7 Marketing Strategies to Attract New Church Members

Jono Long • January 25, 2022

Marketing strategies aren’t just for businesses. They’re also for organizations and charitable institutions like the church. In fact, the church can benefit a lot from a well-crafted marketing strategy that’s been executed well. We’ve compiled a list of church marketing strategies that are perfect for retaining and attracting members.

1. Establish a Marketing Team for the Church

The first step to take in order to have a successful marketing strategy is to have a team in place that’s geared towards executing this strategy. If you’re going to have an effective marketing strategy, you’re going to need a team of people dedicated to executing that strategy. When you establish a team for your marketing strategy, you’re able to divide the work according to each individual’s strengths. Each member will be able to contribute the skills they feel are strongest and helpful in the execution of the strategy.

2. Build Up Your Church's Online Presence

If you’re going to have a marketing strategy for your church, you should definitely make it a point to build up your church’s online presence. Building up your church’s online presence will allow you to engage members and potential new members through a variety of social media platforms. There are a lot of different ways to increase your presence online. They include:

Building a website for your church that includes a blog, videos, and other media.

Utilizing your church’s social media accounts.

Creating an online calendar.

Creating a directory page.

3. Be a Resource for Your Members

You have to be a resource for your members if you really want to retain them and keep them coming back on a regular basis. This is one of the best ways to do this. When you provide valuable resources to your members, they’re going to come back to you to use those resources. For example, you can provide them with a place for them to come together with other community members, like a gym. When you become a resource for your members, you’re going to find that they’re going to want to come back.

4. Use Social Media to Connect with Members

Social media is an excellent tool for connecting with people. The key is to actually connect with people. You’ll want to share inspirational stories, as well as other content that’s relevant to your church and ward. Adding value to people’s lives, whether in the form of content or kind words, is a great way to connect with people.

5. Invite Members to Participate in Social Outreach

The church can actually greatly impact the community by involving members with social outreach. If your church has a social outreach program, you should definitely encourage members to participate. Contributing to the community is a great way to get involved and make friends. You should encourage members to attend social outreach events and organize different events that they can participate in.

6. Keep the Message Relevant to Today's World

There are a lot of things in the world today that your members are going to want to hear. One of these things is a message that’s relevant to what’s happening in today’s world. You’ll want to make sure that the message you’re trying to preach is relevant to what’s happening in the world. The world has changed a lot. The church has to change along with it.

7. Plan Events that are Relevant to Your Church’s Mission

If you want to hold onto members, you should definitely plan events relevant to your church’s mission. This means that the events you’re planning are appropriate to the church’s beliefs, as well as things that will inspire people to action. Events that are relevant to your church’s mission will bring in new members and strengthen the resolve of your current members.

Conclusion

The church is an excellent resource for many people in the world. When you have a good marketing strategy in place, you’ll be able to keep members coming back to the church, as well as bring in more members. In the end, we’re not just talking about numbers. We’re talking about the lives of your church members. A good marketing strategy will allow you to reach more people with the things that you want to teach them.

For churches and other faith-based non-profits, you need a reliable partner to help you spread the word about your organization. This is where Faithworks Marketing comes into play. As an expert in local SEO, we help other people find your church and connect with you. We can help you build a website that can act as a digital bulletin for new and long-time members. Contact us today to get started!

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AI, Side Hustles, Creative Ministry, and $10K Google Grants: What Every Pastor Needs to Know

By Jono Long • August 21, 2025

For many pastors today, ministry is both a calling and a financial challenge. As the cost of living rises and church salaries remain modest, more pastors are turning to side hustles and creative income streams to provide for their families. This trend is shaping what many believe will define the next generation of church leaders: bivocational ministry. In a recent episode of The Pro Church Marketing Podcast, host Luke Clayton sat down with Jono Long , founder of Faithworks Marketing, to discuss their parallel journeys from ministry to entrepreneurship. Together, they shared practical strategies for church marketing, candid lessons from business, and encouragement for pastors who feel caught between calling and provision. Ministry Meets Entrepreneurship Both Luke and Jono began in full-time ministry, but financial realities forced them to adapt. Jono, a youth pastor in Georgia, found himself with five kids, a wife at home, and a salary that wasn’t enough to make ends meet. Out of necessity, he turned to social media management for local businesses. What started as a $300-a-month side hustle eventually grew into Faithworks Marketing , an agency serving churches across the country. Luke’s path was similar but marked by burnout. As a communications director at a large church and school, he was responsible for everything creative—websites, graphics, video, and media. With no budget to outsource and a workload that never stopped, he eventually hit a breaking point. Stepping away cold turkey, he launched his own creative business, Increase Creative , which now helps churches with websites, branding, and podcast production. Their stories reflect a growing trend: ministry leaders are often entrepreneurs at heart, using their creativity and problem-solving skills to build businesses that support both their families and the church. Why Bivocational Ministry is the New Normal While many pastors once saw bivocational work as a backup plan, it is quickly becoming the new reality. Church salaries often fall short of providing financial stability, especially for families. Meanwhile, the American cost of living continues to rise. This creates tension for pastors who want to devote themselves fully to ministry but also need to provide for their loved ones. Luke and Jono both noted the guilt factor many pastors feel when pursuing side income, as if it means they are less committed to the church. In reality, bivocational work can be freeing. As Jono shared, when pastors are less dependent on their church paycheck, they can lead with boldness, making decisions based on conviction rather than fear of losing their job. Unlocking the Power of Google Ad Grants One of the most practical tools for churches that Jono highlighted is the Google Ad Grant , which gives qualifying nonprofits up to $10,000 per month in free advertising . Many churches don’t take advantage of it, or they try but see little success. The most common reason: their websites lack content. “Church websites often have only a few words, a mission statement, and service times,” Jono explained. “That will never work for the grant.” Practical tips for churches to maximize the grant include: Create content-rich pages : Google rewards sites with valuable answers to common questions. Leverage sermons : Transcribe and summarize sermons into blog posts to boost SEO. Target felt needs : Ads about prayer, anxiety, or salvation resonate deeply with people searching online. By building a content-driven website and strategically using the grant, churches can expand their reach far beyond Sunday morning. SEO, AI, and the Future of Church Marketing The digital landscape is changing fast. With Google’s AI Overviews now answering many search queries directly, fewer people are clicking through to websites. For churches, this makes content strategy more important than ever . “Good content still wins,” Jono said. “Whether AI-generated or human-written, Google rewards sites that provide thoughtful, helpful answers.” For churches, this means focusing on practical, biblical content that speaks to real needs in their community. Lessons from the Trenches of Business Both Luke and Jono were quick to admit their mistakes. For Luke, the biggest was hiring too fast, taking on employees before his business could sustain them. For Jono, it was diving into websites and SEO without fully understanding them, learning through trial and error. Their honesty underscores an important truth: entrepreneurship is messy. But both emphasized that failure is part of the journey, and perseverance often matters more than a perfect business plan. Creative Side Hustles for Pastors Pastors and ministry leaders often have more marketable skills than they realize. Jono shared how he started a DJ and photo booth company, hiring youth pastors and worship leaders to serve at weddings and proms. Their stage presence, comfort with sound systems, and ability to engage people made them natural fits. Luke, meanwhile, has leaned into podcast production, helping churches launch and manage their shows. Both are examples of how ministry skills—communication, leadership, problem-solving—translate into entrepreneurial ventures. From web design to coaching, from content creation to event services, pastors have opportunities to create side income streams that complement their ministry instead of distracting from it. The conversation between Luke and Jono highlights a new reality: bivocational ministry is here to stay. Pastors no longer have to choose between serving the church and providing for their families. By embracing entrepreneurship, leveraging tools like Google Ad Grants, and using their transferable skills, pastors can thrive both spiritually and financially. The message is clear: you can do ministry, build a business, and serve God faithfully—all at the same time. 🔗 Learn more about Faithworks Marketing: https://faithworksmarketing.com 🔗 Connect with Luke Clayton and explore coaching for bivocational pastors: https://jlukeclayton.com/