This blog has received lots of links from progressive-minded churches wanting to improve their marketing. It's my turn to reciprocate.
Just as churches can learn something from business marketers, business marketers can learn something from churches. Churches do things to turn off potential Christ-followers. And businesses do things to turn off potential customers.
In this video parable, the Beyond Relevance blog shares how churches subtly construct barriers to making new attendees feel welcome. Enjoy and learn ...
RSS Readers ... click here to watch the video.
** Kudos to Danny Franks for the heads-up.
The only problem is Starbucks is everywhere. In every grocery store, street corner....
Being special and hard to find is not in the Starbucks language anymore.
Posted by: BIG Kahuna | November 07, 2008 at 02:12 PM
BIG Kahuna,
If you live in the Bible Belt, there are more churches than Starbucks.
John,
What a great clip. I sent the link to the priest in charge of outreach where I attend church...a good lesson for all of us.
Posted by: Greg | November 07, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Spot on!
- Frustrated Christian
Posted by: Brian | November 07, 2008 at 03:20 PM
truthful, painfully truthful so thanks
Ralph
Posted by: Ralph | November 07, 2008 at 06:19 PM
This made my day; couldn't be more dead-on.
I think another (albeit less hilarious) example of a campaign that that builds barriers rather than bridges is VW's bizarre "Routan Boom"-- http://urbzen.com/2008/11/06/routan-bust/ --There's a difference between poking fun at your target market and just outright mocking them.
Posted by: StephanieInCA | November 08, 2008 at 11:56 AM
John,
I'm a Northeast Jew, I just couldn't identify with it....
But it certainly was entertaining.
Posted by: BIG Kahuna | November 08, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Scott (BIG Kahuna), I don't see this as a Christian/Jewish thing.
It's a parable ... a parable about the subtle but significant barriers churches, synagogues, businesses, and organizations have in place that prevent new members, believers, customers, and employees from feeling welcome.
Posted by: johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy) | November 08, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Sorry I should have said "I'm a Northeast Jew, I just couldn't identify with it....
insert northeast sarcasm here.
I got it silly. I laughed and cried. More sarcasm.
Posted by: BIG Kahuna | November 08, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Want to see fear? watch what happens when you suggest a business act more like a church - express love, embrace others, connect, etc. - and watch what happens when you suggest a church act more like a business - with purposeful communications, measurement, marketing, etc.
Both could learn from that little exercise.
-Mark
Posted by: Mark True, brand warrior | November 10, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Want to see fear? watch what happens when you suggest a business act more like a church - express love, embrace others, connect, etc. - and watch what happens when you suggest a church act more like a business - with purposeful communications, measurement, marketing, etc.
Both could learn from that little exercise.
-Mark
Posted by: Mark True, brand warrior | November 10, 2008 at 05:11 PM
one of the funniest things I've seen in a while and so true.
The button down shirt, khakis and hair style make this video for me. Makes me want to go to church again
Posted by: Pat Nerr | November 12, 2008 at 07:17 AM
Bible-belt-living, lifelong church-going Christian here, and that video exposes all kinds of stuff - spot on! And FUNNY!
Posted by: Brett Duncan | November 13, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Classic! I actually do some volunteer work at our church to try and keep this from happening. I'm not always successful.
"Rick Warren" Hawaiian shirt and J-O-Y = Java, Others, You
Those were the money shots for me.
Thanks for the painful laugh!
Posted by: DUST!N | November 14, 2008 at 04:16 PM
The irony is that there is a church in my locality that has set up a Starbucks franchise within it! It all makes sense now.
Posted by: Dan Morelle | December 02, 2008 at 05:46 AM
Have you ever gone into a small-town cafe and had a similar experience? I love rural communities; but they could learn a thing or two from the video on how to welcome visitors and new residents.
Posted by: Mike | December 09, 2008 at 06:43 AM