You post church graphics on social media and your church website. Many use them in video/projected announcements. Even bulletins and sermon series occasionally need them! But do you struggle with designing them so they’re effective? Maybe you don’t consider you’re a designer. Another issue: perhaps your church graphics are provided through curriculum, free...
We prefer order over disorder. We love hearing a sermon if we understand the simple outline. We also prefer a list of things as long as we understand it's overarching topic. But when presenting anything in a series, there is a universal serial effect. The first and last items are best remembered. This...
Communicators have a high expectation of creativity. In planning, concept, design, and execution. Maybe, we should also toss in “mind-reading” to fill the rest of a communicator’s creative thoughts. We also don’t live in a closed microcosm either. While we’re juggling our many tasks, everyone on staff (along with us) see other amazing...
Many organizations try to communicate with their audience every day (design tests this!). A ton of messages! This noise causes people to choose whether to engage with content or simply ignore it because it doesn’t interest them. And all of this is done very quickly. Your church is in the middle of...
Drive around the streets of your town near your church. There are signs everywhere. Seriously, everywhere. If you’re looking you’ll see them but for the most part you’ll stop remembering most of them. We live in a loud, marketing-saturated world. Your church needs to have a sign that stands out and is remembered....
Marketing communication is tough. There’s so much to say and people are only half listening or reading. After 3 decades of professionally designing and communicating, I’ve identified the main problem. Our communication is often delivered in a busy, non-organized, and complicated design. So, calm down. Please. Or risk never being heard, read,...
Branding originated with cattle farmers who wanted to make sure others could distinguish their cattle from others when they roamed together in a field. They used a hot iron to mark them. Ouch. Church branding is the same, but thankfully different. However, several principles are similar. The logo needs to be unique. Imagine if...
We’re gullible. We want to believe that everyone has our best interest in mind. That our perceptions are accurate and our best days lie ahead. Church communicators are no different. I engage with hundreds who are attempting to communicate for busy ministries, and I often hear lies or gullible misconceptions. It’s wise, if...
In college, as I took classes and studied, I often created “cheat-sheet” cards that I hole-punched, put on a large hoop, and hung on my belt loop. I’d concisely write information that seemed to be exam-worthy on each card so I could review it between classes. I wanted to be ready for...
