Comments on: The Church Could Learn From Etsy http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/ Exploring the Intersection of Church and Technology Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:32:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Daniel_Berman http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47909 Daniel_Berman Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:36:06 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47909 My guess is that many pastors would tell you they are doing the best they can (I can't speak from personal experience as I am not in the ministry), but I will say this is a deeper critique of North American Christianity as a whole. On the other hand, I have also learned that we all to often fall into the trap of, this or that is wrong and someone else should fix it. (I am not implying this about you, only in general) We need to realize that when we come to realize these weaknesses in the Church, we need to act with whatever resources we have our disposal, weak and broken as they may be. Something about whatever your hands findeth, do it with all thy might? For me its been the Issachar Network (http://issacharnetwork.org), and I will tell you its no easy road. What's yours TP? And to the readers of ChurchCrunch who haven't commented yet, what has God enabled you to do in the situation you find yourself in right now? My guess is that many pastors would tell you they are doing the best they can (I can't speak from personal experience as I am not in the ministry), but I will say this is a deeper critique of North American Christianity as a whole.

On the other hand, I have also learned that we all to often fall into the trap of, this or that is wrong and someone else should fix it. (I am not implying this about you, only in general) We need to realize that when we come to realize these weaknesses in the Church, we need to act with whatever resources we have our disposal, weak and broken as they may be. Something about whatever your hands findeth, do it with all thy might?

For me its been the Issachar Network (http://issacharnetwork.org), and I will tell you its no easy road. What's yours TP?

And to the readers of ChurchCrunch who haven't commented yet, what has God enabled you to do in the situation you find yourself in right now?

]]> By: Daniel_Berman http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47907 Daniel_Berman Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:11:19 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47907 You're right and you're wrong. We know the product is good, the difference is perception. Is the product good because we know its good or because someone else thinks its good, or because the creator knows its good? When we know do marketing from the standpoint that we know somethings good, we miss out on understanding people's needs and where there at. When we do marketing from the standpoint that someone else thinks its good, then we are constantly pandering for the latest review. When we do marketing from the standpoint that the God started the church then we go back to the Bible; learn from the mistakes of the past, understand the basic depravity of the human condition and God's answer for it, and also realize that while there is nothing new under the sun what worked before likely won't work the same way now, and vice versa. This maybe a minute splitting of a philosophical hair, but perspective and perception all to often have everything to do with context and ultimately as you said relevance. You're right and you're wrong. We know the product is good, the difference is perception. Is the product good because we know its good or because someone else thinks its good, or because the creator knows its good?

When we know do marketing from the standpoint that we know somethings good, we miss out on understanding people's needs and where there at.

When we do marketing from the standpoint that someone else thinks its good, then we are constantly pandering for the latest review.

When we do marketing from the standpoint that the God started the church then we go back to the Bible; learn from the mistakes of the past, understand the basic depravity of the human condition and God's answer for it, and also realize that while there is nothing new under the sun what worked before likely won't work the same way now, and vice versa.

This maybe a minute splitting of a philosophical hair, but perspective and perception all to often have everything to do with context and ultimately as you said relevance.

]]> By: tpaulding http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47908 tpaulding Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:23:59 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47908 Good point. Let me clarify though. What I was trying to say is that while THE product, Jesus, is fantastic and relevant, often the churches do not (re)present Him to be either fantastic or relevant. Not in the marketing side of things, but in "ministry" which is the church's products. Therefore, if that ministry/product is NOT perceived as relevant or whatever, the marketing won't matter. So, I think the challenge I speak of falls on the churches to present the Gospel, and the messages around it, as relevant. If that happens, the social marketing will happen. Then, tools like Facebook, Twitter and other things we put in their hands, will be most effective. Good point. Let me clarify though. What I was trying to say is that while THE product, Jesus, is fantastic and relevant, often the churches do not (re)present Him to be either fantastic or relevant. Not in the marketing side of things, but in "ministry" which is the church's products. Therefore, if that ministry/product is NOT perceived as relevant or whatever, the marketing won't matter.

So, I think the challenge I speak of falls on the churches to present the Gospel, and the messages around it, as relevant. If that happens, the social marketing will happen. Then, tools like Facebook, Twitter and other things we put in their hands, will be most effective.

]]> By: Daniel_Berman http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47906 Daniel_Berman Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:59:02 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47906 I am not quite sure what you mean, but I will say that email, twitter, facebook chat enable WoM to push farther and faster. The bigger question is why would you mention your church in your personal twitter conversations, on a facebook chat with your friends, or in an email? Individual congregations must be able to reach out and touch. Whether they do or not is a measure of their effectiveness at communicating the gospel. I am not quite sure what you mean, but I will say that email, twitter, facebook chat enable WoM to push farther and faster.

The bigger question is why would you mention your church in your personal twitter conversations, on a facebook chat with your friends, or in an email?

Individual congregations must be able to reach out and touch. Whether they do or not is a measure of their effectiveness at communicating the gospel.

]]> By: Jim http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47905 Jim Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:12:26 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47905 i can't get past laughing at the sock-monkey! HAHA i can't get past laughing at the sock-monkey! HAHA

]]> By: human3rror http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47904 human3rror Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:08:04 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47904 it makes sense, so rock on. it's just sad that the church sucks so bad at this... it makes sense, so rock on. it's just sad that the church sucks so bad at this…

]]> By: tpaulding http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47903 tpaulding Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:56:50 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47903 As much as I hate to use the word, the challenge is being RELEVANT. If we do things at church that people want to be a part of and/or want to hear about, the "marketing" will happen, won't it? I guess I would have to go out on a limb and say that if the "marketing" for your church isn't working, you aren't offering a good "product." Just like any other place of business, if a restaurant has fantastic marketing and terrible food, at best, they will have a lot of one time visitors, and their business will slowly decline. If the same restaurant has fantastic food and no planned marketing, it will still thrive because people will talk. As much as I hate to use the word, the challenge is being RELEVANT. If we do things at church that people want to be a part of and/or want to hear about, the "marketing" will happen, won't it? I guess I would have to go out on a limb and say that if the "marketing" for your church isn't working, you aren't offering a good "product." Just like any other place of business, if a restaurant has fantastic marketing and terrible food, at best, they will have a lot of one time visitors, and their business will slowly decline. If the same restaurant has fantastic food and no planned marketing, it will still thrive because people will talk.

]]> By: human3rror http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47902 human3rror Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:26:04 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47902 good point here. we know that the people need it though. so what next? good point here. we know that the people need it though. so what next?

]]> By: tpaulding http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47901 tpaulding Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:01:05 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47901 I have no doubt that the church has a lot to learn about social networking, viral and WoM marketing. However, people have to NEED what the church has to offer or it is not very effective marketing. I think the challenge of the church is not so much marketing but our cultural tendency to "do it ourselves." I think our marketing unfortunately has more effect on, as Daniel said, sheep swapping rather than bringing in new people. There are a lot of people looking for a different/better experience. Just a thought. I have no doubt that the church has a lot to learn about social networking, viral and WoM marketing. However, people have to NEED what the church has to offer or it is not very effective marketing. I think the challenge of the church is not so much marketing but our cultural tendency to "do it ourselves."

I think our marketing unfortunately has more effect on, as Daniel said, sheep swapping rather than bringing in new people. There are a lot of people looking for a different/better experience.

Just a thought.

]]> By: human3rror http://churchm.ag/the-church-could-learn-from-etsy/#comment-47900 human3rror Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:36:05 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/?p=3320#comment-47900 oh good point. do you think the internet does one better? oh good point. do you think the internet does one better?

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