Robin Hood Marketing Contest.
Katya Andresen has graciously offered to send a free book to a reader of my blog.
To thank you for reading my blog. Anyone who would like a copy of Katya’s book Robin Hood Marketing, simply comment on this post, include your name, name of the church you attend, and your geographic location.
I will randomly select the winner friday and announce it next week.
Thanks for reading, good luck.
Sam
My son Gianni turned 3 yesterday. I think one thing that stands out to me is how much my life has changed in the past 3 years. I can’t imagine my life with out him.
This is significant to me because I worked with kids in and out of church for so many years before we had Gianni. I have seen many great parents that inspired me, but I also saw many parents who should never have had kids. I wanted to have kids because we felt it was part of what God had for us as a couple not just because “you are suppose to have them”.
We decided to have kids after my grandfather past away. I was very inspired by his life and decided that it was time to have kids. This is part of the reason we named Gianni his name (Gianni is Italian for John, my grandpa’s first name). From the moment he was born I have never regretted that decision. He is a joy. Every day is better because he is in it.
I love everything about my boy. I love his laugh. I love his incredible sense of humor, I love his perspective. I love the fact that he wants to know what everything is. I love how he waits for me everyday when I come home from work.
Gianni mommy and daddy are crazy about you. You are a champion you are a man of God we love you! Happy Birthday!
What is the one thing you are good at? We need to find that one thing that we do well and explore the space around us. Find out what your gift is and do it and do it with all your heart. When we don’t do what God has called us to do we rob those around us.
So to all of you who have not found your place of ministry in the church. I know I speak for children’s pastors everywhere when I say this “We need more cowbell.”
Had a couple more thought about Robin Hood Marketing. At the very end of her book Katya listed three sins of marketing. Wow do these ever apply to church. I know that I have been guilty of all three.
The Three Sins of Marketing
1. The first sin is falsely assuming that information results in action – It is tempting to assume that if people have information, they will act on it. But sadly, information doesn’t prompt action.
Vision has to more than a pamphlet and a powerpoint. We have to create steps for change. We have to demonstrate what it is that we are seeing. We have to believe and act not just spew information.
2. The second sin is forgetting that we’re not the audience. – We assume that our audience thinks the way we do.
Who are you trying to reach? Figure that out and you are well on your way to being far more effective in you corner of the world with the great commission.
3. The third sin is treating marketing as an afterthought. – This mindset can help us meet the needs of others, and motivate others to act.
This is a big one for me. I think that marketing has gotten a bad name in church. People feel that marketing = manipulation. Has marketing been used to manipulate? Yes. Is manipulation and marketing synonymous? Absolutely not! Church marketing to me is speaking the uncompromising truth of God’s word in language and terms people not only understand but apply.
Marketing is not a evil thing. I believe that it is crucial, and becoming more so. There is so much information competing for people’s time and energy. Our message is the most powerful and life changing.
Robin Hood Marketing: Stealing corporate Savvy to Sell Just Causes.
By: Katya Andresen
What a great book I loved it. I must warn you I do love marketing books. I think this book is very useful to people who are not into marketing.
Why you should read this book
1. We market ourselves and our ministries every day whether we like it or not.
2. We can learn from the marketing world about how people receive and implement messages they receive.
3. Learn how to move people to action based on shared values.
My Favorite Quotes from this book.
“I encourage readers to consider that marketing, when practiced professionally and ethically, is about influencing, not manipulating, people. There is nothing intrinsically immoral about it…..I would argue, that wasting precious resources by dealing with social issues ineffectively is immoral.”
“Once people get one clear idea and take one small action, we can ask them to take another. It’s a process. Momentum starts with one action and then takes time to build.”
“-What is our strong suit?
-What makes us unique?
-Is our strength or difference a simple, easily grasped concept?”
“Don’t lament over your shortcomings or your opponent’s strengths. Think about how you can be refreshingly different.”
And that is only the beginning. Read the book it is well worth your time.
Katya is brilliant. She also has a brilliant blog check it out.
