Step 1 - Branding!

Branding is creating a feeling or emotion that is connected with your product or service.  What is the feeling you get when you see a Mac vs. PC ad?  What about the Ipod?  Or the I-Phone?  I have to be honest, there are times in my mind that I have thought to myself, In order to be a cool youth pastor, I really need to own an I phone.. It's not that I would be be any "cooler" but I sure would feel that way.  .that's the power of branding. 

When you think of branding as it relates to your youth ministry the million dollar question is, "What do you think about when I say the word (fill in the blank with your youth ministry name)?  It is often that feeling that determines whether a student will ever walk into or invite someone into your ministry.  If you will spend time developing your "brand", marketing your youth ministry will be much easier. 

Tips For Effective Branding

1.  Develop a ministry name and logo and use them consistently! 

Nothing goes out of our office without the ELEVATEyouthchurch name or Logo on it!  It's all about exposure. 

2.  Decide what you will put your name on and what you will not!

Bottom line, don't put your name on something that is not excellent.  Two words..Ford Pinto!  Whether it is an invite or an event, excellece must always be your goal. Excellence is found in the details. 

3.  If you want to know what your students think...ask them?

I'm sure you are 30someting cool, but your not 15 cool.  Take time to get input from your students on what they think about your ministry, venue, events.  You may find yourself in a place where the brand you have developed is not the greatest, you can always re-brand, it is a difficult process but with consistency it can be done.  Two words....Al Gore!  Keep in mind not every brand will appeal to every student.  Find your target audience.

Key Questions to ask:

Where do my students get their information about (fill in the blank)?  Who controls that information?  What do I want them to know about (fill in the blank)? 

Next....value proportion  -pw