily newspaper and I'm drawn to good headlines. I'm flipping through TV channels and I hear "after this break, we'll..." and I'm instantly attracted. I wait through the ads just to hear what will be said or revealed. Headlines have to be: Short Enticing Rewarding Leading - [2 Things You Must Remember about Emails](https://beknownforsomething.com/2-things-you-must-remember-about-emails/) - I'm warring with email. Although statistically SPAM is down quite a bit over just 3 years ago, I seem to get a lot of it. And when I get through deleting all the junk mail, I'm often cranky and don't seem to enjoy getting "real" emails. Sometimes emails get "lost" in the clutter. I'm not - [Andy Griffith: What He Was Known For](https://beknownforsomething.com/andy-griffith-what-he-was-known-for/) - Andy Griffith died this week. The reports mention Mr. Griffith's hometown TV show named after him. Or they mention his other famous character, Matlock. Why? Because he was "known for" being an actor. An entertainer. Did you know he was also a gospel singer, a writer, a producer, a father, a grandfather... and the list - [3 Things that Need Changing in the Church... It's Time.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-that-need-changing-in-the-church-its-time/) - We have a lot of change in our home. The adage "the only thing in life that's consistent, is change" is so true. Our son just graduated from high school and our younger son became a senior in high school. This is a picture of us at the graduation (along with my Mother-in-Law from Canada). - [7 Things Your Business Should Own](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-things-your-business-should-own/) - It's happened to us. We've lost something. We look around and we realize someone else has it in their hands. We approach them, "Excuse me, but I think that's mine". They look up and say "I just found it, and I was thinking it looked just like something of yours". What do they mean by - [What's Your Label Look Like?](https://beknownforsomething.com/whats-your-label-look-like/) - I was in a store recently and someone had been messing with the signage. It seemed like everything was mixed up. It reminded me of the age-old prank where you take labels off of canned goods (in someone's pantry) and reattach them to the wrong cans. Or perhaps I may be dating myself. We design - [What if your Church Closed?](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-if-your-church-closed/) - Every Friday the PinPoint team goes out to lunch. Essentially for 2 reasons. 1) Team building -- to hear weekend plans and 2) to eat ice cream. Everyone needs ice cream on Friday. But I digress... This past week we decided to go to a local sub brand. I explained we'd have to go across - [4 Huge Branding Mistakes](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-huge-branding-mistakes/) - I'm writing this on Father's Day. I tend to be retrospective on this day. I think back about how I acted with my Dad; and how my kids act around me. I'm blessed to have 2 great boys. As teens, I think they're better kids than I ever was. But perhaps time warps my memories. - [3 Surprising Facts about Website Views](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-surprising-facts-about-website-views/) - I'm a people watcher. It's an art that goes back to my college psychology classes. I want to be a student of people. I learn a lot from interacting with them; and just observing. I also like watching reactions and eye-glances. Especially when something unusual happens. That's why I LOVE the eye-tracking that's going on - [5 Things a Communication Strategy Will Do](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-things-a-communication-strategy-will-do/) - I don't have a lot of money. You probably don't either. So when I decide to buy something; it has to work and have a good Return of Investment (ROI). If I buy a car; it has to be cost-effective in getting me around. A meal has to satisfy. So if you're doing marketing and - [Does Your Church Embrace the "AND"?](https://beknownforsomething.com/does-your-church-embrace-the-and/) - You may know I'm part of a group of Christian Businessmen who are studying Good to Great (Jim Collins). We just completed the last chapter; and I must admit; I loved a "nugget" that really hit home. Embrace the "AND". We believe it has to be one way or another. Black or White. Contemporary or - [3 Things You Must Do To Increase Readability](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-you-must-do-to-increase-readability/) - Everyone is wordy. And I am too. And when someone is given a lot of words (especially in paragraph form); most people won't read them anymore. So each time I type a Facebook post, web copy, blog or a simple email, I write what comes to mind. It's always too long and has too many - [You Won't Believe Who Goes to Church Websites!](https://beknownforsomething.com/you-wont-believe-who-goes-to-church-websites/) - A recent study was done by Grey Matter Research. They took a long look at church Websites and researched people who visit them. Here's 3 interesting findings: Non-Church People are going to church Websites - 22% of ALL Americans visited a church site in the last half year. Of those who browse regularly online, the - [3 Lists You NEED to Make Billions.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-lists-you-need-to-make-billions/) - Facebook has raked in some money this past week! Over 100 billion dollars and growing. It’s so crazy to think about. That’s like spending a dollar every second of every day for over 3100 years. Or $11.4M every hour for an entire year. What would you do with that kind of money? Often we make - [3 Simple Things For Speaking in Public](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-simple-things-for-speaking-in-public/) - My older son is graduating from High School in a few days. It seems like only yesterday that he was born. He entered the world at 10lbs 12oz. Talk about an impact! And he's been known for his leadership ever since. He always wanted (wants) to be first in line. First to try something, First - [Quads Birthed in our Driveway.](https://beknownforsomething.com/quads-birthed-in-our-driveway/) - Quadruplets. Right in our driveway! Next to our car. It happened so suddenly with little warning. But the Mother practically smacked us when we came too close. Yes, I'm talking about the 4 little robins that hatched in the shrub just outside our door. We've been watching as the robins prepared the nest, then laid - [3 Essentials For Leadership Transition](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-essentials-for-leadership-transition/) - I'm a huge Apple fan. Why? Because it's what hooked me on technology. My brother always had a PC and he knew programming and boring techie stuff. Brent was much more analytical than I and what he did with computers did not interest me in the slightest. Then, Apple. I got my 1st through the - [3 Things you can Blame. And 3 Next Steps.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-you-can-blame-and-3-next-steps/) - I was talking to a leader who explained how the company he joined 3 or 4 years ago weren't going as smoothly as he'd hope; so I asked him about the future. He surprised me with his response: "From the moment I arrived, I knew there were problems. I've been saying it since I arrived. - [Podcast: Church Brand Positioning 101](https://beknownforsomething.com/podcast-church-brand-positioning-101/) - Recently, a good friend, David Tonen, interviewed me for his Ministry Perspective Podcast about the importance of Brand Positioning for Churches. It's freshly posted on his website so I figure I'd let you listen in. He asks great questions; and I try to answer as concisely as possible. It's a message that all Pastors should - [The 1 Color to Never use Around Food.](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-1-color-to-never-use-around-food/) - We're working on a branding project right now and our client asked some interesting questions about color. As I've learned through graduating from a Color Psychology Institute (who heavily tests colors) certain colors illicit various emotions and reactions. It's no secret that I love food. I also enjoy trying new restaurants. Often I have to - [3 Things Pastors should do before Summer](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-pastors-should-do-before-summer/) - It's that time of year. Your church year is winding down. Fall (last year) is only a memory, Christmas still brings smiles to your face, and Easter seems like only yesterday. As the weather continues to warm, graduations are being advertised, and your congregation is starting to plan their vacations. So, what should you be - [My Shortest Blog Ever.](https://beknownforsomething.com/my-shortest-blog-ever/) - I’m tired of analysis paralysis. You know, the feeling you get when you sit down to a desk full of work; that you avoid doing anything. What’s one thing that your business NEEDS you to do right now? Do it. What’s the one thing that your business NEEDS you to stop doing right now? Stop - [Who’s the Mayor of your Church?](https://beknownforsomething.com/whos-the-mayor-of-your-church/) - Social media is everywhere. People love the interaction and the “rewards”. Lately, I’ve been playing with FourSquare. It’s a free service that allows you to “check in” to places you go to. Your friends can see where you’ve been (or are). You can see what your friends are doing. You get “rewarded” by points/awards as - [Smash your Company. It’ll save it.](https://beknownforsomething.com/smash-your-company-itll-save-it/) - I drove down a busy street in Dallas this week and glanced at a forlorn transit shelter. You know, the kind that has glowing advertising on either side. At 35 mph I didn’t have much time to see it. The plastic ad was smashed so I could see the exposed fluorescent lights and just part - [Every Church Website Needs this Video](https://beknownforsomething.com/every-church-website-needs-this-video/) - Do you like meeting people? Walking into a room of strangers? What about being thrust into a situation that feels different. When I arrive at a client meeting for the first time, I confess my heart races a bit and I have to concentrate on looking confident. One of the cool things I do for - [Good Parenting is like Good Branding](https://beknownforsomething.com/good-parenting-is-like-good-branding/) - We had family staying with us this past week. My wife’s sister and brother-in-law from Canada. They have 2 small toddlers that evoked memories of our children many years ago. You can imagine how difficult it is for 2 separate families of 4 to live in 1 house. But we (the adults) see parenting the - [Prepare for the Perfect Storm](https://beknownforsomething.com/prepare-for-the-perfect-storm/) - I’m traveling today to client meetings in Texas. It probably wasn’t the easiest day to fly. Several weeks ago when I booked everything (the meeting, the hotel, the airfare, the rental car); I didn’t realize that a "perfect storm" was brewing. Today the time changed. My early morning flight became a REALLY early flight. Now - [Need a Fresh Coat of Paint? Here's a Easy Way to Tell.](https://beknownforsomething.com/need-a-fresh-coat-of-paint-heres-a-easy-way-to-tell/) - At our office complex they're painting the restrooms. I must confess that I've not been upset with the color of them. Or the overall look. It was painted a light, off-white, beige with a lighter trim. But now that it's painted a fresh blue color and pure white trim, the fixtures (and whole bathroom) looks - [1 Thing Most Businesses Forget about SEO](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-thing-most-businesses-forget-about-seo/) - Has this ever happened to you? You need to talk to someone; you pick up your phone but something distracts you so you have to hang up before they answer. A few moments later (when you're free), you pick up your phone and redial. The person answers. And for the life of you, you can't - [4 Things I HATE about Facebook Posts. (PS: Stop doing them)](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-things-i-hate-about-facebook-posts-ps-stop-doing-them/) - (Please Note: Honesty is written here. Don't hate me in the process.) The majority of people are using Facebook. There's a simple explanation of the mechanics of Facebook when you sign up; but really, social media is all about sharing information. Content if you will. And there's no "official" instructional manual for producing the content - [Wisemen Built Their Site Upon a Rock](https://beknownforsomething.com/wisemen-built-their-site-upon-a-rock/) - I remember one of the 1st times I built a sandcastle. We weren't "beach" vacation people growing up in Canada, so it was when I built one with my kids as an adult. My kids and I worked for hours on our masterpiece. Every little detail was added. A door, a path, ledges, etc. We - [Cover Your Logo](https://beknownforsomething.com/cover-your-logo/) - I was watching TV the other night and someone picked up their laptop and started using it. You know what the producers did, right? They had an awkward silver sticker covering the logo in the center of the open cover. Everyone realizes it’s an Apple MacBook Pro. Apple products have such a distinctive look for - [A Bad Experience with Ice Cream?](https://beknownforsomething.com/a-bad-experience-with-ice-cream/) - Ice Cream Friday. It’s as important to PinPoint as helping our clients “communicate, in unison”. I was traveling back from a Palm Beach Church conference. It was Friday. I got off my flight in Atlanta and quickly made my way to my next gate. And then I smelled it. The fresh-baked waffle smell and that - [Commericials. Super!](https://beknownforsomething.com/commericials-super/) - It's a phenomenon. The Super bowl that is. I'm not a sports person, yet I sit with family and friends, eat, and watch the game. From the start to the finish. OK, I know who is playing (I had to look it up); but ultimately I find the super bowl games rather boring. Sp why - [People HATE stuff in your Church; but still come. Here's why.](https://beknownforsomething.com/people-hate-stuff-in-your-church-but-still-come-heres-why/) - A person walks up to you and is violently slapping their face. It looks painful and you can't understand why they're doing the crazy action. "Does it hurt?" you ask? "Yes!" they weakly respond. "Then stop slapping yourself!" you quickly say. It seems crazy. Every day people do things to themselves that cause pain and - [Blogging. Simplified to 4 Tips.](https://beknownforsomething.com/blogging-simplified-to-4-tips/) - I've been blogging for about 3 years. I started, not because I had something to say, but because I was promoting the benefits of blogging in my seminars. I figured I should try it. And 300+ blogs later, I've learned a lot. Most importantly, my blogs are ALWAYS the top hits in our website. I - [Your Communication Team Needs 1 Very Important Thing](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-communication-team-needs-1-very-important-thing/) - 26 years. It's hard to believe that I've been professionally active in the branding, advertising, marketing field for that long. I've been a production artist, paste-up artist, production manager, designer, senior designer, art director, photographer, illustrator, creative director, copywriter, senior creative director, director of communications, vice-president of marketing, senior brand strategist, account supervisor and President. - [Pick a Problem. Only One.](https://beknownforsomething.com/pick-a-problem-only-one/) - Do you get overwhelmed easily? Strangely, I do. It's kind of crazy. I love taking complex tasks, organizing them and then accomplishing them. But I often get bogged down in getting things done. When I'm successful; I realize I follow a formula: I get a clear overview of all the tasks (problems). I remind myself - [Fire People Without This 1 Quality.](https://beknownforsomething.com/fire-people-without-this-1-quality/) - Remember your 1st job? Mine was at a "Soup Salad Sandwich" kiosk in a Mall. I answered a newspaper ad and they requested an interview. I show up in a dress shirt and tie (pressed pants and all). I don't even dress that nice for church anymore! The Manager met me in the reception area. - [5 Things Said on Deathbeds.](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-things-said-on-deathbeds/) - I'm always amazed at the stuff that gets passed around facebook. I enjoy seeing what touches people. The age-old "what will you say on your deathbed?" question came up the other day on someone's status. A nurse who deals daily with dying patients; wrote a poignant blog about the 5 most common things she hears. - [1 Thing To Make You Sell More.](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-thing-to-make-you-sell-more/) - I was in New Orleans this week for a great conference. Quality people that not only listened to me; but interacted with great questions. Travel has gotten crazy. The airlines don't get it. Here are my simple "steps" to travel (and booking my flights): Go to the web to see what flights are available. I - [You DON'T NEED a website!](https://beknownforsomething.com/you-dont-need-a-website/) - It's that time of year when you hear people say they want to change themselves. And when they tell you what they're trying to change, they mention how they're going to do it. Like: "I want to get into shape" and they suggest "I'm going to go to the gym once a week". You know - [5 "Checkup" Questions (fearless entrepreneurs only!)](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-checkup-questions-fearless-entrepreneurs-only/) - It's hard to believe that we're almost half way through January already. How are you doing with your resolutions? Goal-setting? There's still time. To be honest, I've been exploring and researching the possibilities for the new year over the last week; and this coming week, I'm going to narrow goals down and write them down. - [3 Things Every Church Should Do in 2012](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-every-church-should-do-in-2012/) - The top 3 US destinations for New Years are: New York City, Las Vegas, and Disney World. I bet if you took 30 seconds, you could identify why. Have you considered why your church is a destination? Each Sunday, it's a destination for the people who attend. In fact, you could say that each Sunday, - [3 Steps to Guaranteed Resolution Completion](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-guaranteed-resolution-completion/) - Happy New Year! I find it interesting that 45% of American Adults will make a resolution in the first few days of this year. And within 14 days, 25% will have abandoned it. Huh? Are you one on of them? We ultimately know what we should do, but we don’t. We set goals and never - [1 thing you MUST do before Dec 31.](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-thing-you-must-do-before-dec-31/) - Christmas parties make me realize how I dislike groups of people I really don't know. It's hard to say "I don't know you" and proceed in launching the conversation. My inner shyness roars loudly. When conversations happen, I click into "interview" mode. Asking questions and while they're answering, I feel if I don't have a - [4 Things You Should Know About Website Hosting](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-things-you-should-know-about-website-hosting/) - Church websites are so essential! But your 'website' is only a tool for delivering effective content. We've been building church websites for 10 years and here's 4 things to consider: Hosting has become a commodity. So you should be paying about $10/month. Ensure the host allows you to change things easily and cancel (while you - [1 Church. Many Locations. Guaranteed.](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-church-many-locations-guaranteed/) - Multi-site churches are here for awhile. They make sense. The failure rate’s low, the cost to set up should be low, and you can reach more people for Christ. I continually hear Pastors say they’re “1 church, many locations”. But in actuality, it’s far from the truth. When you set up a church in a - [3 Ways to Improve Your Website Now.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-improve-your-website-now/) - I love seeing TV shows with self-improvement tips. How to dress better, how to talk to people, how to take better pictures, how to use electronics, etc. I’m a sucker for the before/after pictures. The contrast emphasizes what needs to be done (and suffering the pain of doing them). How would you improve your website? - [2 Reasons you MUST be on Social Media](https://beknownforsomething.com/2-reasons-you-must-be-on-social-media/) - Rex Miller (who I recently had the privilege to share lunch) wrote a thought provoking book, Millennium Matrix, where he describes the “eras” of change. From Oral to Print to Broadcast to Digital. As I observed these eras, I realized that we went through these changes based on benefits. If we wouldn’t benefit from the - [Stop doing these 3 things.](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-doing-these-3-things/) - Ever felt like you’re wasting your time doing a bunch of stuff? It’s probably because the benefits are overshadowed by the work involved. You have a couple of options: change what (or how) you’re doing the stuff or STOP! We’re busy people. I don’t have much extra time. And I’m sure you concur. So why - [3 Resolves (and 1 Confession)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-resolves-and-1-confession/) - I’m reading Good to Great again with some of my friends. We heard Jim Collins speak at a conference about his new book but decided (since we want to lead GREAT businesses/ministries) to go back and re-read his classic. This month, we’re reading the first 2 chapters. The first? A summary of his process written - [3 Regrets from WFX Dallas](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-regrets-from-wfx-dallas/) - I’m traveling back from the Dallas Worship Facilities Expo. This felt like the best WFX ever. Because I’m on the board this year? Nah. I was only a cheerleader for the amazing conference staff. Maybe after a couple years of lamenting the economy and cut conference/travel budgets, Ministry Leaders realized that they’ve “paused” their lives - [3 Critical Things Realtors and Business Owners Need to Know (and do!)](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-critical-things-realtors-and-business-owners-need-to-know-and-do/) - I recently spoke at a Realtors' Conference. Really great people. You know, the kind that love to talk, love to take interest in what you do, and love to sell. It made me thing about how selling a house is similar to your business website. Imagine if you were selling your house. Then imagine that - [Church gone Mobile.](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-gone-mobile/) - I always like when someone asks, "what church do you go to?" The standard answer is Local Denomination Church in Local Community. I love the local church; but just when we started "doing" local church fairly well, the church is on the move. Of course, we're part of the global "Church"; and we can "meet" - [Know Your Sweet Spot.](https://beknownforsomething.com/know-your-sweet-spot/) - I love chocolate. In fact, this morning, I saw a bag emblazoned with "Hershey" on the side, and my mouth started to water. Of course, one must balance a sweet tooth with a salt tooth. Do you have a "sweet spot"? A special location that really works. 3 come quickly to mind. And they're totally - [Convert Your Message. Please!](https://beknownforsomething.com/convert-your-message-please/) - I bought an iPhone 4S this weekend (with 3 million others). I was excited to get it setup. I plugged it into iTunes and hit "setup new phone". It was a new phone. The other option of "restore a phone from backup" went un-clicked. I wasn't restoring anything. Except I was wrong. Don't misunderstand. The - [Wanted: An Apprentice.](https://beknownforsomething.com/wanted-an-apprentice/) - I just got back from the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta. 13,000 Leaders. Andy Stanley started the 2-day conference and he ended it as the last speaker. He always amazes me when he states things I know; but challenges me with things I've never thought of. He brought up the idea of having an Apprentice. - [Missed Catalyst? 9 Important Things you Missed!](https://beknownforsomething.com/missed-catalyst-9-important-things-you-missed/) - Just got back from Catalyst -- the premier Christian Leadership conference in Atlanta. 13,000 people, 2-days and so many challenges. Challenges: the good kind. The ones you listen to and realize that what you just heard will change you. If you do something with them! The Conference theme was "Be Present". And I was. Now - [STOP! Look here. Now!](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-look-here-now/) - I just got back from talking with a large church in Atlanta area about their branding, marketing and communications. Driving the 6 hours both ways was a time of recharging for me. I like to be alone. Don't get me wrong, I value family and friendship, I love meeting with clients, I even enjoy teaching - [4 Ways You May be Failing.](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-you-may-be-failing/) - My wife's baking an apple pie right now. The house is full of the wonderful smells. We all love to eat them. I'd pay a lot to eat her pie. Have you wondered why some companies are wildly successful (even in these economic times)? While some (perhaps you) are struggling? Most time, it comes down - [Extra, Extra. God's news is good news.](https://beknownforsomething.com/extra-extra-gods-news-is-good-news/) - 10 years. In Canada and United States, the media loves to remember. Consider the amount of time that "the talking heads" have to discuss and show about a certain theme. Consider how many minutes of coverage you've seen about 9-11 in the last few days and today. Have you ever wondered how a church or - [3000+ Days. Almost 3000 Deaths. A Big Change.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3000-days-almost-3000-deaths-a-big-change/) - We'd just moved to the United States from Canada. And had just decided that the future for our family was going to be in North Carolina. We were going to start a branding agency. Changes. I was raised in Canada. In my childhood, I celebrated victories of the past, and my family often talked about - [Happy Irony Day.](https://beknownforsomething.com/happy-irony-day/) - Today we celebrate Labor Day. By not working. What an irony! The one thing I hear from the businesses we work with (as well as from my own experience from running PCG); is that it's a lot of hard work.And that's an understatement. Especially in these hard economic times. What are the steps to a - [4 Things to a Different Ministry this Fall](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-things-to-a-different-ministry-this-fall/) - It's fall. With the turning of the calendar page, September arrives, then Labor Day, then... WHAT? Let's brainstorm some GREAT things to do. I know too many church leaders who get so wrapped up in programs, things to do, and church politics; that they forget the PEOPLE! Quickly, here are 4 things to make your - [Fresh Start. Refreshing Start.](https://beknownforsomething.com/fresh-start-refreshing-start/) - For 12 years every August, we've prepared our sons to prepare for the start of their school year. And, even though it's been decades since I was in 'formal' school, I remember the freshness of the fall when school was starting. Close your eyes, take a deep, deep breath, and remember what that feeling was - [2 Things Churches can Learn from Dominos Pizza](https://beknownforsomething.com/2-things-churches-can-learn-from-dominos-pizza/) - At Church conferences, Pastors question me about social media. What should they do if someone posts complaints or inappropriate things on the Church's social media. "Do we just delete them?" No! Most people know (who use social media regularly) is: people do not represent the organization where they are posting; but they represent their own - [3 Reasons Why It's Good to Visit the Past](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-why-its-good-to-visit-the-past/) - We're approaching our 10th anniversary at PinPoint Creative Group. And this week I stopped into our very 1st office location. The one where our business practice was born. It was good for me. Over the last couple of years, it's been challenging as our client-load has expanded and retracted. Some times I feel like my - [Crazy Pastors Preach to Empty Auditoriums](https://beknownforsomething.com/crazy-pastors-preach-to-empty-auditoriums/) - Can you imagine a Pastor preaching in an empty room? Hours of preparation, unlocking the doors, turning the lights on, standing behind the pulpit, and for a full 40 minutes they deliver the best sermon. They believe the Lord has told them to preach it. Who would do that? Perhaps it's you. There are so - [Warning: Business Disaster Watch is currently on](https://beknownforsomething.com/warning-business-disaster-watch-is-currently-on/) - Tonight there's a Tornado Watch in our community. I never grew up where there were tornadoes. Ever! Each time I hear the weather radio alert us; I always have to remember what the difference is between a Watch and a Warning. And which is more severe. It's kinda important! A Watch always feels like it - [Things to do NOW that Vacation is Over.](https://beknownforsomething.com/things-to-do-now-that-vacation-is-over/) - Our family just got back from the beach. It was a great time of relaxation, family, and sunshine. But vacation is over. Back to School ads are everywhere and most Churches are planning for the fall. Are you ready? And what does that even mean? Will there be significant change? Or are you doing everything - [Want Better Ministry? 2 Things To Do Now.](https://beknownforsomething.com/want-better-ministry-2-things-to-do-now/) - I just renovated our master closet. I enjoy home renovations; but for reasons most wouldn't guess. I love to take a "problem", create a plan; then watch the plan create the solution (step by step). Before and After images are the best way to show the transformation. Is your Ministry in need of a transformation? - [3 Ways to Not Be Dumb](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-not-be-dumb/) - I enjoy friends. I enjoyed dinner with a good friend last evening. We started talking about businesses and advertising. He's a lover of good creativity as much, or more than me. We shared some recent business horror stories. In exasperation, my friend said, "how can anyone be so dumb!?". I wonder if anyone has ever - [Weather People are Creative Promoters](https://beknownforsomething.com/weather-people-are-creative-promoters/) - We're in the middle of a heatwave. Me and 100 million others in America. The weather people are bending over backwards "sharing" various ways to visualize it. Some are cooking eggs and pizzas on the sidewalk, others are sitting in cold pools while broadcasting. Why do they do these things? Interesting. The news, needs to - [Are you TOO relaxed?](https://beknownforsomething.com/are-you-too-relaxed/) - I learn so much when I have a really busy week. Several meetings, a Church website workshop, a large marketing plan presentation, a TV shoot, and my family who were away for a couple of weeks, arrived home in the middle of it all. Oh, and I decided to gut and rebuild our master closet - [Business Essentials 7: Peculiarity](https://beknownforsomething.com/business-essentials-7-peculiarity/) - I hate same-old; same-old. Although I love consistency. And thus the battle that happens constantly in my brain. I guess I should explain. Some things are so important to have consistency: things like wall colors (in a small house), fonts (within a brand), brand colors, design style sheets (like keyline strokes, margins and the like), - [Branding Terms Defined: Social Networking](https://beknownforsomething.com/branding-terms-defined-social-networking/) - I was invited to a "meet and greet" last evening. Regularly, I get invitations to business networking events, BNI meetings (and similar) and small gatherings. Instantly as I think about these events, negative thoughts happen. It all started when I was fresh out of college. I worked for a large ad agency. I ran into - [Business Essentials 6: Passion](https://beknownforsomething.com/business-essentials-6-passion/) - I love watching Shark Tank on TV. If you haven't seen it, it's basically a show where a panel of rich business people hear the basic business plan of small (with potential big) business owners. Each person believes in their product. They all think their products will sell to a mass audience. But the judges - [Branding Terms Defined: Focus Group](https://beknownforsomething.com/branding-terms-defined-focus-group/) - We played bocce a lot last week at the beach. You know, the game where you throw a small ball down a court while teams throw larger balls to see who can get closest to the little ball. The court is long (about 90 ft) and on a breezy beach, you have to throw the - [Business Essentials 5: Perception](https://beknownforsomething.com/business-essentials-5-perception/) - Have you ever thought you knew something about a product or organization and then found out something entirely different? Imagine what people say about your product or service. What do they think about your company? Your vertical market, your category? If you don't tell them, they have to figure it out for themselves. And often, - [Branding Terms Defined: Audience](https://beknownforsomething.com/branding-terms-defined-audience/) - People. It doesn't take long to realize the dynamic of groups of people. If you have one person you're interacting with, most times (if you're paying attention) you can "figure them out". The larger the group gets, the harder it is to identify "who" the group is. Often the outspoken become the group. And before - [Business Essentials 4: People](https://beknownforsomething.com/business-essentials-4-people/) - I'm always amazed when I have to deal with a server that seems to hate their job. Why is it that the wrong people choose the wrong careers? People are funny. Until it comes to hiring (and working with) people. Then it becomes sobering. In order to have a successful company, you have to hire - [Branding Terms Defined: Positioning](https://beknownforsomething.com/branding-terms-defined-positioning/) - There's a Church on every corner! At least that's what we've found in the Southeast (where we live). It seems that there are more churches than people here! So how does someone choose their church? The #1 answer is usually: "It's where I grew up". Not too compelling, eh? If you imagine someone deciding that - [Business Essentials 3: Knowing Your Place. Essential!](https://beknownforsomething.com/knowing-your-place-essential/) - The other day I was driving to Atlanta. I was thirsty, tired, and I needed a PepsiMax (not a shock to anyone who knows me). I stopped at a Gas Bar at the next exit. I was in a hurry and hated to stop, so I took the opportunity to gas the truck up. Once - [Business Essentials 2: The Product of Business.](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-product-of-business/) - We all need products and services. But how do you pick which one you buy? Often, it comes down to these 3 things: Price. If there's lots to choose from and they all seem about the same, we call this a commodity. And commodities are ruled by the lowest price available. Ability to solve an - [Branding Terms Defined: Logo](https://beknownforsomething.com/branding-terms-defined-logo/) - It seems like I shouldn't have to define it. Everyone knows what a Logo is. The problem is that not everyone has a good logo. Believe it or not, the term "logo" has only been used since the 1930s. It appears to be a shortening of the word Logogram. And it simply (originally) meant "a - [Business Essentials 1: Profits for Dummies. Not: Profits are for Dummies.](https://beknownforsomething.com/profits-for-dummies-not-profits-are-for-dummies/) - Imagine a world that could be described as: All people were identical. All people were missing (needing) one "thing". You had the formula for that "thing". It would be easy to build a business plan, right!? All you would have to do is develop that "thing" for as little cost as possible (keeping material cost, - [3 Editing Skills You Must Use.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-editing-skills-you-must-use/) - What a week. A lot happened! Bin Laden was killed, America went wild, I spoke at a Church Leadership conference for 2 days in Atlanta, several accounts needed to be ramped up, and then my Client Service Coordinator of 4 years finished on Friday. So, I completed several interviews 3 evenings this week. And I - [3 Signs of a Great Relationship](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-signs-of-a-great-relationship/) - We enjoyed an amazing long weekend with new friends. It's rare to find two families that seem to be so compatible. But this family made us feel welcome; and we laughed and cried together as we shared stories and experiences. Our kids had a lot of fun playing and talking. We even enjoyed their well-behaved - [3 Change Strategies for Every Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-change-strategies-for-every-church/) - I'm headed to Atlanta this week to speak at an NCPG event for Ministry Leaders. I enjoy meeting Pastors and Ministry Leaders. Often when I talk with them, I'm inspired. They want to take God's love to the World. It's rare that everyone at these types of conferences has the same way to do that. - [Happy Easter!](https://beknownforsomething.com/happy-easter/) - The PinPoint Team wants to wish you all a Blessed Easter! Enjoy this time with your family and take time to thank our Heavenly Father for the amazing plan of salvation that comes from the simple words of "He's Risen". Good Friday was the Realization of Death. Saturday was the Quietness of Death. But Easter - [7 Reasons Your Resume May Be Ignored.](https://beknownforsomething.com/7-reasons-your-resume-may-be-ignored/) - I think people have forgotten how to take direction. It sounds harsh, but I'm amazed how infantile directions have become on products; and don't forget about the horrific warnings that are listed for those who use the product improperly. We're looking to hire a client service coordinator. It's a process that is long; although I - [3 Reasons You Need a Uniform.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-you-need-a-uniform/) - My son and I had a discussion about school uniforms. It seems that once again, this issue is being talked about. He was surprised to know that I had them in the high school I attended. I asked him (as a teen) what he thought. Of course, he didn't like it. So I asked him - [4 Reasons You Need a Web Pro](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-reasons-you-need-a-web-pro/) - It happened again. Someone approached me recently with that look on their face. You'd recognize it. The one that says, "I can't believe I'm asking this". But I was glad they did. It gives me the chance to really help them. "Will you help us fix our website?" Of course the answer is "yes!". Usually, - [3 Ways to Encourage your Staff Today.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-encourage-your-staff-today/) - I confess that encouragement is my love language. I try to encourage people around me. I know how it helps motivate me and I know the average person likes it too. This weekend, I tried to encourage my teenaged son who helped run the church sound. He told me that he “wished people wouldn’t compliment - [4 Steps to a Viral Video](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-steps-to-a-viral-video/) - I worked in our backyard doing spring stuff this weekend. You know, planting, mulching, cleaning, raking. I also planted some grass seed. Now I’m praying it starts to grow. Why is it that grass seed rarely ever grows; yet a single dandelion “fluff” will fall on the grass, edge itself down to the soil, take - [I Ate the Worst Breakfast this Morning.](https://beknownforsomething.com/i-ate-the-worst-breakfast-this-morning/) - Sunday morning's are hard. The routine is different, and my regular schedule is messed up. My wife is getting ready at our sink, the kids sleep in a bit and I end up laying in bed watching the news. So, quite often I eat the worst breakfast possible. It's not what you'd think though. In - [Change. Change. Change.](https://beknownforsomething.com/change-change-change/) - I just got back from my 25th College reunion. Wow. Have I ever changed. But in a large sense, I haven't changed a bit. It was good to talk with former classmates. Some that I haven't seen in decades. The picture says it all. We've changed. The guy on the left in the before picture - [Late for Her Funeral.](https://beknownforsomething.com/late-for-her-funeral/) - Elizabeth Taylor. Dead at 79. I always knew about her. But I don't think I've ever watched a movie or TV show with her in it. But then again, EVERYONE knows "about" her. I think even my kids were aware of her. Imagine being that famous. What if your company was that famous? Where everyone - [We've got a Problem!](https://beknownforsomething.com/we_have_a_problem/) - Yesterday my sons and I poured a concrete pad in front of the shed. We got the shed a couple months ago and we knew the reasons we needed the improvements: The area gets very muddy. We have vines, weeds and poison ivy growing everywhere. There's a big step up to the shed door. But - [No Windows. Only Mirrors.](https://beknownforsomething.com/no-windows-only-mirrors/) - It's still echoing in my head. Our Sunday School teacher this morning talked about selfishness. He explained that there's a fictitious story about a person who lived in an house that had no windows. Only mirrors. You can imagine how that person lived. Probably for the first little while she would glance occasionally at herself. - [3 Reasons it's Great that Easter is Late.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-its-great-that-easter-is-late/) - It’s hard to believe that spring is right around the corner. Some of our clients are still getting snow, but we’re getting wonderful spring time weather. The trees are in bloom and the daffodils are screaming yellow! Lent is upon us. But have you noticed that it seems later this year? You’re right! Lent is - [Not a lot of sugar.](https://beknownforsomething.com/not-a-lot-of-sugar/) - I met someone yesterday who has never tried Coke Zero. It surprised me a bit. After her initial question, I curiously asked if she’d ever had a diet soft drink. She then asked “Is it like Diet Coke?”. I said “yes, except it tastes like real Coke”. Thinking I had fully explained the product, she - [What’s your Headline?](https://beknownforsomething.com/whats-your-headline/) - Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a news junkie. In fact, it’s hard for me to not read a daily newspaper, check news websites throughout the day and watch the evening news before I close my eyes for the night. More and more, I realize that I rarely read the news articles (or listen to - [What’s the Big Idea for Change?](https://beknownforsomething.com/whats-the-big-idea-for-change/) - We moved our PinPoint offices this past week and I find myself in a new office, with new challenges, new surroundings, new roads to the office, a new routine and new people that I run into. Everything seems different. I do like change. But I must admit the last 7 days has been stressful. Physically - [3 Things I'm Learning in Our Move This Week.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-im-learning-in-our-move-this-week/) - This week we're moving PinPoint. Just across town, but it seems huge for us. After months of planning and dreaming, it's all coming together. This move is going to be so good for us, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that we don't let things fall through the cracks. We've sold excess stuff. It's always a - [Reaching the Missing Church Member](https://beknownforsomething.com/reaching-the-missing-church-member/) - Today in our service our Pastor explained for a specific point he was making that the average Southern Baptist Church has around 250 people on their membership rolls. I thought "that's not too bad, and even 'good' sounding" but then I instantly wondered how many people actually attend services on a regular basis. The Church - [3 Things this Week Reminds Us about Love.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-this-week-reminds-us-about-love/) - Valentines Day is this week. I must confess that I'm not a huge Valentines Day promoter. In fact, I've often thought it's a day invented by the card industry to get us to buy cards and gifts. But I'm wrong. Way back in 2-300 AD, an early Christian (named Valentine) was martyred. And in 4-500 - [3 Steps to Selling Anything in this Economy.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-selling-anything/) - This week I bought a shed. And learned a great sales plan in the process. I've been needing extra storage space and I've been considering buying a shed kit from Lowes. It sounded like a fun family project to work on. Plus the kids could learn how to put an outdoor structure together. They weren't - [3 Easy Steps to Reducing SPAM](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-easy-steps-to-reducing-spam/) - How much time do you spend going through emails? If you're like me -- you get a lot! In fact, 3/4 of my emails are spam. And it becomes annoying that I waste time on deleting them over and over again. I've had enough! I want to save time. So a week ago I decided - [Need Ministry Volunteers? What You Should and Shouldn't Do.](https://beknownforsomething.com/need-ministry-volunteers-what-you-should-and-shouldnt-do/) - I hope your church offers opportunities for ministry. Yes, we need to reach the lost and be a beacon for the Gospel. But the local church also needs to be a place of ministry opportunities. God has freely distributed spiritual gifts to every believer and the church is a great place to use and develop - [3 Steps to Get Ready for Visitors](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-get-ready-for-visitors/) - Many of you know that I moved to NC from Canada 10 years ago. The difficult part of living thousands of miles away from family and friends is that people rarely come and visit. I often catch myself working on a home project (even a simple cleaning job) and dreaming what a friend (or family - [Finish it. It Feels so Good!](https://beknownforsomething.com/finish-it-it-feels-so-good/) - I'm feeling like sharing something I'm not proud of. But maybe you're the same as me. I hate finishing stuff. You know. I have several unfinished chapsticks. I have several half-used erasers. I have notepads that are half gone. Ok, several of them. I have books that are quarter-read (some less than that!). Everywhere I - [Pay attention! Please!](https://beknownforsomething.com/pay-attention-please/) - Psych. It's a show that's on USA network. You should watch it (old episodes are on netflix). It's about a 20-something that notices everything. Yes, everything. His Dad trained his son (when he was young) to randomly close his eyes while he quizzed him about the room and the things in it. He always got - [Your name could determine how long you'll live](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-name-determines-longevity/) - A few weeks ago, I was standing with the Sears cashier, handing him my credit card. He thanked me, using my name, Mr. MacDonald. Then he hesitated and started to chuckle. Having lived with my full name for many years, I recognized the humor. People find my name somewhat funny sounding. This young man took - [I admit I have a problem](https://beknownforsomething.com/i-admit-i-have-a-problem/) - I'm having a hard time admitting something. It all started about 2 months ago when I was in bed. I picked up a favorite magazine to read and it happened. My eyes seemed tired and blurry. I felt like there wasn't enough light in the room. I ended up putting the reading down and turning - [3 Fail-Proof Ways to Have a Successful Year](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-fail-proof-ways-to-have-a-successful-year/) - When I was young, my Mother used to ask me to draw a picture for her. Being the budding artist, I would gladly oblige. I would get some paper and grab my best HB pencil. Then, several minutes later, Mom would sneak a peek at the page. Nothing. I couldn’t decide what to draw! Hours - [Feel Like Your Church Has Stalled?](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-has-stalled/) - I’m getting tired of sitting still. It seems like the economy has stalled so long, we all are accepting the status quo. We’re not moving. And in the winter, we’re content to sit inside and watching TV. I see it everywhere. At work, at church, in stores, with friends. I realize there are some bright - [A Simple Outline to Face 2011](https://beknownforsomething.com/simple-outline-to-face-2011/) - How was 2010 for you? Like most businesses, it was probably a challenge. At PinPoint we found that we worked twice as hard for every dollar we earned. Now we say farewell to 2010. This past week, we took a day to sit as a team and consider what 2011 will look like. Here's the - [3 Resolution Recommendations for Facebook](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-resolution-recommendations-for-facebook/) - I enjoy Facebook. I try to post regularly and with a “rhythm”. Most people that follow me have one of two reactions: “I love your posts”, and “You post far too much”. I’m truly trying to have balance. But I realize I’ll never please everyone either. Facebook is a ministry for me. I really enjoy - [Christmas Contentment](https://beknownforsomething.com/christmas-contentment/) - As we get near to Christmas, we wind down and think about this past year. And once we clear through the clutter, the negativity and the politics; and really look at the things that matter, we realize we have a lot to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my family, my friends and you all. - [A Simple Christmas](https://beknownforsomething.com/simple-christmas/) - It's Christmas. In a few short hours the Christian World stops their regular work and we go absolutely chaotic with gift giving, gift opening, cooking, cleaning, talking, and so many other forms of stress. That's not to mention the gift wrapping, decorating, inviting, and planning. As a child I remember being so excited about the - [3 Tips to Great Gifts](https://beknownforsomething.com/great-gifts/) - We’re nearing the end of Christmas preparations at home. Our tree's up. Most of the gifts are bought, and our parties are planned. We always go through the same struggle each year. How do we buy special gifts for the kids without reinforcing Christmas materialism? We try not to go overboard, choosing the perfect gifts - [My 3 Business Wishes for 2011](https://beknownforsomething.com/business_wishes_2011/) - This is the first time in our home that we haven’t had a lot of Christmas wish lists. Our teenage sons (15 and 16) have become more "sophisticated" this year and we received a short list of manageable items. In fact, after our regular speech about materialism and how Christmas budgets are lower this year, - [3 Steps to Developing "Concept"](https://beknownforsomething.com/developing_concept/) - Our church presented their Christmas Musical this weekend. Again, I was blessed to assist with the content. It was back in the summer that I found out the theme; and it was on our vacation to Canada that my son and I discussed how to make the theme of "gifts" work. Concepts are difficult. It - [3 Valuable Web Areas Needing Your Attention](https://beknownforsomething.com/valuable-web-areas/) - We're in the process of refinancing our house. We purchased it 2 yrs ago, and we've improved every room in it. Some were just painted and freshened up while other rooms were totally rebuilt. Just because you've put money into a room doesn't mean you've added value to your house. When our bank asked to - [Be like Spiderman -- Arrive Just in Time!](https://beknownforsomething.com/timing/) - The fall is upon us (for some winter is already. The American election is over. Thanksgiving is around the corner. What does that mean to you as a business owner? Is it your biggest time of year? A time for less sales? What do seasons mean to you? Your customers? Understanding timing is so critical. - [First Time Shooter.](https://beknownforsomething.com/first-time-shooter/) - I had a brand new experience this week. Perhaps because I'm getting older, I don't experience "new" things much. I had the opportunity to shoot a pistol at a shooting range. Most of you know that I'm a Canadian (eh!) and we're not raised like a lot of Americans with lots of guns around us. - [Twitter Advanced. Or Basic.](https://beknownforsomething.com/twitter-advanced-or-basic/) - I had the privilege to attend and speak at WFX Expo and Conference. My session was all about Social Media. Cathy Hutchison spoke the day before I was scheduled. She did a great job talking about the joys of social media and the basic reasons why the Church should be using it. Mine was about - [Dead on the Floor](https://beknownforsomething.com/dead-on-the-floor/) - I was driving to Atlanta this past week. I enjoy the alone time, I get to make calls, listen to the radio and catch up on podcasts, etc. But I admit, I get tired. Enter, PepsiMax. The best caffeinated drink to enter the picture in years. It has a kick. I love it. About half - [Meet me at WFX!](https://beknownforsomething.com/wfx-atlanta/) - WFX Atlanta is coming up this week. It really is a great show for 3 reasons: Your whole team can go. Ever want to take your group of leaders (with different passions) to one conference that allows them to explore their separate fields, yet have the same common ministry thread throughout? This is the place. - [3 Things You Should Never Have on Your Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-you-should-never-have-on-your-website/) - I usually try to be positive on my blogs. But I'm going to make an exception this week. Have you ever worn something and had a friend, spouse or child tell you, "you shouldn't be caught dead in that!"? As my sons mature (used loosely) into teenagers, they (like all teenagers) feel that they're experts - [$650,402 in 3 weeks.](https://beknownforsomething.com/650000-in-3-weeks/) - Recently our church had a burden to reach out to the Hispanic community in our city. God lined up several factors to lead us to believe that the time should be now. We had a few hurdles: We needed a Location. The church wanted to make sure the location would be within walking distance of - [Who doesn't like FREE food?!?](https://beknownforsomething.com/free_food/) - I love freebies. And this past week I got a bunch! Over the years as I've signed up for various e-blasts and restaurant clubs, I've listed my birthday. I'm not sure why, but it seems like I got a bunch of rewards when my birthday rolled around this year. They all seemed to come in - [Huh? Excuse me? Are you listening?](https://beknownforsomething.com/listening_to_clients/) - This week I dealt with a company that made me angry. Have you ever had an interaction that once you hang up the phone you're shaking because of the way you were treated? I always try to take a step back and think about why I'm so upset. Here are the 3 that instantly came - [Catalyst: 6 Things That I’m going to Change (Pt 2)](https://beknownforsomething.com/catalyst-change-pt-2/) - Continuing the things that I learned at Catalyst Atlanta 2010. Things that I need to change in my own life. To read Part 1, click here. 4. Embrace Failure. Imagine if you never failed. Instantly I think that I would do tremendous things. And the boundaries would be so endless. But, when I look back - [Catalyst: 6 Things That I'm going to Change (Pt 1)](https://beknownforsomething.com/catalyst-change-pt-1/) - Once again, I had the privilege to attend Catalyst Atlanta. 13,000 Ministry Leaders meeting together in a sold-out arena. It was awesome. The end. Wouldn't it be a shame if we went to an event, read a great book, or was challenged by a friend and we simply summed it up as "amazing". And that's - [Secret Confessions of a Procrastinator](https://beknownforsomething.com/confession_procrastinator/) - It's time. There's no time like the present. Seriously! You've been putting something off. I think that at the heart of every entrepreneur is a procrastinator. So what is it? For me, several things come to mind. And I'm almost embarrassed to admit them on my blog. So you'll keep them quiet, right? Let this - [5 Senses in your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-senses/) - Have you ever wondered what your church looks like to the unchurched? The outside of your building, the inside. Or what about the service? Can you imagine if someone of another faith asked you to go to their church service; what you'd feel like? Your senses are all heightened. Sight. You see everything. From the - [The Social Network: The Review](https://beknownforsomething.com/social-network-review/) - Having talked about this movie for the last year in various conferences around the country, I figured I would actually see it on the opening week. A rarity for me for virtually any movie. The Social Network plays about 2 hours. In the theater I was at, there were very few promos for other movies. - [Attention!!! The wrong 1st impressions are dangerous!](https://beknownforsomething.com/wrong-1st-impressions/) - I was recently visiting a church to teach a Ministry Leadership Workshop. It was my 1st time there, and I walked through the doors of the main entrance, not really sure where I was supposed to find the main worship area. I glanced around for a sign. Any sign. And the largest, brightest yellow sign - [SEO is a waste of money without this key topic.](https://beknownforsomething.com/seo-is-a-waste-of-money/) - It seems that I get spam through my email, our web contact form, and this blog every couple of days. It's annoying! The subject often is SEO. They promise to raise our Google standings and get our website closer to the top of all search results. They promise a quick pill. And an expensive pill. - [Get ready for Socks and Underwear.](https://beknownforsomething.com/socks_and_underwear/) - A recent press release from Walmart looked into their fortune-telling minds. In fact, Walmart Leadership suggests that in the near future, the buying trends of Americans will veer towards one thing. Practicality. Because of the "challenges" that the Walmart shopper is enduring, Bill Simon, the President and CEO of the World's Largest Retailer, says that - [Pastors are paid what?!?](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastors-are-paid-what/) - Salaries are best kept a "secret". No one knows the amount of work and responsibilities that are required in order to make a salary. So when comparisons happen, it's rare that Apples are compared to Apples. Perception comes into play as well. And that's when Pastor's salaries come under scrutiny. How much should someone be - [Celebrate 3 Freedoms Today!](https://beknownforsomething.com/celebrate-3-freedoms-today/) - It's hard to believe that it's been 9 years since we watched in horror as the World Trade Center collapsed. It was the American symbol to the world for commerce and the celebration of our freedoms. It's why the Terrorists targeted the buildings to slap the face of the whole country. As the battle against - [3 Leadership Imperatives from Lubbock](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-leadership-imperatives-from-lubbock/) - This week I had the privilege to speak at the National Association of Church Business Administrators (NACBA) in Lubbock Texas. I'm always amazed that people will take time out of their schedules to listen to me. So, I owe it to them to be well prepared and succinct. Most places where I speak ask for - [1 Week: No Facebook](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-week-without-facebook/) - Last weekend I decide to try something crazy. For 1 week I wouldn't post a personal status update on facebook. It sounded easy, but I've almost gone crazy this week when I've caught myself posting something (but stopped, of course). I'm excited to get back to my regular status updates this week! I'm sick. I - [Lost: The Church Edition](https://beknownforsomething.com/lost-the-church-edition/) - The latest Lifeway poll says that every week, 115,000 people leave their church. That's more than 8,000,000 people that choose to leave their churches annually. Ouch. I know that in our recent annual meeting it was scary to see how many left our church last year. So, what are you doing about it? Quickly, I - [3 Steps to Getting People to Your Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-getting-people-to-your-website/) - Everyone wants to be found. It used to be that an organization would just post an ad in the telephone directory. Or in the newspaper if they had extra dollars. All to be found.Then some communities added another telephone directory. People would ask us which one is the most effective. It got confusing. But those - [It only takes a little.](https://beknownforsomething.com/it-only-takes-a-little/) - This weekend the "experts" announced that this was the hottest summer ever. We broke the record by 3 or 4 degrees. When elections are won, they're often won by just 3 or 4 percentage points. When recessions happen, it because 5 or 6% more people than normal lose their jobs. When I turn the air - [Just do it.](https://beknownforsomething.com/just-do-it/) - I'm amazed at how many business people I talk to that are procrastinating. Work is a bit slow, so they've settled into "a little less work and a little more relaxing". It's a way to feel a bit better in between the worrying we're all doing about this economy! I'm amazed how much work I - [The fall is coming! The fall is coming! The fall is here.](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-fall-is-coming/) - Most Churches start their fall calendar around Labor Day. The very thought sends delight through the minds of parents as their children hit the books and start new classes to end their summer relaxation. But it also creates panic in a Church staff. Another year is starting! Things to do and start. Is the year - [3 Steps to a Masterpiece](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-a-masterpiece/) - I recently walked through a Southern Living Model Home. Everything just “felt” perfect. It’s the same feeling you get when you see a masterpiece painting. When there’s a creator, who’s a designer, there is often a feeling of peace. It’s the joy that I celebrate (and encourage) as a Creative Director. So, whatever you’re working - [3 Reasons Short is Better.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-reasons-short-is-better/) - I spoke to some amazing Pastors and Ministry Leaders in Raleigh yesterday. It seems that everyone is wondering what content needs to be on a website to attract people to their site. The answer is a bit complicated. But I can tell you one simple thing that will keep people on your website. Guaranteed! And - [Lost your way? Get back to the Basics.](https://beknownforsomething.com/lost-your-way-get-back-to-the-basics/) - I love how 1 Corinthians 13 comes right after 1 Corinthians 12. You're thinking, what else would 13 come after? But the content is interesting; that chapter 12 is all about spiritual gifts. Then along comes 13. All about love. Love. Agape love. The kind that's perfect. Just like God. We're to be known for - [3 Ways to Develop Great Content.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-develop-great-content/) - Remember when you were young and used to go to a convenience store and the candy bars were huge? And a bag of chips was only 20 cents? Maybe even less than that. Maybe I'm just telling my age. Times are changing. Perhaps you can say, "remember when there was no microwave oven?" or "I - [What if your Church Can't Do It?](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-if-your-church-cant-do-it/) - In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains the value of spiritual gifts. Our churches are blessed to have diversity in the spiritual gifts that are spread through the pews. God has scattered these "graces" liberally. We have so much to be thankful for. Can you imagine what God feels like when these gifts aren't used? I've - [Listen Up! In 3 Steps.](https://beknownforsomething.com/listen-up-in-3-steps/) - Why is it so hard to find people that want to listen? If you're anything like me, it's rare to find someone who wants to listen. Often when I spend time with someone, I enjoy asking them questions and sharing about what they find interesting. I really like people! But it's rarely reciprocated. I've spent - [Happy 4th of July!](https://beknownforsomething.com/july-4th/) - I want to wish you all a happy 4th of July. Independence Day. I'm not sure what that means to you -- but I'm blessed to have the privilege of working in the United States (as a Canadian) where I can worship freely, talk freely, and operate a business freely. I realize that each year - [SEO Entirely Over-Simplified in 3 Steps](https://beknownforsomething.com/seo-entirely-over-simplified-in-3-steps/) - The other day someone told us about a company we should buy from. They manufacture something that we need all the time at PinPoint. We wanted to know about the firm. Much to our surprise, it was almost in our backyard. But we didn't know about them in spite of the fact that we regularly - [1 in 4 Americans Predict Second Coming](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-in-4-americans-predict-second-coming/) - The Smithsonian Magazine recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. 1,545 adults were asked to guess the outcome of various things in the next 40 years. That's a really good sampling to determine the mindset of Americans! 1 in 4 Americans believe that Christ will return by 2050. And a whopping 58% of evangelicals do. So what's - [Supply the "Missing" Things. 3 Easy Steps.](https://beknownforsomething.com/supply-the-missing-things-3-easy-steps/) - My wife and sons have been gone for a few weeks. It's a great opportunity each year for them to spend time with their grandmother, cousins, aunts and uncles. I wish I could spend the time away with them, but I can't take that much time off. I missed them a lot. Each for various - [4 Ways to make “Little Things” matter](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-ways-to-make-little-things-matter/) - There are opportunities. And then there are huge opportunities! This past week, one of our clients, Sophia Media Group and the UN, were launching an educational initiative. We’ve been working with them on this project, so when they asked me to attend the press conference I said, “absolutely”! Did I mention it was in the - [3 Ways Social Media Can Help your Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-social-media-can-help-your-church/) - I speak all across the country to Churches and Pastors. Sometimes in large conferences but often to smaller groups. And everyone wants to talk about Social Media right now! I think we thought it would be a passing fad, but now that it’s caught on, 69% of a large group of business owners declared that - [Stop Paying Subscription Fees](https://beknownforsomething.com/stop-paying-subscription-fees/) - I think in the next few years, our lives are going to change. Mobile phones are taking over, their fees are being dropped as more people share the costs. Cable TV is becoming more mainstream with a lot of content available on-demand on the internet. For free. Internet accessibility is mostly included at most hotels; - [3 Things to Consider for an Anniversary](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-to-consider-for-an-anniversary/) - It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago, in a small church in New Brunswick, Canada, I got married. It’s almost like looking through a fog when I look back over the years and see what my wife, Tammy, and I have done together. 3 Apartments, 4 Houses, 3 Cities, 2 Countries, 5 Jobs for - [Changes Needed in the Church: #9 Reasons for Going](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-9-reasons-for-going/) - We all know the church/Bible answer for why people go to Church. But why do they go to YOUR local church? I speak across the nation and I often ask why people like their church. Here's the reasons I hear: I work there. Ok, I speak at a lot of Pastors' conferences. So I guess - [1 Tiny Thing I Hate Big Time.](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-tiny-thing-i-hate-big-time/) - I'm not sure when it started happen. But I enjoy reading fine print in ads. It's always tells volumes about the company when you read the tiny print somewhere obscured in the advertisement. Sometimes it's serious while others have a tongue-in-cheek comment. I first try to get an idea about the overall ad appeal, then - [3 Business Lessons My Mom Taught Me.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-business-lessons-my-mom-taught-me/) - My Mother died almost 19 years ago. I was 27 at the time, and she poured her life into being a wife and raising my sister, brother and myself (I'm the youngest). Today's Mother's Day and each year I think about her and how she helped direct who I am. I've never written about her, - [1 of the Best Leadership Verses in Scripture](https://beknownforsomething.com/1-of-the-best-leadership-verses-in-scripture/) - So, the setup to this Bible verse starts with a Church Leader talking with God. God explains that He wants a "church" built and then describes what it should look like, how it should be decorated and even what the dress code should be. No details are spared! Can you imagine if God directed us - [3 Tips for Effective PR](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-tips-for-effective-pr/) - As I write this, I'm watching a TV news report about the oil slick off the coast of Louisiana. It's huge and seems to be growing every day. And so are the press releases, news reports, spin, etc. It's hard to say how this will all end. BP (British Petroleum) had this unprecedented disaster/explosion on - [6 Steps to Successful Before's and After's](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-steps-to-successful-befores-and-afters/) - I enjoy watching The Biggest Loser. And home improvement shows. And even those cheesy TV infomercials about fitness. They have one thing in common. Before and After pictures! With my love of renovating homes, I try to take "before" pictures before each project, so I can see the transformation of the "After". It a way - [3 Ways to Start at the very Beginning.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-start-at-the-very-beginning/) - As soon as I typed that headline, my mind started singing the old song, "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start" -- you know, from the Sound of Music. OK, I'm old. I was only a few months old when that film was released. But like most classics, it reveals - [Changes Needed in the Church: #8 Involvement](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-8-involvement/) - In Exodus, as you read the story of the Israelites' wanderings, I'm amazed at how God's interventions were often ignored. Then God commands them to set up the Tabernacle. From the wilderness to worship. In 500 intricate steps. God gives very specific step-by-step instructions (OK, I didn't actually count the steps, but wow, there are - [Know your Customer. Please!](https://beknownforsomething.com/know-your-customer-please/) - My Dad died this past week. It was unexpected, but not sudden. For the last year, he's been slowly entering a world of dementia where he didn't recognize those around him. His humor rose to the surface to cover for his memory lapses. And we started to lose my Dad. Just days ago, his doctor - [Changes Needed in the Church: #7 PowerPoint](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-7-powerpoint/) - I love consistency. And most other people do too. But I'm amazed at how many churches feel they should change for the sake of change. You see, we get used to various things and they eventually create a paradigm. In order to change or break a paradigm, it takes a lot of work, money and - [You Don't Know What You Don't Know](https://beknownforsomething.com/you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know/) - Well, it's tax time. I'm sure I don't have to remind you of this. What that means is that every time you drive near a tax preparation location you get banners, balloons, dancing Statue of Liberties, gorillas or lineups. There's a TV commercial that seems to be on all the time. It states something like, - [Changes Needed in the Church: #6 Web Hosting](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-6-web-hosting/) - I'm always talking about branding. You probably get tired of my mantra. Branding is the story (or promise) behind who you are. I hope you as a Church/Ministry knows what your story is. But I'll save more on that for another day. Sometimes in Branding there's an association disconnect. Where you find out that a - [I've never gone to a NASCAR race. Until now.](https://beknownforsomething.com/ive-never-gone-to-a-nascar-race-until-now/) - I've often bragged that I'm living in the city that brags the birth of Krispy Kreme donuts, Winston Cigarettes and NASCAR. And jokingly, I add that each one can kill you. Other than the donuts, I've never tried the other two. Until this weekend. Well, not the cigarettes, but I had an opportunity that few - [Mud your Marketing Communication's Plan!](https://beknownforsomething.com/mud-your-marketing-communications-plan/) - I'm in the process of building a home theater. You know; a room that used to be called a TV room, but for some reason, when we have a larger TV area, we call it a theater. Anyway, I've re-purposed a storage area in our basement. We decide where walls were easiest to be built, - [Changes Needed in the Church: #5 Language](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-5-language/) - Ultimately when the Church communicates concepts, it does it with words. I realize that I usually talk about the visual things, but recently when I was listening to an interview with a Pastor, I realize we fall prey to what a lot of businesses do. We talk to our current audience with "insider" language. We - [Changes Needed in the Church: #4 Welcome](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-4-welcome/) - We go to favorite restaurants often. When we enter, several people say "Welcome!". We love going to them and feel like they want us to come back. Do you have similar experiences? How about a theme park? Did the ticket taker make you excited for the day ahead? How about the hosts along the way - [3 Business Lessons I Learned While Getting my Haircut](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-business-lessons-i-learned-while-getting-my-haircut/) - I got my hair cut this afternoon. A lot of people that know me, think I am very particular of my hair. I guess because I act and model, and have to have my hair in a contemporary, professional and commercial style; people think I spend quite a bit of money on a hairstylist. In - [Changes Needed in the Church: #3 Signage](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-3-signage/) - When we first came to the US about a decade ago, we noticed that the signage is so much better here. Highway signs are everywhere. If you miss a sign, wait a few seconds, and you'll drive by another one. Sometimes the redundancy is humorous. Unless you actually need the second or third sign! When - [7 Lessons I've Learned About Getting Robbed](https://beknownforsomething.com/lessons-ive-learned-about-getting-robbed/) - This week I had an out-of-town client visiting from Maine. We see them once a year, so my wife and I treated them to lunch. Near the end of a great meal of catching up, we were interrupted by a phone call. One you never want to hear. It was the office saying that the - [Welcome to Canada!](https://beknownforsomething.com/welcome-to-canada/) - For the last 8 years we’ve been excited that the Winter Olympics is coming to Canada. We’d planned way back then that we’d go to the opening ceremonies as a family. 3 Obstacles. Money. The tickets to the games can easily run well over $1000. Each! Then to fly there as a family would cost - [Are Visitors Really Welcome at your Church?](https://beknownforsomething.com/are-visitors-really-welcome-at-your-church/) - Being so far away from family has become a way of life for us. It’s been hard not having family to watch the kids when my wife and I want to get away, or when sickness comes to relatives. But we chose to do what God wanted us to do. Through our move, we chose - [It's the Big Game day!](https://beknownforsomething.com/its-the-big-game-day/) - Today, we celebrate a national holiday -- or at least so it seems. We're having a large party to honor athletic men scrambling for a ball while unfit people eat, drink and cheer for their favorite team. Ah, football. But this "big game" day has some interesting facts: Usually one of the largest American sports - [Changes Needed in the Church: #2 Websites](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-2-websites/) - There are so many things we do on a regular basis that we can't even imaging life without. The internet is one of those things. I remember in the mid '90s when the advertising agency I worked for got "internet service". It was through the phone lines (think slow!) and essentially we purchased a modem - [Your Business Needs to Learn from "Snow".](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-business-needs-to-learn-from-snow/) - Snow. We've got some snow in North Carolina! We moved to the Carolinas almost 10 years ago from Canada, the land of wilderness, trees, fisheries and snow. When we moved south, we gave away our snowsuits, shovels and winter boots. We were done with it. We moved to the land of sun! Then, about 2 - [Changes Needed in the Church: #1 Worship Guides](https://beknownforsomething.com/changes-needed-in-the-church-1-worship-guides/) - I teach a newly-wed Bible Fellowship class at our church. It's really a Sunday School class, but someone decided that Bible Fellowship sounded better than Sunday School. But that's a whole other issue for another blog. We have a dynamic group of almost 30 people in their twenties. They interact with each other and with - [Lists.](https://beknownforsomething.com/lists/) - I recently went through a box of personal keepsakes. You know, those things you've put away in a box because you don't want to throw them away, yet you also don't know what to do with them. I'm organizing and building a room in our basement, so I need to dwindle the clutter down. I - [The Pope wants to spread the Gospel in Blogs](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-pope-wants-to-spread-the-gospel-in-blogs/) - As I've written in the past in this blog, the Pope wants you to use Facebook and last year he created a YouTube Catholic channel. Yesterday, he encouraged all Priests to blog. So how do you feel about that? You may not be Catholic (since most of my followers are Protestant); but just imagine that - [The 1 Thing Every Business Must Do Now!](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-1-thing-every-business-must-do-now/) - It's 2010 and you want to run your business well. The internet and websites are expected to be in your business plan. I certainly hope you have a website you're happy with. But more importantly, I hope you're generating business from your website and that your current clientele is happy with your website. What are - [5 Things to Consider when Updating your Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-things-to-consider-when-updating-your-website/) - We're redesigning our website. Yep. The agency who creates, designs and builds content for websites is actually doing it for themselves. We've had a good run with this website we're currently using. It's not that it's broken, it's just time to update the design. There are so many new things that we've been recommending for - [4 Easy Ways to Sell More](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-easy-ways-to-sell-more/) - Have you noticed the ads that are running right now? It seems that someone knows we have new years' resolutions: lose weight, eat better, working out and quitting smoking. OK, the first 2 or 3 are always on my list, fortunately I don't have to deal with smoking issues. What can this teach us as - [Where's Your Congregation Coming From?](https://beknownforsomething.com/wheres-your-congregation-coming-from/) - Today was a cold day here in Winston-Salem. Down in the teens this morning. It's a historic stretch of very cold temperatures for NC. As our family climbed into the truck to make our 10 minute trek to church, the truck groaned and squawked with each crack in our driveway. My son, who begged to - [An Easy New Year's Resolution. Guaranteed!](https://beknownforsomething.com/an-easy-new-years-resolution-guaranteed/) - It's a new year. A new decade. And once again we wonder how it'll be called. Twenty-Ten or Two-Thousand-Ten; or will these years be called the "teen" years. Does that mean we'll all go through adolescence as we grow out of the recession? Complete with acne and crackling voices. I want this year to be - [6 Steps To Getting it Done in 2010](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-steps-to-getting-it-done-in-2010/) - I'm not sure how you feel about 2009, but unlike most years, I'm glad to see it disappear into the history books. I'm sure the Economy, Obama's Inauguration and Swine Flu will mark the "highlights" of this past year. Or should I add the death of Michael Jackson too? As I look towards the next - [Word of Mouth made Easy in 3 Easy Steps!](https://beknownforsomething.com/word-of-mouth-made-easy-in-3-easy-steps/) - Want to increase your business? Grow it wildly to something you couldn't even imagine? Then you need to work on your "word-of-mouth" strategies. We often are told by business owners that they don't want to do a formal advertising campaign, but instead they think their revenues only come from (free) word of mouth. OK, let's - [A Nasty Vine. Get Rid of It!](https://beknownforsomething.com/a-nasty-vine-get-rid-of-it/) - Yesterday, it was a perfect time to clean up our yard. Our Christmas parties are done, so we had the whole day off. It was cold, not windy and we've been "collecting" downed limbs from our huge (aging trees). It was time for a huge bonfire. From previous blog entries, you may think I'm a - [3 Things Your Church should do after a Christmas Production](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-your-church-should-do-after-a-christmas-production/) - I'm getting ready to go to our Christmas Presentation at our Church this evening. I was part of the development team, helped write it and planned the set design. It's always a fun time to watch everything come together. There are so many people involved, a bunch of preparation/practice and fortunately the Holy Spirit brings - [5 Things to Give Your Business For Christmas](https://beknownforsomething.com/5-things-to-give-your-business-for-christmas/) - It's that time of year! Christmas gifts are on our minds and if you're like me, I'm looking at the bottom line for the last 12 months, and wondering what I should do differently this coming year. As a business owner, when you contemplate 2010, which seems like it's arrived all too quickly, many things - [So many colors!](https://beknownforsomething.com/so-many-colors/) - This weekend we finished the renovations on our basement family room. We've been working for about a month on weekends and evenings replacing doors, painting, fixing things and decorating. We decided, since we have two teenage sons, that we'd go with a funky, modern decor. That's easier said than done. We don't want it so - [Now is the Time!](https://beknownforsomething.com/now-is-the-time/) - Have you noticed how fast time flies? It seems like it was just summer and now it's almost Christmas. When I was a child, my Grandmother used to tell me how fast time flew. This was lost on my developing mind who thought that the summer months dragged by when I was often bored. Think - [Typos Happen. 3 Secret Ways to Stop Them!](https://beknownforsomething.com/typos-happen-3-secret-ways-to-stop-them/) - Isn't it crazy how our writing skills and spelling abilities are getting worse and worse. I know, if you're anything like me, you're actually writing more and more -- facebook, twitter, blogs, articles, emails, etc. You would think we'd get better and better with our writing skills. But it's not the case. I guess because - [3 Steps to Thanks - Giving!](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-steps-to-thanks-giving/) - We're to be marked by thankfulness. Colossians 3:15 says to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (since we are called to peace) -- and then he adds, be thankful! This week in the US, we're reminded to be thankful. But is that enough? Having a heart of gratitude goes a bit farther. - [Features vs Benefits](https://beknownforsomething.com/features-vs-benefits/) - Want to make more Money? Ask someone what business they're in and you get similar answers: I work for..... or I run... or we produce.... But if you switch to a sales-mode, you usually get the same thing when describing a product or service. Features. It drives me crazy! People love to list all the - [Save money. Ditch the Worship Guide.](https://beknownforsomething.com/save-money-ditch-the-worship-guide/) - Churches are looking to save money. Offerings are down and budgets are being cut. Sound familiar? Lately we've received inquiries about what we consider the easiest thing to trim from a Church communications budget. It pains me to think that Churches want to communicate less -- you have so much that should be said! But - [It's Christmas Time!](https://beknownforsomething.com/its-christmas-time/) - I was in the mall today. Christmas is everywhere! It seems like it arrives in retail far to early! Even before Halloween or early October -- soon it'll be late summer when the Christmas tree make their appearance! In my family, we always waited to mid November before even mentioning the Holidays! Well, no matter - [3 Frustrations from WFX Charlotte](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-frustrations-from-wfx-charlotte/) - Last week WFX came to Charlotte. Right in our backyard! What a great time. In fact, if you weren't there, you missed out on many seminars, workshops and a very informative expo. I returned today to my office to pour through the contacts we met. There were so many great Pastors, technical support and media - [There's a Wrong Way to Do Things.](https://beknownforsomething.com/theres-a-wrong-way-to-do-things/) - This weekend, my wife and I decided to paint our master bedroom. We've renovated every other upstairs room in our house, so it was time to finish ours. We asked (told) our kids to help so we could do it all in a weekend. Saturday morning we woke the kids (they love to sleep in), - [Worship Facilities Expo - Finally!](https://beknownforsomething.com/worship-facilites-expo-finally/) - This week WFX returns to the South! Charlotte is hosting it. I'm looking forward to seeing friends from other WFX's and hearing the speakers. I learn so much from everyone! It's been a rough year on some churches. The economy has really battered budgets -- especially travel/conference budgets. The whole premise of the WFX is - [The Management Gap](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-management-gap/) - I just got back from a Leadership conference. Very well done with speakers from all over America. At these conferences, I try to come away with a new business principle that I want to work on. This time it's hard to pick just one, but one had a huge impact on me. It's all about - [Wow, Weirdness and Worship](https://beknownforsomething.com/wow-weirdness-and-worship/) - Catalyst Atlanta, 2009 is now over. It was my first time to attend, so that means I missed the first 9. I wish I had heard about it sooner than last year. I arrived on Wednesday for their lab day. A fancy way of saying small seminars. I wasn't sure what I was doing, where - [How Many Times?](https://beknownforsomething.com/how-many-times/) - We are asked fairly frequently, "How many times should we contact our customers"? Remember the "old" days when "touching a customer" meant running an ad in the newspaper, mailing out direct mail cards, a 30 second radio spot, or having a sign in front of your store. All those are still valid communication tools, but - [Catalyst 2009 Here I Come!](https://beknownforsomething.com/catalyst-2009-here-i-come/) - I've been going to Church conferences for years and I have the privilege to speak at many of them. I'm always amazed at the people I meet. Genuinely interesting folk who love the Lord and want to be around other believers. For a few years, I've heard a lot of great things about Catalyst. This - [Touch it Once](https://beknownforsomething.com/touch-it-once/) - Ready to try something with me? I'm an organization neat-freak and have an "everything in its place" mentality. Are you with me? Lately, as our work has picked up and the abundance of email, mail and projects have landed on my desk, I'm running out of time. So I need to save time and energy - [You need MORE than a Website](https://beknownforsomething.com/you-need-more-than-a-website/) - We have Pastors or Ministry Workers contacting us almost daily looking to get a website. We know that ministries and churches don't have huge budgets. But God has called all of us to be good stewards (managers) of what He's given us. So is a website a good use of funds? Well, yes. And no. - [4 Simple Things all Churches Need to Know – 4](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-simple-things-all-churches-need-to-know-4/) - I’m just getting back from a business trip to Dallas where I had the privilege of teaching the marketing component of the Certified Church Consultants program that the National Association of Church Design Builders hosts. I arrived home on Wednesday evening but then had to leave for Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday morning. Going out of - [Simplify!](https://beknownforsomething.com/simplify/) - For the past month or so, my family has been planning a yard sale. I don't know what that means to you, but after having several of them, it means a lot of work, for a minimum payout. Sounds fun, eh? Well, yesterday we held (hopefully our last) yard sale. We followed a successful plan: - [4 Simple Things all Churches Need to Know – 3](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-simple-things-all-churches-need-to-know-3s/) - Think about your favorite product or service. You know, the ones you love to buy, use and promote. I love PepsiMax right now. In fact, I'm drinking one right now. If someone were to ask me what my favorite soft drink is, I'd blurt out PepsiMax! -- then proceed to tell them (even if they - [Have you Polled your Audience lately?](https://beknownforsomething.com/have-you-polled-your-audience-lately/) - My youngest son just started High School. Trying to get him to tell me something (anything!) about school, I asked him what the coolest technology they were using in his classes. Technology is his favorite discussion, and I saw him "bite the line". "They have this cool way to do quizzes in Math!" he quickly - [4 Simple Things all Churches Need to Know - 2](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-simple-things-all-churches-need-to-know-2/) - After you identify your audience (and perhaps before you identify an audience, depending if you're currently in a church or seeking one), you need to identify your vision. Remember the Bible verse, "without a vision, people (that's your audience) will perish"? It's so true! Some people believe that Scripture is talking about "the vision" being - [What Languages Do Your Team Members Speak?](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-languages-do-your-team-members-speak/) - Hopefully you've read the Gary Chapman book, 5 Love Languages. It's one of those books that should be taught to all students in college.It would help in all relationship issues including the business world! I don't think that people realize how differently people respond to different stimuli. Especially in companies. The premise of the book - [4 Simple Things all Churches Need to Know](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-simple-things-all-churches-need-to-know/) - It all seems so complicated when it comes to Church. We've added technology like audio-visual systems, facebook, twitter, and sermon streaming to the church and we've tried so many complex programs to try to "get them in". It seems that we've added complexity rather than simplicity. Christ promised that HE will build His Church. So - [One Word that Describes what I do Every Day.](https://beknownforsomething.com/one-word-that-describes-what-i-do-every-day/) - Have you ever tried to describe what you do in your life, in one word? After working 23 years in the Graphic Design field, I've decided that my design life can be described in this one word: Organization. When I was in high school, I always liked to draw, move things around so that people - [Step 5 to Church Failure: Abandoning Hope](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-5-to-church-failure-abandoning-hope/) - The last Step according to the book "How the Mighty Fall", by Jim Collins. As I read this chapter, I was disheartened and discouraged. I hate to see anything (that is built on the good of others) fail. Especially the Church! But do Churches fail? It's an interesting question. A few weeks ago, I drove - [80% of your Work is Wasted Time.](https://beknownforsomething.com/80-of-your-work-is-wasted-time/) - I'm back from vacation. It was a great time of relaxing on the beach, reading in the sunshine (and rain, sadly), spending time with my family and eating different foods. Ocean Isle Beach is a great place to do nothing. Speaking of nothing; during my reclining on the beach, I was reading a book about - [Step 4 to Church Failure: The Scramble Begins](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-4-to-church-failure-the-scramble-begins/) - As we read last time, Step 3 is when the "turn" really happens. People start to leave, offerings suffer, staff start to withdraw, and visitors no longer "hear about great things" from your church. The local church is in serious trouble. Then, the Senior Pastor or Board of Deacons, reach for a "silver bullet" (as - [4 Things to Enjoy on Vacation](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-things-to-enjoy-on-vacation/) - Vacation time is around the corner. We're going to Myrtle Beach as a family with some friends. The anticipation is killing me. The ocean, warmth, fellowship. Have you ever considered what you like about vacation? There are so many reason why I believe we all need vacation. We work hard everyday and vacation is not - [Step 3 to Church Failure: Critical Turning Point](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-3-to-church-failure-critical-turning-point/) - The first 2 steps occur with little change in "performance". The Church is booming and exciting when Step 1 happens. During Step 2 there's a slight (often un-noticed) slowing of success. Then Step 3 happens and near the end of this step things really slow down and sometimes plummet. If you've missed noticing the first - [Is It Time to Hit the Reset Button?](https://beknownforsomething.com/is-it-time-to-hit-the-reset-button/) - What a year this has been! Now Newsweek and CNN declares “The Recession is Over!” Well, not so quick. There’s a problem with this wonderful statement. Upon reading or hearing this wonderful news, most people expect that we’re “back to normal”. And we’re not. Unemployment is still high. People are just barely deciding to open - [Step 2 to Church Failure: Foundational Issues](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-2-to-church-failure-foundational-issues/) - It seems understandable for a church to take the leap from Step 1 (Hubris) to Step 2. When your organization realizes great success, and you arrogantly attribute that gain as something you deserve, the church leadership starts to think they can do anything. That's why Step 2 is the “undisciplined pursuit of more”. More what? - [4 Criteria to the Right Logo](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-criteria-to-the-right-logo/) - It's like saying a person's daughter is ugly. Companies often come to us to help them develop a "brand". At PinPoint, we have a process where we examine certain qualities of an existing brand before we propose "next steps" for a company. We want to make sure that the current "visual brand" (the logo) is - [Step 1 to Church Failure: Easy to Fall Into](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-1-to-church-failure-easy-to-fall-into/) - Hubris: noun; excessive pride or self-confidence. Proverbs 16:18 says that, “pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” Perhaps this biblical admonition should make step one obvious. According to Jim Collins, when he analyzed the failing businesses in his study, they all started with Hubris bred by success. I believe that, like - [Do you have different Audiences?](https://beknownforsomething.com/do-you-have-different-audiences/) - I’ve been in Canada for the last 2 weeks. It’s my homeland. We’ve been privileged to work in the US for the last 10 years and every summer my family visits relatives in East Coast Canada. While I’m there, I visit with former co-workers from marketing agencies I’ve worked at. And of course, I’m a - [The 5 Steps to a Failing Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-5-steps-to-a-failing-church/) - I have the privilege of traveling around the United States and Canada as I speak at Church conferences and meet with Pastors. I visit with them and hear about various programs and leadership issues. In the last year, it seems like the stories of success have been outweighed by stories of dismal projections and lack - [I'm humbled by Philippians 2.](https://beknownforsomething.com/im-humbled-by-philippians-2/) - My 15 year old son just got back from a missions trip in Baltimore. He shared lots of stories and opportunities of witnessing to people on the street, to convicts in prison and to church congregations. He's a genuine teenager, so his eyes lit up when he talked about the meals and snacks he devoured - [6 Reasons I'm going to Miss Billy Mays](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-reasons-im-going-to-miss-billy-mays/) - I don't quote too many celebrities but it seemed that Billy Mays came up in my speech this past year more than any other celebrity. A celebrity? Well, considering that most people know his name and what he did, I would say he's the best known spokesperson ever. He died today. Age 50. Discovered in - [3 Things I Learned from My Father that I Use Daily](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-i-learned-from-my-father-that-i-use-daily/) - Happy Father's Day! Today is the day that we honor the guy who was our male leadership while growing up. Think about most of your relationships and friends -- how many Fathers of them do you know? If you're anything like me, I rarely know their Fathers (or even met them)! Isn't that weird? But - [That's Delicious!](https://beknownforsomething.com/thats-delicious/) - I've posted several times in the past months about twitter and Facebook. It seems that I'm on these websites everyday. They've become part of my life. Can you imagine ever saying those words? The internet has only been around a little more than a decade, and it seems like I'm googling, facebooking, browsing, blogging and - [4 Surefire Ways to Stop Burnout.](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-surefire-ways-to-stop-burnout/) - Our family is starting to plan our summer vacation. We go to Canada to renew our immigration, see family, catch up with friends, and visit Canadian clients. It’s a rushed time with lots of demands for me. We enjoy the mild temperatures, eat pounds of lobster and try to get a day or two for - [3 Church Audiences You Need to Know.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-church-audiences-you-need-to-know/) - "Who is my Neighbor?" A Law Expert asked Jesus this question immediately after hearing “love your neighbor as yourself” and Jesus used the parable of the Good Samaritan to answer it. “A neighbor is the one who shows mercy” is the loose translation of the answer. Often people ask me how to locate an “audience” - [Not all 'Graduations' should be Celebrated.](https://beknownforsomething.com/not-all-graduations-should-be-celebrated/) - It seems that everyone (including the media) is talking about Graduation. I guess it happens every year around this time. Presidents, Senators, and famous people deliver speeches that pass their "wisdom" onto the next generation. It's a picture opportunity and a way to get free press. And it's a great time to gather the family - [TMI: I’ve been Fired AND Laid off](https://beknownforsomething.com/tmi-ive-been-fired-and-laid-off/) - When life deals you lemons, you make lemonade. Right? We’ve all heard the stories of famous people who made it big. But then we find out that most of them have either lost it all, gone bankrupt or fired in the past. The stories are everywhere. So why does it hurt so much for us? - [Have you doubled your waist size? Learn why you should calculate it!](https://beknownforsomething.com/have-you-doubled-your-waist-size-learn-why-you-should-calculate-it/) - I spent the last week in Long Beach, California speaking at the WFX conference. I met lots of talented people and was able to pour a little of my branding and marketing knowledge into their capable hands as they work for God. I’m blessed to have the opportunity. I also got to do my favorite - [Your 100 days. Or is that 91 1/4 days?](https://beknownforsomething.com/your-100-days-or-is-that-91-14-days/) - This past week on April, 29, 2009, we celebrated a huge day. Or at least for some. The media definitely showed up! It was, of course, the end of the first 100 days of the Obama presidency. I'm tempted to get into the politics of the day because most people who know me, know that - [Half of all Americans Use This. Do you?](https://beknownforsomething.com/half-of-all-americans-use-this-do-you/) - I was raised in a pretty conservative home and church in the late 60's and 70's. We believed that the Bible is God's literal Word. The Truth. We turned to it for guidance, conviction and answers. I still do! But in the late 1970's our church hired a "Minister of Music" and he allowed our - [4 Lessons All Pastors can Learn from Twitter](https://beknownforsomething.com/4-lessons-all-pastors-can-learn-from-twitter/) - I've been on Twitter now for a few months. I was asked to write an article for a national publication back in February about social networking so I thought I'd give it a try. I was instantly hooked. I've heard someone refer to Facebook as the place "to connect with long-lost friends" and that Twitter - [Ever Heard of Deep-Fried Easter Eggs?](https://beknownforsomething.com/ever-heard-of-deep-fried-easter-eggs/) - Ever wonder why an egg started to represent the Religious Holiday of Easter? As far back as I can remember, we got chocolate eggs for Easter. Then Cadbury Easter Creme Eggs came along and it got even better! Some families take the time to dye real hard-boiled eggs as part of their Easter rituals. In - [What Easter reminded me about Marketing](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-easter-reminded-me-about-marketing/) - It’s Easter weekend. I find it interesting that we all have different traditions in our families. We were raised with getting Easter candy (large chocolate bunny and eggs sitting next to our plate) when we got up for Easter breakfast. No mention of the Easter bunny -- we knew who gave the candy to us. - [Are you Unique?](https://beknownforsomething.com/are-you-unique/) - I overheard someone on Friday in the Dallas airport (while I was enjoying a short enjoyable burst of people-watching waiting for my flight) say, “You are one-of-a-kind!.” The recipient laughed and gave the look of, “If you only knew!” I’m always amazed at some of the things we say to each other. Do we really - [3 Ways to Keep Visitors Happy](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-ways-to-keep-visitors-happy/) - We moved to North Carolina from Atlantic Canada almost 9 years ago. It seems so long ago, yet when I think about the doubts and excitement we had at the time, it seems like only a few months ago. Living near the halfway point between our former Canadian home and the winter warmth of Florida - [Lessons All Business Owners Must Learn from Monopoly](https://beknownforsomething.com/lessons-all-business-owners-must-learn-from-monopoly/) - I love to play board games with friends and family. It’s hard to find many that have the passion that I do. It seems that computer games have become the games of choice for the kids today. And it seems that my generation got skipped since my parents generation seemed to love the classics: Scrabble, - [What Happens When a Ministry is Broken?](https://beknownforsomething.com/what-happens-when-a-ministry-is-broken/) - I have a confession. I hate to throw away anything. In fact, it seems that in this time of recession, people are holding on to things that normally they would replace. I think, for the most part, this is great! Cars are being kept to an all-time high. In fact, the median age of cars - [Twitter and Facebook are a Waste of Time!](https://beknownforsomething.com/twitter-and-facebook-are-a-waste-of-time/) - I was speaking recently to a group of business owners and someone raised his hand and sheepishly spoke words that I'm sure a lot of people in the room were thinking, "Twitter and Facebook are a waste of time!" Social networking seems to be discussed everywhere. But should it be part of business? Or just - [One Principle That Will Save Your Ministry](https://beknownforsomething.com/one-principle-that-will-save-your-ministry/) - This week, I've asked a guest author to talk to you about helping your ministry. We're privileged to have a traveling missionary from the Middle East. Perhaps you've heard of him. His name is Paul. OK, so he isn't personally writing a blog for me -- but I've borrowed from his letter to the Philippians - [10 Ways I Save Money EVERY Month](https://beknownforsomething.com/10-ways-i-save-money-every-month/) - It seems that every time I turn on the TV or pick up a magazine, someone is talking about "ways to save" or "to cut back". Most of them are great advice – but, call me weird, I hate paying more for anything than I have to pay. So I've been doing it for quite - [Prediction: The Recession is Ending](https://beknownforsomething.com/prediction-the-recession-is-ending/) - Today we lost an hour but we say we “sprung forward” in time. There’s a big difference in perception. In fact, when you ask someone today how they feel to loose an hour, and you’ll get negative responses. But ask them if they love having more daylight and the positive remarks will follow. (Do I - [Pastor Wins Best Supporting Actor Award](https://beknownforsomething.com/pastor-wins-best-supporting-actor-award/) - Did you get to watch the Academy Awards this year? Being a people-watcher, I like tuning in to see who’s there and to see what movies I haven’t watched (but should when they hit my Apple TV for downloads). This year, Slum Dog Millionaire was the big winner, but Heath Ledger’s (Dark Knight) oscar for - [6 Ways to Get Noticed.](https://beknownforsomething.com/6-ways-to-get-noticed/) - I've confessed many times that I'm a news junkie. I've cut back a lot lately in an attempt to think more positively, but I still get quite a bit of news. Ah, well. After awhile, it all starts to sound alike. Economy. Blah, blah, blah. Obama. Blah, blah, blah. Unemployment. Blah, blah. Octomom. Blah. And - [Fox's 24; 168 episodes too late](https://beknownforsomething.com/foxs-24-168-episodes-too-late/) - This weekend we're celebrating our older son's 15th birthday. For weeks my wife and I have been discussing what we should give our maturing son. 15 is a difficult year to choose the right gift! After weighing several different directions, we decided on the first season DVDs of the Fox series "24". Why? You may - [What’s all the Fuss about Facebook?](https://beknownforsomething.com/whats-all-the-fuss-about-facebook/) - It seems that everywhere I turn, people are talking about Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Social networking has finally reached the mainstream. This past week, I spoke to some business owners at an NACDB (National Association of Church Design Builders) member meeting in Phoenix about this “new” phenomenon. It was interesting to watch emotions (anything from - [Did your Heart twitter Last Week?](https://beknownforsomething.com/did-your-heart-twitter-last-week/) - 3 ways a Pastor needs to connect. It seemed like every radio station I tuned into this past week had “social” experts bantering with the radio jockeys, imparting their wisdom on how to better connect with your spouse or your “significant other”. Valentine’s Day seems to highlight the fact we do a poor job interacting - [3 Spring Things.](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-spring-things/) - We are blessed to live in North Carolina. One of the perks of residing in the south is early spring fever. After several weeks of cold temperatures (for here), we were blessed to have the thermostat rocket up to the 60's yesterday and today. I realize that it's probably short-lived, but it sure feels good - [I Burned My House Down Today.](https://beknownforsomething.com/i-burned-my-house-down-today/) - We moved into our beautiful house back in June after purchasing the brick ranch house from the original owners of 40+ years. Sometime when their four boys were young, their Dad built a two-story clubhouse for them in the backyard. But now, after many years, it's seen better days, and we decided to get rid - [Step 5 for Saving Money - The Pope wants you on Facebook](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-5-for-saving-money-the-pope-wants-you-on-facebook/) - Social networking is here to stay. You know how I know this? The Associated Press issued an article on Jan. 23, 2009 with the title "Pope Welcomes Facebook, But Cautions". There you have it! The Roman Catholic church does not have the habit (no pun intended) of accepting or reacting to change or new things - [One Thing that You Must NOT Do During a Recession](https://beknownforsomething.com/one-thing-that-you-must-not-do-during-a-recession/) - I'm a fan of American Idol. The first rounds are over and the winners have moved on to Hollywood and the losers have retired to anonymity. What made the successful ones winners? Is it their voice, their personalities, their dancing, their looks? I believe it's all of those things (to an extent). BUT, as Simon - [Step 4 for Saving Money - E-blasts](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-4-for-saving-money-e-blasts/) - It used to be that a church who had the longest list of congregation addresses wins. It means you have a big church! Well, it IS important to make sure you have the contact information to reach your audience. But the way you reach your congregation has changed. The Church still loves to send direct - [3 Things Everyone Should Know About You](https://beknownforsomething.com/3-things-everyone-should-know-about-you/) - Excuse me, but who are you? (I want to know about you!) These are words that can make you feel good! Someone wants to know you! They care enough to ask. They have reached out to you. But they can also be excruciating. Especially if you have met the person several times before. It means, - [Inauguration Day](https://beknownforsomething.com/inauguration-day/) - On Tuesday, the United States will experience Inauguration Day. It's a special day that only occurs every four years, but it seems like it's longer this time. I guess because the election period was extended for such a long time. But then again, four years is a long time! The day (January 20) as I - [Step 3 for Saving Money – Web/Online](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-3-for-saving-money-webonline/) - I was talking recently to a new client and he had a lot of skepticism about printed Direct Mail. "It costs a lot", he said. And it's true. But if you're getting results from it, it's awfully hard to say Direct Mail isn't worth it. But in this time of financial concern, where budgets are - [Recession Declaration](https://beknownforsomething.com/recession-declaration/) - Well, "they" finally told us. "We're in a Recession". I guess it's hard news to hear, but also delivers information that we've sensed for awhile. Or perhaps the media and the political campaign wanted us to "feel" it for awhile. I had a client send me a "bad news for the industry" pdf with lots - [The Missing Commandment. #6 - Thou Shalt Live by the Law of the Grid.](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-missing-commandment-6-thou-shalt-live-by-the-law-of-the-grid/) - Note: it was brought to my attention that Commandment 6 was left out of the blog about Church Websites. Sorry. Here it is! Recently, I picked up a book I wanted to read. Really! I wanted to read it because I had read an article that shared some highlights from its chapters and it interested - [Step 2 for Saving Money – Word of Mouth](https://beknownforsomething.com/step-2-for-saving-money-word-of-mouth/) - My younger son has an iPod Touch. He got it about the time I got my incredible iPhone 3G. It was like Christmas coming early to our home. I love when the kids get something electronic. They work and do chores to earn small amounts of money and once they’ve saved (for an excruciating long - [Where the heck are your Customers looking?](https://beknownforsomething.com/where-the-heck-are-your-customers-looking/) - I’m on my way back from speaking at a national conference in Houston. Prime people watching time. I love airports. Expos. Conferences. When I was standing in front of the audience of about 200, I found myself watching reactions and odd people things. It’s almost like people forget that I’m actually looking at them, and - [WFX Houston 08 – A Time for Optimism](https://beknownforsomething.com/wfx-houston-08-a-time-for-optimism/) - I’m squished into a cramped row of strangers on the flight from the Worship Facilities Expo and Conference. Soon I’ll be home. I love attending the WFX – and this time, like usual, was very good! I’m always amazed at the people I get to see. What a wonderful opportunity to meet with several clients - [I'm Mark MacDonald and I'm a News Junkie](https://beknownforsomething.com/im-mark-macdonald-and-im-a-news-junkie/) - I have a confession. I'm a "news" junkie. I find myself quickly checking my favorite news website throughout the day. But, sadly, that's not all. Let's start at the beginning of my day. When I wake each morning, I wake to the news. Then my wife flips the TV on to my local morning news - [Low/No Cost Marketing - Step 1](https://beknownforsomething.com/lowno-cost-marketing-step-1/) - Almost every ministry or company that we start talking with needs to start at the same spot. Developing a Story. Interestingly, when we meet people throughout the day -- people we've never met before -- we have a "thing" we do. Don't we? Everyone sort of does it differently. "Hi, I'm Mark. It's nice to - ["There's got to be a Cheaper way"](https://beknownforsomething.com/theres-got-to-be-a-cheaper-way/) - I talk with a lot of Pastors and Business Owners and I'm hearing the same thing. One Pastor I recently talked to seemed perplexed, "I know I need to do marketing and branding in my church, but I'm not sure how I can afford it. There's got to be a cheaper way." I think he - [The Presidential Debate got me thinking....](https://beknownforsomething.com/the-presidential-debate-got-me-thinking/) - I’m sitting watching the Nashville Presidential debate. Politics are interesting aren’t they?! How can two grown men say seemingly opposite things about the same things and both say they are telling the truth. Hmmm. Do you buy it? In business we seem to do the same thing. Well, except we don’t have unlimited tax dollars - [Three Things I Love](https://beknownforsomething.com/three-things-i-love/) - This week, I returned from a week-and-a-half-long business trip. I love to travel but these few days away from my family and the business got it "out of my system" for a while. I left on an early (!) morning flight, flew from Greensboro, NC to Washington Dulles airport, then to Toronto to discover my - [Commandment 10 - Thou shalt Test. And Test again.](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-10-thou-shalt-test-and-test-again/) - This is the last in the series of the Ten Commandments for Church Websites! It's always scary to talk about a first, but it's equally sobering to figure out what the last of anything should be. Last words. Something that should overshadow everything that's been said to this point. When it comes to Graphic Design, - [Commandment 9 - Thou shalt extend the reach of your website](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-9-thou-shalt-extend-the-reach-of-your-website/) - Sitting in my office in North Carolina today, there are a couple of things that are being talked about with almost everyone that I have a conversation. Politics (the conventions are wrapping up -- and the real election battle is starting), and hurricanes (the only thing they have is common is a lot of hot - [Politics - Love/Hate relationship?](https://beknownforsomething.com/politics-lovehate-relationship/) - I love Politics. There. I said it. When you're in a big crowd with a bunch of people who are mingling, try and say the word "politics" loudly. Notice the reactions. I think the majority of people don't like to talk politics. I guess it was the way I was raised too. My parents always - [Commandment 8 - Thou shalt be relevant and changing](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-8-thou-shalt-be-relevant-and-changing/) - The old adage of "the only consistent thing in life is change" is so true! Think about how you've changed in the last year, 3 years, 5 years. I was just Facebooking with some old (no pun intended) classmates from college. I haven't talked to them in 22 years. Talk about change! To see current - [God's View](https://beknownforsomething.com/gods-view/) - A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of climbing a mountain with my two teen boys. OK, one boy is "almost" a teen, as he turns 13 next week. I call it a privilege for several reasons. 1) I had the ability to push my butt up almost 5300 feet of rocky elevation, - [Commandment 7 - Thou shalt be found](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-7-thou-shalt-be-found/) - I just got an iPhone 3G. Wow. I feel so blessed that I was fortunate to find one at the Apple Store (I won't talk about the line I waited in, and the 3 hours I had to drive...) One of the coolest tricks that it does is GPS. I don't have a GPS in - [Employees rule!](https://beknownforsomething.com/employees-rule/) - This past week I'm reminded of how important employees are to an organization. You can't do it all yourself -- and at a particular point in time, you realize that you need someone who will do some of your tasks. Easy. Right? Nope. Some pivotal questions rise. Do you find someone who is very much - [Commandment 5 - Thou shalt outline your navigation like a good sermon](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-5-thou-shalt-outline-your-navigation-like-a-good-sermon/) - Recently I was giving someone a drive because their car was in the shop. I sort of knew where I was taking them, but I was more enjoying the animated conversation. Right in the middle of my good story (where I was barely thinking about my driving and more about the emotion of the dialogue), - [Commandment 4 - Thou shalt determine that consistency is mandatory](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-4-thou-shalt-determine-that-consistency-is-mandatory/) - Have you ever told someone about a favorite restaurant or store that you really love -- and when they go they have a horrible experience? Perhaps the service was different or below their expectations. Or the thick grilled filet was not as good as you described. There are so many factors that have to be - [We're in. But not unpacked.](https://beknownforsomething.com/were-in-but-not-unpacked/) - Most things in life are much harder than they look. For weeks we prepared for the day that the Rental Truck would pull up to our old house. We had lots of friends arrive last Saturday to transfer our packing to the new house. Seven hours went quickly. And then our sweaty friends (no offense - [Commandment 3 - Thou shalt strive for Simplicity](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-3-thou-shalt-strive-for-simplicity/) - Wow. We finally moved my family across town. I think that short of stomach flu, it's the worst thing to do. We had so many friends help us load and unload the truck -- and the process took about 7 hours. Not bad. I love to people watch. Especially if they're doing things that they - [Moving Day Cometh](https://beknownforsomething.com/moving-day-cometh/) - Well, we have one week left before we move to a new house. I can't believe how many decisions we have to make this week. We're finishing packing, changing utilities and buying materials that will help us renovate the "new" house. Then, next Saturday, it all happens. That is, after a day of seeing lawyers - [Commandment 2 - Thou shalt get your website designed. Well.](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-2-thou-shalt-get-your-website-designed-well/) - Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what "design" means? Are you a designer? At PinPoint we have a random act called "what are you deciding". At any time, anyone can ask another what (at that specific time) are they deciding to do. It has a lot to do with Design. Very few things in - [Commandment 1 - Thou Shalt Love Your Content](https://beknownforsomething.com/commandment-1-thou-shalt-love-your-content/) - We always hear that people don't like the shows on TV. It seems like a common complaint. But yet there are more shows and more channels than ever. Millions of dollars go into the development of shows. They test who the channel's demographic is and what that age segment wants to watch. They choose TV - [Survive a Tornado](https://beknownforsomething.com/survive-a-tornado/) - Yesterday, for the first time in my life, my family and I had to huddle in our North Carolina basement and pray that a tornado didn't hit our house. It all started after I returned from a Charleston work trip. It was 90 degrees when I left the coast and headed inland. It started to - [WFX - Indianapolis 2008](https://beknownforsomething.com/wfx-indianapolis-2008/) - This past Monday I left the warmth of North Carolina and flew to Indianapolis. I arrived to a cold evening in the 30's -- I'm not sure what I expected, I guess it's a nice reminder of why I live in the South. Several on our flight were wearing shorts and t-shirts. I at least - [So many colors...Stage 2](https://beknownforsomething.com/so-many-colorsstage-2/) - The saga continues as we move towards our new house. This week we're determining the colors we will paint on the walls of our house. I don't know whether you've been to the big-box store lately, but there are so many colors to choose from! How does someone make the choice? And what brand of - [Brand Renovation - Stage 1](https://beknownforsomething.com/brand-renovation-stage-1/) - Well, we found a new house. My wife and I talked about what we were looking for and we found almost everything that we discussed. Near the best high school in our area. Near our incredible church. A workshop. Four Bedrooms. More space to entertain the kid's friends as they start to think about parties - [OBX Fishing](https://beknownforsomething.com/obx-fishing/) - This weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Read: drive as far east as you can (literally) in North Carolina on winding small town roads, and take a one-hour ferry ride to a 15+ mile narrow strip of sand. It was a good time. I went with Kurt’s - [TLC](https://beknownforsomething.com/tlc/) - We've just sold our house. We decided to do it "for sale by owner" and after 17 days it's under contract and now all the inspections are being done. It seems like the stress of selling has now turned into the stress of buying. When we decided to sell, we started doing the research. Watching - [Deal or No Deal](https://beknownforsomething.com/deal-or-no-deal/) - Saturday morning, bright and early, I arrived at an NBC casting call for the popular game show, Deal or No Deal. It was 6 am and quite cool (about 39F) and the line had started to form the day before at noon. The line, according to local media, was just over one mile long. This - [Good news is No news?](https://beknownforsomething.com/good-news-is-no-news/) - We've all heard the talking heads on TV. The American economy is a disaster. The "r" word is tossed around like a volleyball at the beach. There seems to be a delight in talking about the American dollar dropping. Not to mention the cost of gas. All the Morning news shows wrap their entire morning - [Introducing Your New Certified Church Consultant](https://beknownforsomething.com/introducing-your-new-certified-church-consultant/) - Be Known for Something (BKFS) announces that Mark MacDonald has successfully completed training to become a Certified Church Consultant (CCC). This national CCC program is designed to educate professionals in becoming church development experts in more than a dozen church growth areas. This curriculum is created by a national panel of experts in each of - [Marketing is like a Wedding](https://beknownforsomething.com/marketing-is-like-a-wedding/) - Recently I had the opportunity to talk to Wedding Professionals of the Triad (North Carolina). I was flattered, as I am anytime someone actually wants to listen to me, but I wondered how I could be relevant to them. Then, with my laptop and discussions with the talented people I work with, I realized that ## Pages - [Home | Church Branding & Church Marketing](https://beknownforsomething.com/) - Church branding that clarifies your message, church website, and church communication. Discover a proven path to help your church become known for something. - [Church Branding](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-branding/) - Get clear church branding for churches that unifies leaders, strengthens communicatino, supports growth. 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Easter brought attention to your church. Now it’s time to turn that attention into connection.This free guide will help you evaluate what guests experienced—and what needs to change next. What’s inside this free PDF: • 15 simple, revealing questions every church should ask after Easter• Practical fixes to - [Church Logo Design](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-logo-design/) - Church logo design that goes beyond a symbol. Professional church logos and church visual identity systems that support your church branding and build trust. - [Church Communication Articles](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-communication-articles/) - Discover 100s of church communication articles to elevate outreach & church branding. Engage members and boost your community presence today! Subscribe now! - [Contact Us](https://beknownforsomething.com/contact/) - We love when people contact us! Want to communicate better? Discover new Church branding? Our complete Church Branding Package? 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Become an Unforgettable Church This free PDF includes:• 25 Practical Resolutions• Questions to Clarify• Tips to be - [~Be Known for Something Wanted](https://beknownforsomething.com/be-known-for-something-wanted/) - Free Download 5 Things Churches Are Known For (That No One Wants)​ This free resource breaks down the 5 common church reputations that drive people away — and what to do if you’re stuck with one. If your church feels overlooked, under-attended, or misrepresented in your community, this is for you.✅ Fast-read ✅ Brutally honest - [~12 Discoveries PDF](https://beknownforsomething.com/12-discoveries-pdf/) - 12 Discoveries from the unchurched From Decades of Listening Included in PDF: • Why You Should Listen • Who You Should Listen To • What We've Discovered • Church RecommendationsBONUS: We'll send you weekly Church Communication, Branding, Research tips too!​ Download the FREE PDF First Name Last Name Email Church/Org Name State/Prov What Best Describe - [~Audit SEO Pricing](https://beknownforsomething.com/audit-seo-pricing/) - Download Pricing for Website Content Audit & SEO Pastor, STOP building and maintaining a church website that few ever go to. Discover tips and tricks to creating a website so Google becomes your biggest evangelist!Finally, your church website will be loved and used. With content that they're looking for. 3 Website Content Coaching Sessions: Website Assessment,Sitemap - [~Few Listen](https://beknownforsomething.com/few-listen/) - FREE Download 5 Reasons Your Church Is Being Ignored This fast, no-fluff PDF reveals the top 5 reasons people are ignoring your message — and how to fix each one with stronger branding and communication.✅ Fast-read ✅ Zero fluff ✅ Built for Pastors, Staff, and Communication Leaders Download now and learn how to shape a brand - [~Become a Wanted Church](https://beknownforsomething.com/wanted-church/) - Is your church known for something people don’t want? This free guide helps pastors shift their church's reputation through better branding and messaging. - [~~Purchase Statement](https://beknownforsomething.com/purchase-statement/) - Statement Be Known for Something® Branding Co - [~~Branding Store](https://beknownforsomething.com/branding-store/) - The Be Known For Something branding store has some of our most sought-after church communication and church branding products. Everything that we can send you! - [~~Refund and Returns Policy](https://beknownforsomething.com/refund_returns/) - Refund & Returns Policy Church Branding Company : Be Known for something OverviewOur refund and returns policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have passed since your purchase, we can’t offer you a refund or exchange. Some of our products/services are not returnable. If you’re unhappy with any of our products, please contact us and let us know - [~~Shop](https://beknownforsomething.com/shop/) - [~~Terms](https://beknownforsomething.com/terms/) - Terms Church Communication swag Shop with Confidence TERMS: LIMITED EDITION & TOP QUALITY. GUARANTEED! Our terms are simple. Everyone scrambles to get our swag at conferences, seminars, and retreats! For a limited time, with limited quantities, we’re offering some of our merchandise to purchase.We also have a few of our assessment and audit products listed on our store page.Our other branding products are available - [Church Comm Freebies](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-comm-freebies/) - Church Comm freebies are precisely what churches with tight budgets need! So many ways to save money. Here's our list of resources costing little to no money. - [20th Anniversary](https://beknownforsomething.com/20th-anniversary/) - Be Known for Something Church Branding and Marketing Agency celebrated our 20th anniversary! Helping Pastors and Churches for 2 decades is huge! Read more... - [History](https://beknownforsomething.com/history/) - Read more about Be Known For Something's history that started in 2001, originally as PinPoint Creative. Mark MacDonald established the church branding agency. - [Sitemap](https://beknownforsomething.com/sitemap/) - Sitemap be knowN for something® content PagesLinksChurch Clarity PathChurch Clarity SummitChurch Clarity SessionChurch Secret ShopperChurch Website Audit~10 Unchurched Perceptions PDF~Few Listen~Be Known for Something Wanted~Become a Wanted Church~Path Pricing~Coaching Pricing~Audit SEO Pricing~Unforgettable Church~Will They Remember You After Easter~12 Discoveries PDFChurch Branding Portfolio~~Purchase Statement~~Refund and Returns Policy~~Branding Store~~TermsChurch BrandingPricingChurch Comm FreebiesChurch Listening GroupsChurch Communication StrategyMark MacDonaldChurch - [Church Branding Products](https://beknownforsomething.com/church-branding-products/) - Be Known for Something’s award-winning church branding products makes us a nationally-recognized consulting agency assisting churches and organizations. More.. - [Privacy Policy](https://beknownforsomething.com/privacy-policy/) - privacy policy Our Legal policies for privacy Privacy is important to us. And you.Basically; we don’t share your information. You should feel VERY safe here. We use it to help create a Church Communication and Church Branding website that you’ll love! But our lawyers want us to post all this legal jargon to clarify our privacy policy.What information do ## Portfolio - [CHURCH OF THE CROSS](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/church-of-the-cross/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona, Iowa, partnered with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to clarify their message and create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) that works seamlessly with their thread (their real brand). Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions - [FIRST BAPTIST JONESBORO](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-baptist-jonesboro/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Baptist Jonesboro worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then getting - [FIRST COAST CHURCHES](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-coast-churches/) - NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Coast Churches worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something non-profit organization branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable organizational logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Do you need a non-profit or organizational logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great branding for an organization - [CEDAR SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/cedar-springs-presbyterian/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Cedar Springs Presbyterian worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, - [CHURCH VISUALS](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/church-visuals/) - ORGANIZATION LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Church Visuals (formerly Twelve Thirty Media) worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team and their own design team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Does your organization need a logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great - [CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CHURCH](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/crossroads-community-church/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Crossroads Community Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team and their creative staff to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation - [FIRST BAPTIST ADA](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-baptist-ada/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Baptist Ada worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, - [FIRST BAPTIST COOKEVILLE](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-baptist-cookeville/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Baptist Cookeville worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, - [FIRST BAPTIST FORT SMITH](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-baptist-fort-smith/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Baptist Fort Smith worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo). And decided they didn’t need a thread. Instead, they requested a professional, simple, unique logo system (to match their limited budgets). Yes, we do logo projects - [FIRST BAPTIST LAFAYETTE](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-baptist-lafayette/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Baptist Lafayette worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, - [WAYPOINT CHURCH](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/waypoint-church/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Waypoint Church (formerly Country Meadows Baptist) of Kansas City, Missouri worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to rename, and create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. - [SEEDS KIDS WORSHIP](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/seeds-kids-worship/) - ORGANIZATION LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Seeds Kids Worship (formerly Seeds Family Worship) worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team and the Church Visuals Designers to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand). Does your organization need a logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great organization - [FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-lutheran-church/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Lutheran Church of Cedar Springs, Iowa worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering - [BE KNOWN FOR SOMETHING LOGO](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/be-known-for-something-logo/) - COMPANY LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Our award-winning Be Known for Something logo church branding team created our visual brand (a simple and memorable company logo) to work with our thread (our real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great company branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then getting a professional, scalable, and memorable - [THE CHURCH NETWORK](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/the-church-network/) - NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) The Church Network (formerly National Association of Church Administration NACBA) worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something non-profit organization branding team to change their name and create a visual brand (a simple and memorable organizational logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a non-profit or organizational logo? Here are 7 - [FLORIDA BAPTIST FINANCIAL SERVICES](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/florida-baptist-financial-services/) - NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Florida Baptist Financial Services worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a non-profit organization logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great organizational branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering - [FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/florida-baptist-convention/) - NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Florida Baptist Convention worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need an organization logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great non-profit branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and - [KENT DESIGN BUILD](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/kent-design-build/) - COMPANY LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Kent Design Build worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need an company logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great corporate branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then - [FIRST PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL AUSTIN](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-presbyterian-day-school-austin/) - SCHOOL LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Presbyterian Day School Austin worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a school logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great school branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and - [VICTORY CITY CHURCH](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/victory-city-church/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Victory City Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then - [TALLOWOOD BAPTIST](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/tallowood-baptist/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Tallowood Baptist Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then - [PROVIDENCE BAPTIST](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/providence-baptist/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Providence Baptist Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then - [LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/life-community-church/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Life Community Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell.Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then getting a professional, - [LAKE GROVE PRESBYTERIAN](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/lake-grove-presbyterian/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Lake Grove Presbyterian Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and - [KINGWOOD UNITED METHODIST](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/kingwood-united-methodist/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Kingwood United Methodist Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and - [FIRST PRESBYTERIAN AUSTIN](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-presbyterian-austin/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Presbyterian Austin worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then getting - [FIRST BAPTIST MIDDLEBURG](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/first-baptist-middleburg/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) First Baptist Middleburg worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then getting - [CHERRY HILLS CHURCH](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/cherry-hills-church/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Cherry Hills Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and - [BLACKROCK BAPTIST CHURCH](https://beknownforsomething.com/portfolio/church-logo/) - CHURCH LOGO (VISUAL BRAND) Blackrock Baptist Church worked with the award-winning Be Known for Something church branding team to create a visual brand (a simple and memorable church logo) to work with their thread (their real brand).Do you need a church logo? Here are 7 questions to tell. Great church branding starts with understanding your audience (congregation & community), discovering your thread, and then getting ## My Testimonials - [Bob Bumgarner](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/bob-bumgarner-3/) - Discovering our thread, "Don't Pastor Alone," helped align everything we do around one clear message. And that clarity has made all the difference. - [Bob Bumgarner](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/bob-bumgarner-2/) - Because of the clarity that Be Known For Something has given us, we are seeing and experiencing greater reach and greater influence across our region. Clarity changed everything. - [Bob Bumgarner](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/bob-bumgarner/) - Our thread, “Don’t Pastor Alone,” carries enormous meaning for us. It captures our heart for pastors, our commitment to collaboration, and our vision for what it means to lead together on mission. Clarity changed everything - [Chris Reinolds](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/chris-reinolds-2/) - If you’re tired of being the best-kept secret in town, the Be Known For Something Hallway Conversation Framework is the tool you need. - [Chris Reinolds](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/chris-reinolds/) - Be Known For Something's framework is deceptively simple, clear enough for anyone in the pew to remember, sharp enough to actually connect. - [Chris Reinolds](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/chris-reinolds-clarity/) - There’s a moment in every church where you realize people are busy, faithful, and somehow still invisible to the neighborhood. Mark MacDonald doesn’t just talk about church communication; he shines a light on the gap between what’s happening in your church and what people actually know how to say about it. - [Kelly Rose, CCA](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/kelly-rose-central-baptist/) - "I always enjoy sitting in your workshops, and your keynote was definitely spot on." - [Jim Wagner](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25565/) - “Mark has been an essential part of our Conference and Publications. His understanding of church communications is irreplaceable. He has a keen observation of social media and tech trends, and creative marketing” - [Rev. Phill Martin](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25567/) - “BeKnownForSomething’s steady leadership and support has developed our new brand and communications that will significantly impact our work in the next century” - [Noble S. Mosby](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25573/) - “By helping us better understand the needs of our community, BeKnownForSomething discovered…ministry solutions that attract and influence our community for Christ” - [Joe Carbonaro](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25576/) - “it’s been a fascinating journey of discovery through each and every step of the process. We wholeheartedly recommend them to every church!” - [Brian Schwarberg](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25579/) - “I buy into working with {Mark and BeKnownForSomething} 100%. They helped change the trajectory of our church in a significant way.” - [Jeff Nelson](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25585/) - “Our church is 115 years old. We needed a fresh start. [BeKnownForSomething] pushed us to be clearer in the way we communicate with our community. They patiently worked with us. And we’re delighted with the result. It’s re-energized us as a church.” - [Dr. A. Olinger](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/36299/) - We discovered our thread! The retreat process united our team and focus. Best of all? The branding launch Sunday brought in 31 NEW families. Such a great response. We love working with Be Known For Something church branding. - [Dr. James Forsyth](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25580/) - “Be Known for Something took the time to understand not only our passions but also the people God has called us to reach. Their insights, thread, and strategy that followed have been profoundly helpful to our church.” - [Dr. Mel Blackaby](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25739/) - "Any church that is intentional about reaching people outside its walls needs the insights offered in this agency and book." - [Dr. Rick Blackwood](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25429/) - "Be Known for Something can elevate a church's focus. Their passion is real for the church." - [Denise Craig](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/denise-craig/) - "Be Known for Something is passionate about finding your unique thread and then communicating it creatively to others. When you're unique, you stand out from the crowd, and Mark shows you how to do that!" - [Carl Barnhill](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25583/) - “Be Known for Something has helped transform our entire ministry! Their expertise in branding and thread identity has been crucial to us. Highly recommend!” - [Mike Hunter](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25581/) - “BeKnownForSomething’s work is relevant and contextual for where and how the church should communicate and inspire in this digital age. His skills are scalable for churches of any size. We all should be listening!” - [Ben Stapley](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25578/) - “Be Known for Something knows how to narrow down your brand and help it stand out in a world oversaturated in banal messaging. They have a proven track record over decades of helping organizations and individuals connect to their audience in the profit and non-profit worlds. Need help understanding your core message and finding your - [Josh Starr](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25575/) - “Be Known for Something is the national voice of becoming relevant. Every organization needs this process. - [Dr. Rick Blackwood](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25569/) - “Be Known for Something) can help you get the Word out to others. Mark is a kind and thoughtful person who can be a guiding light for those who just need to broaden the scope of those they wish to serve.” - [Jon Carlson](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25568/) - “… Mark made me feel like a Million Dollars” - [Rex Miller](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25566/) - “Mark delivered more insight and value in one hour than anyone I’ve ever met with or hired. I’ve done these drills many times with marketing folks who make big promises but give you stuff you already know. What makes Mark different is the amount of homework and analysis he did. He found details that I - [Cathy Hutchison](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25561/) - "…your leadership (has) helped us navigate our hurdles… and allowed us to be effective in making decisions” - [Kevin J Matthews](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25741/) - "This is the motherload, jackpot, unbeatable win for a church staff and board team-read" - [Senior Pastor](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/35690/) - Every moment with Be Known For Something is well worth the time. I learn something each time. - [Senior Pastor](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/35697/) - I've been to 8 or 9 Southern Baptist Convention annual meetings. Our time together this year? Easily, the most productive time ever at an SBC meeting! I need more of this! - [Teaching Pastor](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/35700/) - Your church branding system is the path that helped us break through into our community. With so many churches in our area, we were so ignorable. Our thread has opened doors and discussions. The focus it's given our congregation is worth its weight in gold. Thank you! - [Courtney Tucker](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/36641/) - "This is a game-changer! Be Known For Something's insights transformed how we communicate, helping us craft a message that truly connects with our community. They didn’t just offer strategy — they genuinely partnered with us to bring our church brand to life." - [Mike Ricks](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/mike-ricks/) - "We discovered our thread! Massive community buy-in with people in our community using the thread too! Church attendance has almost doubled in 5 years. Incredible!" - [Zack Langley](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/zack-langley/) - "I've attended many instructional trainings. The time spent discovering how we can Be Known for Something now tops the list as the most practical and applicable! I was challenged to think outside of the box and wrestle with changes that need to be implemented to grow God's Kingdom. The retreat was WAY MORE than I - [Josh King](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/josh-king/) - "Be Known for Something's mystery visit was invaluable to us. The data, insights, and recommendations shared provided a solid foundation to make some much-needed improvements to our website, messaging, signage, even welcome culture, and more!" - [Craig Swift](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/craig-swift/) - How helpful and insightful! Mark came to do a mystery visit but his team did a great amount of pre-work so he could see through the eyes of our target audience. Mark’s pastoral heart, expertise, love for the church, and humorous way of delivering information were an inspiration! - [Zachary Young](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/zachary-young/) - Mark teaches the underlying concepts of change, the knowledge essential for our ministry's future growth and effectiveness. Beyond grateful for our coaching time together! - [Administrative Lead](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/35693/) - You totally changed my thinking and gave me the right path to improve. I absolutely loved our time together! It's hard to keep up with everything you suggest but it's worth every minute. - [Laura Ericcsen](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/laura-ericcsen/) - "From the moment Mark began our retreat, I was hooked—I mean, who knew rebranding could actually be fun? His joyful spirit, genuine kindness, and patience, guiding us through every step, made the entire process feel not only manageable but also fun and truly meaningful." - [Matt Every](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/matt-every/) - Our experience with Be Known For Something was incredible. We learned so much not only about our community but about ourselves. We are excited about our thread and how it will guide us into the future. - [Laura Ericcsen](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/laura-ericcsen-2/) - "Mark went truly above and beyond—pouring time and care into our preschool logo, and even helped with our website, which was far beyond what he needed to do. His support has been INCREDIBLE, and I’m deeply grateful for everything he’s contributed." - [WFX Attendee](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25577/) - “practical application with a good theory. Best presentation of the day! Gave me hope that there is a way to be effective in what I do and make people happy and people actually get info.” - [Ben Trites](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25572/) - “… their creative process has transformed our marketing and communications” - [WFX Expo Attendee](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25562/) - “Great speaker, relevant content. Excellent, best speaker of the day!” - [WFX Expo Attendee](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25560/) - “information provided in a lively and relatable way. Loved it! Very useful” - [Dr. Rob Peters](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25559/) - “I thank God for Be Known for Something and your work” - [Kem Meyer](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25742/) - "Thankfully, Mark wastes no time talking about the marketing and branding that’s hurting your church. Even better? He moves past the problem fast to get to the good stuff—what to do about it. I didn’t even get through page 15 before grabbing my favorite pen to start taking notes and answering questions. Reading this book - [Brady Shearer](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25740/) - "Be Known for Something is helping churches navigate the biggest communication shift our world has seen in the last 500 years." - [Gary Chapman](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25738/) - "Pastor or church leader… use this as a study tool for your team, committee, or board. If you are ready to grow, this book will point the way." - [Walker Armstrong](https://beknownforsomething.com/wpt-testimonial/25582/) - “Be Known For Something helped at a key pivot point. We wanted a streamlined, simplified approach and Mark brilliantly facilitated discussion with timely advice to finding our ministry thread. We renamed and got clarity for helping churches “go beyond survival”. 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