What is the primary missionof your VBS?

Fun event for kids Spiritual growth for kids Spiritual growth for all ages Outreach event for unsaved children Outreach event for unsaved families

VBS Single Largest Outreach Event83,000 Salvation decisions2.7 Million enrolled in VBS

240,000 New church attendees 33,000 Newly enrolled in

Sunday SchoolSource: Annual VBS Report

How to Promote your VBSIn Church

Church Grounds

Neighborhoods

Community

In Church• Remind church “Why” you do VBS • Post banner ad on church website • Pulpit Announcements• Bulletin Inserts• Church Newsletter• Mailed Invitations• Registration Events• Recruit Kids for music team• Recruit Kids to make decorations• Recruit Volunteers

How to Promote your VBSIn Church

Church Grounds• Church signage• VBS banners• Yard decorations• Outdoor registration event in parking lot

How to Promote your VBS

Church Grounds

How to Promote your VBSThe radius around your church will be different depending on the type of neighborhood.Review your church membership list to determine how far from church your members

live. Then draw a radius and determine neighborhoods to target. Identify key memberswho already live in or near to help market. Also, mark best neighborhoods for

outreach. Plan fun outreach events in these neighborhoods where you can buildrelationships, then enroll in your upcoming VBS. These events can be held at a park,

community center, pool, or as a block party.

Neighborhoods

Community• Family Invitations • Yard Signs• Door hangers• Mailings• Newspaper• Radio• TV• Billboard• Social Media

How to Promote your VBS

Neighborhoods

Community

Free Marketing• Social Media

Facebook Twitter Blogs

• Newspaper – articles, pictures, calendar of events posting Contact local editor and religious editor Submit calendar of events posting for print and online Take pictures and send captions for things like decorating,

training event, registration event, Day 1 VBS, and Family Night Place ads in religion section

How to Promote your VBS

Free Marketing•Radio & Television – calendar of events, local talk shows, news & DJ talking points

Contact promotion department at all local stations Submit calendar of events posting online, don’t forget national

Christian radio stations that air in your area Develop talking points of VBS fun facts, stats, and hook Record Public Service Announcements (PSA)

How to Promote your VBS

Free Marketing•Billboards

Contact local billboard companies to see if theyhave openings for billboards near your church that they would give as a PSA or possibly only for print cost

•Web Marketing Contact area businesses about placing banner ads Place banner ads on church website Place banner ads on local media websites

How to Promote your VBS

VBS Entourage Recruit leaders and let them put their teams together.

Prayer Team – prayer warriors

Publicity Team – advertising, marketing, public relations, sales, writers,

artists

Events Team – hospitality, party planners, women’s event planners

Production Team – audio, video, power point

How to Promote your VBS

Suggested Time Line for June VBS• January – Enlist prayer team. Set budgets, key dates, and recruit team leaders.

• February – Set promotional calendar, contact all key media outlets promotion and religion editors/producers, work on starting development on creative pieces (signage, invites, advertisements, etc.). Initiate contact for all major event rental needs (inflatables, popcorn machines, etc.). Contact area airports, airlines, and aviation clubs.

• March – Work with media promotion and religion editors, in church save the date promotion begins. Details continue to be fleshed out.

• April – Work on end of school announcements, Submit pictures with captions to newspapers, follow up with all media outlets. Contact day cares about bringing their kids to VBS.

How to Promote your VBS

Suggested Time Line for June VBS• May – Primary seeded media activity, church promotion, church signage, neighborhood signage, personal invitation strategy (2 weeks prior), affinity registration parties (date night, legos, cafe, clubs, etc.), host neighborhood block party registration events,

• June – Personal invitations to registration event, neighborhood canvassing event, Registration Event, advertising heavy starting 2 weeks out, VBS Watch Parties (sleepovers) the night before, and serve family meal to kick off VBS.

• 2013 VBS Promotion starts at 2012 VBS – Have welcoming team to welcome children and their families when they enter and leave VBS. Encourage church wide participation for Family Fun Night event. Invite media outlets. Take pictures and gather addresses to send the photo in VBS frame as a remembrance along with a thank you note.

How to Promote your VBS

Invite day cares to bring their kids. Provide an early morning day care option so parent’s can get to work on time. Explore offering full day daycare option outside of VBS hours. Promote or partner through activity groups (little league, dance classes, etc.). Cross-promote with businesses – they promote VBS and in turn they can have a booth at the Family Night Event. Offer to do VBS version of OMC at schools as an end-of-year activity. Submit address to promotion team to bring a pizza with an invite to the house (especially for new families to the area). Support grandparents who invite their grandkids by having idea sheets and/or other activities for them to do with their grandkids for the week. Create strategic partnerships with organizations like boys and girls club, YMCA, etc. Offer single parent support services during VBS. Host family meals during VBS

Wild and Crazy Ideas