Book Review: The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

A friend recommended The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout to me and I enjoyed it. It has gotten me thinking about the kind of perception that people have of church and what is needed to change the perception. Perhaps the reason why church plants tend to reach most unchurched people is because they're able to start with a clean slate and don't have the baggage that other churches might.

Some are afraid of the word "marketing". But every church markets themselves to one degree or another. A sign in front of your building is marketing. Invitation cards to your church is marketing. The issue to me is "what is the impression you want people to have when they think about your church?" Marketing is how you present yourself to your community. It's not simply promotion. This is what made the book interesting to me. I'd recommend it.

Comments

[Linda]

I read your review on branding the other day and it got me thinking. Later that day I met a guy who just moved to my state- Hawaii from Chicago. I asked what he was here for and he told me he markets strippers, prostitutes and makes porno movies. I told him that was interesting. I tried to work my way to the gospel so when he asked me what to do I said I am an evangelist. It popped in my head because I’m branded that way!!! I invited him to church this week. He said maybe. Pray he comes!!!!!

[Rodney Olsen]

I read that book some years ago. It's a classic in the area of marketing.