If I had to pick the #1 day that your bulletin actually gets read, I would pick Christmas. (I don't have any statistical data to back that up, but since I doubt CARA is going to be taking that one on any time soon, we'll go with it.) But think about it: One of the busiest days of the year, combined with lots of waiting for Mass to begin if they arrived early to get seats. They're bound to flip through your bulletin while they wait. Now here's the question: Do you think your bulletin as it is...
about 9 hours ago • 3 min read
“Never buy anyone’s course,” he said. I was scrolling through Reels a few weeks ago when I came across that advice from a comedian. He was talking about how everyone has a course now, and he's been tempted to buy courses before that claim they will help him in his business, but he doesn't think they're necessary or will actually help. I squirmed for a moment when I saw that. Because, um, I sell a course. And I actually sat there and thought about it for a moment: Am I part of the problem? Is...
5 days ago • 5 min read
It's not just you. Marketing is harder than it used to be. Facebook is now only letting business pages post two links per month unless you pay them. AI has completely changed how SEO works. You basically need a master's degree in Instagram for the algorithm show your posts to your followers. Not to mention the sheer volume of marketing content that just grows by the day. And you're over here like "I just want to tell more Catholics about what I do!" But it sometimes feels like reaching them...
7 days ago • 3 min read
Click, clack. Click, clack. My foot distractedly hit the loose metal filing cabinet knob up and down as I directed the parishioner's call. Once I was off the phone, I looked at it. "Someone should really fix that," I mused as I moved onto my next task. Each week at my shift as the night secretary for the parish office, I'd inevitably hit the loose drawer handle with my foot and think, "That's really annoying." Or pull out the drawer to put a file in and roll my eyes that no one had fixed it...
7 days ago • 2 min read
It was the SECOND paper trimmer I'd bought in a week. And it somehow still wasn't working. I sat on the floor of our apartment sobbing. My husband (perhaps just a teensy bit scared at what he'd signed up for marrying me) pulled out a pair of scissors, and we got to work, meticulously trimming the 150 wedding programs I'd designed for a client. How did I end up here? Because I didn't have a marketing plan. I was accidentally working on a new business idea at my wedding. Now before you call me...
9 days ago • 5 min read
Facebook has been buzzing lately about...well, Facebook. In case you missed it, business pages are now (or soon going to) only be allowed two links per month unless you upgrade (aka pay them) for more. If I was in charge of your parish's social media, here's how I would change our strategy as a result: Step One: First, I would scream into the void. (But seriously...it's not just you. Everything is harder to promote now than it was years ago. And upgrading to get more links is...not cheap....
14 days ago • 2 min read
I never wanted to be a teacher. But when I showed up at college orientation, I was quickly told that I wouldn't get a job as "just" an English major. "You should really add education to it so you can be a teacher," I was told repeatedly. So I did. And I was an education major for three whole weeks before I realized something: I had ZERO desire to be a teacher. None. Zip. Nada. So I dropped it, before I even took a single education class. And it was one of the best decisions I ever made,...
14 days ago • 3 min read
Well folks, here we are: Q4 has arrived. It kind of feels like what we've been working towards all year, doesn't it? And with that can come the added pressure of needing to get this busy season "right" in terms of marketing, because it's when it matters the most. So if I were you, here's are 5 things I would be prepping for Black Friday / Cyber Monday / Giving Tuesday / Christmas Shopping / "Whatever You Want to Call the Busy Sales Season" promotions: 1. Review your marketing plan. First, I...
21 days ago • 6 min read
One of my favorite underutilized social media strategies is asking "icebreaker" questions. Because if you're like most churches, your goals with social media probably are: Help parishioners know what's going on Spread the word about your parish to those not already involved Grow relationships among your parishioners And asking questions on social media that get people to comment and share will help you do all three! Because when someone responds to a question: It's a big sign to the algorithm...
21 days ago • 1 min read