Best ways to sign them to a pre-disaster plan.
If you’re wanting to market to churches to promote a pre-disaster plan, it will involve a strategic approach that considers the unique needs and sensitivities of these organizations.
Here’s a step-by-step process that route marketers can follow:
Research and Targeting:
Identify churches in your target area that you can approach to offer them a pre-disaster plan, often called PREP™. Research their denominations, beliefs, and any recent community involvement. Study factors such as location, size, and the demographics of their congregation to determine the most suitable targets. Remember, most churches (big or small) don’t already have any kind of emergency pre-disaster plan.
Understand their Values and Needs:
Before reaching out, thoroughly understand the values, mission, and priorities of each church. Design your messaging to align with their core beliefs and highlight how a pre-disaster plan can help them fulfill their mission of serving their congregation and community.
Develop a Comprehensive Plan:
Create a detailed marketing plan that outlines your strategy, goals, and tactics. This could include a mix of online and offline methods. Having a tangible pre-disaster manual to use as a “show-and-tell” will help you get in front of the board of trustees and enable them to really see what you can do. You’re not going to walk in and sign them up. It’s going to take being put on the agenda to present the concept to the trustees, and then they’ll deliberate on it for several weeks before moving forward.
Craft Compelling Messaging:
Develop messaging that speaks directly to the concerns and needs of the church leaders and members. Highlight the importance of preparedness in safeguarding their community, maintaining continuity of services, and being responsible stewards of their resources. By showing them a “sample” pre-disaster plan (PREP) manual, that alone is a powerful message.
Offer Value:
Show how your PREP plan can add value to the church’s operations and community engagement. Emphasize how it can help them remain
resilient, maintain operations during and after disasters, and ensure the safety of their congregation. Help them understand that your priority will be to get them back in operation quickly.
Build Relationships:
Establish personal connections with church leaders and members. Attend community events, networking functions, or relevant meetings to introduce yourself, build trust, and understand their specific concerns.
Provide Educational Content:
This content should already be in the “manual” so they can see it immediately. Develop other content that provides useful information about disaster preparedness and disaster recovery. This could include articles, videos, infographics, and case studies that demonstrate the benefits of having a pre-disaster plan in place.
Leverage Social Media:
Utilize social media platforms to share informative content and engage with the target churches’ online communities. Use appropriate hashtags and join relevant groups to expand your reach and visibility.
Provide Testimonials and Case Studies:
Highlight success stories from other churches or organizations that have implemented pre-disaster plans. You will be asked some of this by the trustees in your meeting. Testimonials and case studies can help establish credibility and demonstrate the real-world impact of your solution.
Customize Outreach:
When reaching out directly to church leaders, customize your messages based on their specific circumstances and concerns. Demonstrate that you’ve done your homework and understand their unique challenges. Know details about their church as well as their specific faith.
Follow Up and Maintain Relationships:
After initial outreach or engagement, especially after they signed up for a PREP program, continue to follow up and maintain relationships. Regular email newsletters work well and visit every 4 – 6 weeks to the church. Send periodic updates, share relevant news, and offer assistance if they have questions or concerns. Take them a Maven Article each time to visit!
Remember that building trust and understanding the church’s values are key factors in successfully marketing a pre-disaster plan. Approach the process with empathy, respect, and a genuine desire to assist the church in protecting its congregation and community.
By Dick Wagner, Co-Founder The CREST Network, LLC
Nationally recognized coach, consultant, trainer, and speaker
Creator of the renowned PREP™ pre-disaster program
Owner of AskDickWagner.com BLOG
Copyright© 2025 AskDickWagner, LLC All Rights Reserved
No Part Of This Document May Be Reproduced In Any Form Without Written Permission
