| There are a number of inexpensive, or even free, | | | | and share the tapes with prospective members, |
| ways to promote your business, organization, | | | | donors, etc.16. Write, or have someone write, a |
| ministry or group, both online and off. In no | | | | regular column for local, community newspaper(s). |
| particular order, and by no means conclusive, this | | | | Many community papers are eager for regular |
| list will hopefully help you put your little gray cells | | | | columns to fill their editorial needs, and if you, or |
| to work and serve as a springboard for your own | | | | someone in the group, can write proficiently about |
| brainstorming session.1. Write, or find a writer, to | | | | a subject of interest and value to the community, |
| create an original skit to tell who you are, what | | | | this is a great way to generate interest. Offer the |
| your purpose is, or anything else you wish to | | | | column freely for a "resource box" that includes |
| convey. This can be as simple or elaborate as you | | | | your contact information.17. Set up guest |
| choose.2. Create original posters/flyers and put | | | | appearances on local radio and community |
| them everywhere. Simple, one-page flyers can be | | | | television talk shows to discuss your group, or a |
| created with any professional wordprocessing | | | | new program you've begun.18. Ask other |
| software and can be placed on car windshields, | | | | organizations or businesses to distribute your |
| tacked to bulletin boards, taped to store windows | | | | literature, brochures, flyers, etc. Offer to do the |
| or distributed door-to-door.3. Hold a poster | | | | same for them.19. Place literature in libraries, |
| contest with prizes for first, second and third | | | | doctor's offices, lawyer's offices, grocery stores... |
| places. Make copies of the winning entries and | | | | anywhere possible. Ask every member to |
| post them everywhere.4. Create a community | | | | distribute literature in the places they frequent.20. |
| day. Write a letter and mail to every similar | | | | If appropriate, ask area churches or other groups |
| organization in your area and invite them to | | | | to allow you speak to their members about your |
| attend. Offer refreshments, share ideas, | | | | organization.21. Write, or have someone write, |
| network.5. Publish a newsletter. This is one of the | | | | press releases about the members or volunteers |
| best and quickest proven methods to grow your | | | | in your group and what they are doing. Send |
| group, inform your members and build goodwill.6. | | | | these releases to every area newspaper, radio |
| Write, or have someone write, words to popular | | | | station, and TV station. Be sure to list their group |
| or well-known music that tells the story of your | | | | affiliation. This is especially beneficial if the |
| group. This can be humorous or serious. But it | | | | members are well known in the community.22. |
| must be memorable.7. Write a special letter to | | | | Send birthday and anniversary cards to everyone |
| every first-time visitor. Encourage them to come | | | | you know. People remember those who |
| back.8. Talk about your group often, encourage | | | | remember them.23. Create a slide show with |
| participation. Ask every member to invite a | | | | background music to use in special services and at |
| friend.9. Organize and print a group cookbook. This | | | | special meetings.24. Give free T-shirts, bags, |
| oldie is not only a goodie, but a goldie! You can | | | | mugs, etc. to be used as prizes by area radio |
| make money by selling copies, give new | | | | stations. They are always looking for free |
| members a free one, use as contest prizes, and | | | | giveaways, and they offer great publicity to the |
| more.10. Write, or have someone write, press | | | | donor.25. Present seminars in libraries and meeting |
| releases of anything new your group is doing and | | | | rooms on topics related to your organization's |
| send to every area newspaper, radio station, and | | | | area of expertise, then distribute literature |
| TV station. Emphasize the benefits your group | | | | afterwards. This should NOT be a sales |
| offers to the community. Be sure the release is | | | | presentation, but an offering of valuable |
| professionally written and not just a sales ad. If | | | | information that will help others to learn more |
| no one in your group is capable of writing a press | | | | about your group's area of interest.26. Create, or |
| release that is publishable, hire a professional.11. | | | | have someone create a comic strip about your |
| Create and distribute commitment forms for | | | | group to be printed in newsletters, flyers, and |
| prayer, attendance, financial support, etc. and ask | | | | newspapers. Distribute this freely to anyone who |
| each new member to sign one. Use the forms in | | | | would like to reprint it.27. Have bumper stickers |
| special meetings and on special occasions, too.12. | | | | printed with your group's name, logo, or tagline. |
| Host a Resource Fair or Trade Show. Get similar | | | | Distribute through bookstores, radio and TV |
| organizations, companies, and individuals to set up | | | | stations, member's businesses and grocery |
| booths, distribute materials, etc. Can be free or | | | | stores.28. Have mugs printed with your group's |
| for a small fee. Publicize the even extensively. Let | | | | logo on them. Fill with candy and give to members |
| everyone know when, where and why. And have | | | | and friends. Appropriate times would include |
| fun!13. Create a simple brochure. This is another | | | | birthdays, anniversaries, the birth of a baby, |
| idea that must be professional to be effective, | | | | hospitalizations, as door prizes, etc.Article |
| but it need not be elaborate. Something that tells | | | | copyright © 2005 by Darlene Bishop. All |
| your mission, benefits of membership, and how to | | | | rights reserved worldwide.Darlene "Dee" Bishop is |
| join will work very well.14. Print and use | | | | a Christian minister, writer, and creative designer |
| letterhead, envelopes, note pads and anything else | | | | who has successfully worked online since 1998. |
| that you can put your name and a simple logo or | | | | Visit her website at to learn how her common |
| graphic on. Be sure to include a motto or tagline | | | | sense marketing and website design solutions |
| that people can easily remember and relate to | | | | helps churches and WAHMs develop a valuable |
| you.15. Videotape special services and programs | | | | presence online. |