One of the most copied church fund raising letters
I found a piece written by Jim Yeck(who I had to google to figure out who it was) from my email. He was one of the founders of Yeck Brothers Company, a direct mail ad agency that produced a number of award-winning sales letters for major corporations.
One of the successful sales letters was one that he had written for The First Baptist Church of Dayton, Ohio a long time ago.
It won the Gold Mail Box Award from the Direct Marketing Association and was probably one of the most copied church fund raising letters ever published (according to the post).
Here's the copy:
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"Nothing gives like a church organ. It gives joy at weddings; strength at funerals; family greetings at baptisms. It gives wings to worship; power to praise, humility to thanksgiving; it gives rest to the weary; welcome to strangers; binding ties to friends.
It gives to congregations of sons who follow fathers and then gives to sons and sons again. It finally gives of itself. For over five generations, the present church organ at First Baptist has given freely, generously, bounteously without stint.
Think of an organ's gifts, as you have received them; as your children will in days to come.
Then give to a church organ, like a church organ, freely, generously, bounteously...Without stint,"
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The facts said that the letter brought in $40,000 in revenue--a huge amount for
the era in which it was mailed.
Yet other churches tried using this letter with poor results.
How can this be? And why did it work?
I immediately thought of the emotional connection and association the first baptist church members must have to the organ in the message and the answer given was...
Because the congregation at the First Baptist church had deep feelings toward its organ.
The church attended by most is a great church, but there is no connection with their congregation and the church's organ.
I'm really curious how something like that would pull in today's world just like that? I have a feeling not as good unless...100% targeted like this was done and hit the right emotional chords.
It even said like stated above...one of the most copied yet very unsuccessful for the ones who did. I feel the people who copied it...missed the boat on the connections and emotions of people sent to versus the way this piece was highly targeted and speaking to them and their emotions.
Just thought this would be an interesting letter to throw up since so simple yet worked so great.
One of the successful sales letters was one that he had written for The First Baptist Church of Dayton, Ohio a long time ago.
It won the Gold Mail Box Award from the Direct Marketing Association and was probably one of the most copied church fund raising letters ever published (according to the post).
Here's the copy:
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nothing gives like a church organ. It gives joy at weddings; strength at funerals; family greetings at baptisms. It gives wings to worship; power to praise, humility to thanksgiving; it gives rest to the weary; welcome to strangers; binding ties to friends.
It gives to congregations of sons who follow fathers and then gives to sons and sons again. It finally gives of itself. For over five generations, the present church organ at First Baptist has given freely, generously, bounteously without stint.
Think of an organ's gifts, as you have received them; as your children will in days to come.
Then give to a church organ, like a church organ, freely, generously, bounteously...Without stint,"
-------------------------------------------------------------
The facts said that the letter brought in $40,000 in revenue--a huge amount for
the era in which it was mailed.
Yet other churches tried using this letter with poor results.
How can this be? And why did it work?
I immediately thought of the emotional connection and association the first baptist church members must have to the organ in the message and the answer given was...
Because the congregation at the First Baptist church had deep feelings toward its organ.
The church attended by most is a great church, but there is no connection with their congregation and the church's organ.
I'm really curious how something like that would pull in today's world just like that? I have a feeling not as good unless...100% targeted like this was done and hit the right emotional chords.
It even said like stated above...one of the most copied yet very unsuccessful for the ones who did. I feel the people who copied it...missed the boat on the connections and emotions of people sent to versus the way this piece was highly targeted and speaking to them and their emotions.
Just thought this would be an interesting letter to throw up since so simple yet worked so great.
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Pusateri -
Thanks
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