A proven email strategy you can run in your sleep


Build a newbie's Know/Like/Trust factor with an email automation

In my humble opinion, the ideal digital marketing flow for organizations like yours looks like this:

You have an engaging website with strong Search Engine Optimization

⬇️

People find you on Google as they search for "church/school near me"

⬇️

On your website, you offer something of value in exchange for someone's email

⬇️

When they subscribe, a new subscriber automation kicks off

⬇️

Over a series of days, weeks, or months, you build their know/like/trust factor until they visit you in-person!


This is an extremely practical, proven, and low-maintenance approach to digital marketing. It doesn't make you a slave to the Instagram algorithm. You won't go broke on Facebook ads. You'll always own your email list.

Sound like something you want to try? Assuming you have your SEO sorted out (tips here) and a strong lead magnet (30 ideas for churches/schools), give it a go!

Whether you use Kit, MailChimp, or another email service provider, there should be a way to set up a series of emails to trigger whenever someone subscribes to your email newsletter.

My recommendations for writing your new subscriber automation:

  • Make it 3-4 emails long with a day or two between each one.
  • Here are some topic ideas:
    • Introduction to Pastor/Principal
    • Condensed FAQ
    • Highlight your social media (if active and high-quality)
    • Introduction to a classroom teacher (there are ways to set this up so it's based on the preference someone shared when they subscribed: ex - the parent chose 3rd grade from the dropdown in the email signup so they get sent the 3rd grade teacher's introduction. Email me for help.)
    • Opportunity to sign up for BIC, set up a school tour, or meet with the pastor
    • More information regarding the lead magnet (if applicable)
    • An invitation to a recurring event
  • Keep the emails short & sweet (under 250 words).
  • Focus on ONE topic in each email. Don't info dump.
  • Incorporate video wherever possible.
  • In the last email, make it clear that the person will be subscribed to ongoing communication (a weekly devotion or newsletter).

Remember: this is only worth the effort if you have a website and lead magnet that organically attracts subscribers. If you're not there yet, take some time to work on those foundational pieces.

As always - email me if you need help!

Until next week,

Grace Ungemach

I offer digital marketing education written with ministry in mind. Subscribe to my free, weekly newsletter to learn something new every Friday.

Read more from Grace Ungemach

A while back... ...I posted in the WELS Intersections Facebook group offering to critique/improve a logo. I had a lot of interest, so THANK YOU if you submitted yours. If this newsletter gets a positive response, I hope to do more in the coming months. Our subject today is the logo for St. Mark Ministries in De Pere & Green Bay, Wisconsin. If anyone from St. Mark is reading this, you won't hurt my feelings if you dislike what I come up with. 😉 I thank you for allowing me to do this! Here's...

The Church Marketing Playbook: Throwing Wide Open Your Digital Front Doors It was an absolute pleasure to present at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary this week. Here's the description shared with attendees: The Church Marketing Playbook: Throwing Wide Open Your Digital Front Doors Within the next 4 to 40 months, you can confidently say you'll be carving out Saturday mornings for church workdays, receiving emails titled, "Re: New lawnmower" from your grounds elder, and vacuuming cheerios off the...

I'm working on materials for my presentation at Mission & Ministry next week... While I'm at it, I thought I'd share this resource with you. Have you ever sat down to formulate a plan for promoting an upcoming event and thought... "Where should I begin?" Then... you get overwhelmed by all of your options, procrastinate, and end up throwing $30 at Facebook 6 days out from the event? This timeline & checklist was written to infuse a little more intention and strategy into that process. You'll...