Muslim Advertising and Marketing

7 Comments

1. 
   Andrew - May 29th, 2011 at 8:55 pm

   Hopefully churches don’t follow in the footsteps of a gimmick like this. We’ve seen enough billboards with proclamations from false prophets in the last two weeks to last a lifetime. Maybe AMA could be enticed to take all the billboards back?

2. 
   Dylan Malloch - May 30th, 2011 at 10:24 am

   Good question. Personally, I’m categorically against churches paying for billboard advertising. I think it’s a horrendous waste of money.
   That said, if there’s a good strategy behind it, and it’s not going to attract ‘bad’ press (The Jesus loves Osama billboard for instance was poorly thought out and implemented) it can be a good thing.
   That said, the only reason Christian advertising makes headlines these days is when it offends someone.
   Perhaps the best response to the above advertising would be a church leader speaking to the media ‘endorsing’ the sign. Obviously disagreeing with its conclusions but endorsing debate on the issue and endorsing having the discussion.
   Surely that is a good place to start to get Christianity off the ‘ridicule’ list and onto the ‘I’d like to discuss this’ menu…?

3. 
   Steve - May 30th, 2011 at 12:39 pm

   Hi Dylan, what did you think was poorly thought out and implemented about the Osama campaign?
   What is it about billboard campaigns that you think makes them not worthwhile?

4. 
   Steve Fogg - May 30th, 2011 at 12:58 pm

   Hey Dylan,
   why are you apposed to churches using billboards to advertise? beside the $ is there a thought there?

5. 
   Dylan Malloch - May 30th, 2011 at 1:39 pm

   Hi Steve,
   It seemed to be planned with the conclusion ‘it’ll stir the pot’, which can be a good thing, but it’s the qeuivalent of saying “Jesus loves Hitler” which while docrrinally correct, isn’t a very good thing to be telling people as Hitler has a lot of connotations to him – same with Osama.
   Just because something is true, doesn’t mean you should yell it from the hills. And just because ‘it’ll get people talking’ doesn’t mean you want them talking.
   Billboards are just a big advertisement, and asking questions or making statements can only get you so far for the amount of money it costs to design them, purchase the display area, and then hope people will see it.
   I can see the purpose for advertising local church functions, advertising a conference etc, but as a means of trying to provoke discussion, don’t advertise. Advertising is for selling.
   It also depends on who you’re targetting (is it Christians? Non-christians? Both? Poor? Rich? Socially progressive? City? Country? Workers? Students?)
   A lot more thought needs to go into some of these ideas.
   That’s probably enough out of me for now.

6. 
   Steve - May 30th, 2011 at 2:08 pm

   I’m not sure I’d agree that ‘advertising is [only] for selling’. Advertising can be for other things too – e.g. awareness. The space that billboards occupy (e.g. APN) on public spaces have the capacity to create awareness to a large volume of people for a relatively small amount of money. Personally, I think this is an opportunity churches need to consider more – frame a positive message, and communicate it to a large audience for a contained period of time. The opportunities for proclaiming the gospel are exciting.

7. 
   Dylan Malloch - May 30th, 2011 at 2:09 pm

   I should add the disclaimer that I’m in PR so I’m somewhat ‘conditioned’ to be cynical about advertising 🙂

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