Help Me Build a Community List for Christian Parents

by BrianTubbs

Posted: 15 years ago 19 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hey everyone,

I'm a pastor and Christian school administrator. Right now, our Christian school, which relies primarily on tuition income, is struggling. I'd like to take what I'm learning in the IM area and use it to help the school.

My idea is to build a large email list of local Christian parents - not only parents in our school, but Christian parents throughout our entire region.

And then use that list to promote parenting seminars, teleseminars, ebooks, etc. that we can sell to raise money for our school.

And...of course to keep our school in the minds of our prospects. Through the e-newsletter, we may be able to get new students.

My Game Plan right now is to develop an ebook "101 Fun Things Kids Like to Do with Their Parents" (and I'm getting our school kids to help me write this) and offer that as my opt-in incentive.

I've already registered the domain....

www.tipsforchristianparents.com

And I've got an account with GetResponse for the autoresponder.

I just need to get the word out there to our community. I can do an article in our local paper's Religion section and send flyers and bulletin inserts to all the local churches.

But I'm stumped on other ideas.

Does anyone have any other ideas or suggestions on how I can make this work????

Thanks!

#build #christian #community #list #parents

ShayB 15 years ago

Have events that will attract kids - and the parents will come, too.

Our church has events such as Halloween alternatives and fairs. The kids have a lot of fun and we ask for parents to join our mailing list (they don't have to).

Another thing that is successful for getting info - have door prizes, and the info used for the door prizes also is used for the mailing list. (Parents know this when they give their info.)
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R Hagel 15 years ago

Hi Brian,

You may want to keep an eye on this thread:

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ing-ideas.html

Looks like Brian Kindsvater is looking for similar ideas. You may be able to bounce ideas off of each other.

Cheers,
Becky
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Talltom1 15 years ago

Brian,

Congratulations on your progressive, out-of-the-box thinking!!! Good job.

You have some good ideas already, and you will certainly be able to generate more. In my experience however, the biggest disconnect here, is the 'execution' aspect. You've got a good start with GetResponse and a good website url. But focus on getting one or two of these promotional ideas up, running, and on autopilot before you tackle new projects.

BTW, I'd be available to answer questions, or even consider a small project gratis, if you ever need help. Just shoot me a PM.

Talltom
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- Wah Bhatti 15 years ago
  
  look for like minded groups in yahoo face book and other social network sites
  look for forums on your topic
  
  im thinking your school only has a local reach or intake
  
  so participate in local forums
  
  build a social prifile and comunity site to get interation
  
  get active
  
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  MarkR 15 years ago
  
  Brian,
  
  Depending on how large your "region" is, I think starting a facebook site, or even better - a Ning group would provide the interactivity, and community / group feel I'd guess you want. Ning is great for building communities and the features are broad enough to do whatever you want.
  
  Mark
  
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rondo 15 years ago

Why not start a discussion forum like this one?

Andrew
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artwebster 15 years ago

Hi, Brian,

I applaud your ideas but deplore your 'Christian' ethics.

Isn't there something blatently un-Christian in excluding non-Christians from your concerns?

Parents and children are parents and children no matter what their faith or lack of it.
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You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
Build it, make money, then build some more
Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!
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BrianTubbs 15 years ago

Art, I have no idea where you're coming from, man. I'm not excluding anyone. This is about targeting a niche for an e-newsletter or ezine. Isn't that what we do at the Warrior Forum? If we try to market to everybody, then we're less effective, right?

But to be clear, our school (and my church as well, for that matter) does events open to the entire community. We aren't out to exclude anyone.
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artwebster

15 years ago

Hi, Brian,

I think this quote from your post is indicative of your intention to exclude non-Christian parents. This is not a loosely worded sentence but one which carries with it an express intent and the alarm bell that rang for me warning of a contradiction in terms has not stopped ringing just because you are trying to justify such non-christian ethics.

Where I am coming from is an all embracing joy at being a member of the human race, regardless of creed.

My idea is to build a large email list of local Christian parents - not only parents in our school, but Christian parents throughout our entire region.

Thanks
2 replies

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You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
Build it, make money, then build some more
Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

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ShayB

15 years ago

Originally Posted by artwebster

But....from what he has indicated, it is a niche.

He is thinking of developing a product/service for Christian parents.

Not that parents of other religions are bad - they just would not have an interest in what he is offering.

Thanks

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Marhelper

15 years ago

Originally Posted by artwebster

Where I am coming from is an all embracing joy at being a member of the human race, regardless of creed.

My idea is to build a large email list of local Christian parents - not only parents in our school, but Christian parents throughout our entire region.

Art, you are missing the point and throwing some of your own prejudice into this situation. This is not a religious argument or call to universalism but a discussion about a niche and how to best market to them ... chill out!

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artwebster 15 years ago

I am chilled - I just don't like hypocricy.

Christianity is a religion - 'parents and children' is a niche.

A pastor, above all people, should know this.
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You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
Build it, make money, then build some more
Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!
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- jkatzenback 15 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by artwebster
  
  I am chilled - I just don't like hypocricy.
  
  Christianity is a religion - 'parents and children' is a niche.
  
  A pastor, above all people, should know this.
  
  lol so "christian dating" is not a niche?
  
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GailTrahd 15 years ago

Brian - as a home school mom (probably close to your region) my first thoughts run toward my particular schooling groups who would be interested in the offerings your church community would have to offer. I would be happy to help you plug in to some of the egroups that are already available - that would help you get more people to opt-in to your list.

I'm in the Cincy area and have several ideas you might find helpful. I'll PM you.

Gail
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jkatzenback 15 years ago

I have something I think will help you alot... send me a pm if interested (and no i am not going to try and sell you something )
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garyv 15 years ago

I don't think he's concentrating on Christian people exclusively. He's using the word Christian, because that's the group's main focus. That doesn't mean he's excluding non-christians (there's no way he could know that anyway). Just because we're in an IM forum, doesn't mean everyone here is in the IM business. And it doesn't exclude non IM people. As a pastor I'm sure he concentrates on including as many people as he possibly can. But surely you understand that his focus is on Christianity.

That being said, I think you're on the right track. Especially the part where you get the youth involved in the process. I would do some polling to see which concerns that need addressing are the most popular. Define your customer - define their needs - meet their needs.
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- BrianTubbs 15 years ago
  
  Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and ideas. I appreciate it very much.
  
  Thanks
  
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Help Me Build a Community List for Christian Parents

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