Imagine if Good Friday went something like this:

Jesus showed up, but literally no one's ever heard of Him.

He's done no teachings, no healings, no followers — just showed up, claimed to be the Messiah, and was crucified, all in one day.

Sure, the offering of eternal salvation would still be there...but the earthly impact would have been far less reaching, if at all.

I have a feeling that's how you're (inadvertently) approaching your marketing.

You're creating that content, but it's not creating buzz.

You're "showing up" on Instagram (whatever that means)...but those views sure aren't.

You started a podcast, built a funnel, invested in SEO, did all the things the gurus told you were "sure" to explode you into a viral sensation...

...and it's just plain not working.

That's not to say you're not getting anything, just enough of a trickle to keep you on the hook and thinking, "If I can just figure it out, THIS is going to be the thing that will be the big breakthrough."

You ready for the big secret?

"All of the things" aren't working because you skipped the boring stuff.

Now, that's not your fault; no one's ever even told you what the boring stuff was you were skipping.

Why? Because no one's going to go viral over a post, "How to conduct a SWOT analysis."

But guess SWOT? (sorry, couldn't resist)

Business.com says that SWOT analyses are "crucial," even for small businesses.

(A SWOT analysis is evaluating your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. More to come on that.)

And that's just one of about 30 foundational marketing strategies that I'd wager 95% of Catholic small businesses and ministries skip, and then wonder why things aren't working or stalling after an initial boom.

Trying to master the YouTube algorithm or get a higher open rate without the foundations is like trying to glean spiritual nuggets from Story of a Soul or the Diary of St. Faustina without having ever read the Bible: possible, but not very likely.

Or like planning a road trip, down to your rockin' playlist and array of snacks, only to get in the car and not have a GPS or map, so you never actually make it out of your driveway.

You think you need the latest "Here's the one tweak I made to make 7 figures overnight."

But what you actually need? The foundations. The boring, haven't-changed-since-the-horse-and-buggy essentials.

You have to have a real, actual marketing strategy.

I'm not saying that knowing the latest Instagram features or SEO techniques aren't going to help you grow.

What I'm saying is that they won't help you grow if you don't know these foundational pieces first.

But most marketing strategy sounds like corporate mumbo jumbo, let alone leaving room for Holy Spirit discernment.

But what if there was a way to learn the foundational marketing strategies (ditching the textbook language and just focusing on the stuff you actually need as a small business/ministry) and it was actually fun and maybe even holy?

I've been working on something for no joke about six years now that I am soooo close to being able to share with you.

It's going to give you these foundations you need in real people language so that your marketing actually works.

(Plus make it SO MUCH EASIER and feel more natural.)

And my promise? Learning marketing this way will feel like participating in a Bible study.

Because Jesus used all of these. And if God Himself used them, maybe we should too.

To get on the waitlist, fill out this form (and there may be a 10% coupon headed to those on the list).

And in the meantime, just answer one of these questions this week:

• What is it I do?
• Who am I doing it for?
• Why am I doing this?

It seems simple and not as flashy as "5 ways to boost your Stories' views"...but I promise it will do way more good.

For His greater glory,

Emily

P.S. If you want to get started in marketing strategy basics right now, I just put this new "How to Sell the Catholic Way" workbook up in my shop. If you're launching anything, have a sale coming, or a big campaign, this will walk you through setting up a mini marketing plan with the 5 essential, cannot-skip-these basics of creating a strategy that sells, no matter how the algorithm is feeling today.

​Grab your copy here for $4.99.​

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My dream project is launching soon. What started with me crying over a marketing connection to the Bible 6+ years ago is now finally coming to fruition. (In other words, I read marketing textbooks for fun so you don't have to.) Sign up below to join the waitlist for launch day later this month and get a 10% off coupon. Join the Waitlist

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Your next campaign doesn't have to flop. As promised last week, I've listed "How to Sell the Catholic Way" in my shop, a new workbook on how to set up a basic Catholic marketing plan for a launch or sale. Buy it now for $4.99, or learn how to get it for free by scrolling to the bottom of this email. Buy the Workbook

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