The main points I gained from the Australian Catholic Media Conference 2012 were:

* we, the Church (and its institutions) need a strong loving presence in the digital world

* get the Catholic / Christian message out there

* be gentle and compassionate in your approach - use Jesus as your model

* tell your story, Jesus story and the Church's story - people love stories

* use blogs and social media, particularly You Tube, Facebook and Twitter - take the risk, yet have 'conditions of use' whereby you may cancel inappropriate responses

* [link one to the other for maximum output]

* develop well constructed websites and include links to good Catholic websites eg Fr Barron

* include on these websites podcasts, videos, texts, etc., of messages / sermons from key people within the parish [or school]

* support and promote quality mainstream media shows and articles relevant to the message eg ABC

* support and promote authentic social justice websites and activists

* use xt3.com website for youth involvement throughout Australia (from Sydney Archdiocese)

For an overview of the key speakers and a summary of their points go to the blog post at: 'Australian Catholic Media Conference 2012 - an Overview with Links'.

The 'Australian Catholic Media Conference 2012 - a summary of key points for the digital age' blog post written by Bryan Foster, author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), - the paperback and ebook manual for Church communications and marketing personnel - 304 pages of easy to read and implement summarized points, which allow for a considerably large number of quality stategies and examples to be detailed and available for church marketing personnel - with copyright remaining GDPL. Book available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com 

Photographic images are the basis of any successful church marketing / communications plan. The more relevant and appealing the better! Remember - 'a picture tells a thousand words'!!!

How often have you been inspired by a photo or image? The higher the content relevance of the image the greater the success should be. In any church marketing campaign it is the relevance of each component, which will decide the campaign's success. One poor choice can turn that campaign into a flop. A poorly chosen photo / image can lead to the viewer ignoring or not seeing the message on the one extreme, to being totally against the whole message on the other extreme.

The quality of the image is also important, yet this would also depend on the artistic use of it. Most often a quality photo of the chosen subject is necessary for success. Yet, sometimes a poorer quality, or artistically enhanced, image may be quite appealing in a specific circumstance. The product and demographic of the campaign would decide this.

The digital camera has opened up a whole new world for most people. No longer are very expensive cameras and add-ons needed for that successful photo. The quality of many of these digital cameras is quite extraordinary now. The raw photo is often quite good, however add to this the qualities that software, such as Photoshop can add, and a whole new world opens up to even the least qualified photographer.

Of course, quality DSLR cameras, associated lenses, lighting apparatus and software such as Photoshop, will lead to considerably higher quality images in the hands of a photographer of merit. The marketing campaign will dictate the quality of image required.

Even the basic editing tools included with most Windows, Apple and Android products can enhance an image. Often all that is needed is a little cropping or light adjustment.

The smart phone supporting a large enough camera these days can become a part of a successful marketing plan. A smart phone with the appropriate apps downloaded will allow various images to take on that 'Wow' factor.

The digital camera allows for a large number of photos to be taken. Don't be a miser here. You will find that some photos work for you while others won't. Hence, the more you take, the more chance of that 'magic' shot. In time you will develop an appreciation of the number of shots needed to achieve your aim.
The moving video image also has a place to play. The photo image is more often used within a video for special effect.

The photo image is a key component of any successful marketing campaign within so many common media. When an image is used effectively it grabs the attention of the viewer and makes them take note. Use it well and that 'thousand words' will become part of your marketing campaign.

The 'Photos - Key to a Successful Church Marketing / Communications Plan' blog post written by Bryan Foster, author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), - the paperback and ebook manual for Church communications and marketing personnel - 304 pages of easy to read and implement summarized points, which allow for a considerably large number of quality stategies and examples to be detailed and available for church marketing personnel - with copyright remaining GDPL. Book available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com

E-books are a great addition for church marketing personnel in the digital age - to offer the detail often lacking in everyday marketing campaigns.

The e-book can be used for research by church marketing people or as a marketing strategy for communication with parishioners. This latter variety may hence be considered as a large e-newsletter.

For research

A high quality e-book would have between 300-400 A4 pages, whereas an average e-book would be a minimum of about 200 A4 pages. Poor e-books would be below 150 pages - unfortunately, too many internet authors fit into this lower category these days, and hence make it difficult for the good authors to be seen as highly creditable in the marketplace. These books would be written with the purpose being to inform the reader in a detailed way of how to achieve whatever the aims were being offered for each church marketing e-book.

For publication

Page numbers are irrelevant if the main purpose is to inform parishioners in more detail about various topics of interest eg. a detailed overview of the year from various perspectives including financial, liturgical, pastoral, doctrinal, social, etc., and including many photos for interest.

e-Books can be continually updated and uploaded to various websites for placing in the internet market. This is a huge advantage over everyday hard-copy textbooks, which usually take many months before publication!

My suggestion for the most successful way to succeed with giving thorough detail in the marketing field is to write the e-book in a summarized point format. This allows for a large variety of topics to be covered. It also allows for the reader not to be overawed by copious amounts of words on each specific point being made. Summarized points are often more easily read and often easier to interpret and understand. The page layout is also far more conducive and attractive and therefore should appeal to more people and hence be more successful overall.

Always remember that a picture (photo) tells a thousand words.

 The marketing e-book is becoming very quickly a necessary marketing tool for the contemporary marketing personnel in today's digital world. The detail it gives can be very successful when combined with an appropriate writing format - particularly the summarized point format.

The 'e-Books for Church Marketing Research or for Communication with Parishioners' blog post written by Bryan Foster, author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), - the paperback and ebook manual for Church communications and marketing personnel - 304 pages of easy to read and implement summarized points, which allow for a considerably large number of quality stategies and examples to be detailed and available for church marketing personnel - with copyright remaining GDPL. Book available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com
 

The Contents listed below are from the Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), 2011, by Bryan Foster. This is a 304 page paperback and e-book written in easy to read summarized format. The author has 20 years marketing experience in leadership roles within the Church and Catholic education.

About the Author                           
Acknowledgements                               
Preface                                           
Introduction                                       
Church Parish Marketing (CPM) Website                                         

Church Marketing Plan Overview Sample               


Church Marketing - Internet Applications
with Samples and Instructions                       

Website     Background                               
        Management Software
        Target Audience
        Homepage
        Webpage Templates
        Other   Blogs   
            Photo Gallery / Video Gallery
            You Tube embedding
            Podcasts
            Social Networking     Facebook
                        Twitter
                        LinkedIn
        Domain Names / URLs
        Website Building, Hosting and Costs
Overview
Commercial Website Build and Hosting
My Preference
Caution
Church Website Needs
Best Website Building & Hosting Approach for Your Church
        Legal Advice

Website Management Software Sample               
RSS Feeds   Advantages of RSS                           
Symbols
        Sample Website with RSS Facility
        Church Website Developers Adding RSS Feeds
        Visitors Subscribing to RSS Feeds
        
RSS Symbol Location for a Webpage
        Sample RSS Feed
        RSS Symbol Different Location
        Viewing RSS Feeds
        RSS Feeds Further Explained

SEOs         Explained                               
        Website Viewers
        Suggestions for Improvement

Blogs       Explained                               
        Blog Posts
        Two Major Blog Uses for Churches
        Church Website’s Blog
        Management Software
        External Blog Sites
‘Blogger’ Sample
            Others
        Conclusion

Emails   Introduction                               
        Protocols
        Staff Email
        Email Disclaimer
        Legal Advice
        Email Challenges
        Email Providers

e-Newsletter and i-Newsletter                               
e/i-Newsletter and Newsletter Essential
        Regular Weekly Publication
        Professional e-Newsletter
        e/i-Newsletter Homepage +
        Production In-house or Outsourced
        Effectiveness
        Brevity Rulz
        Advertising
        Layout Development

e-Flyer and i-Flyer                                   
Theme
        Frequency
        Purpose
        Distribution Methods
        
Email-outs
        Production for Email-outs
        Database for Email-outs
        i-Flyer Webpage
        Layout
        Size
        Production - Offsite Option

Social Networking Websites                             
        The Challenge
        Misconception?
        Underlying Assumptions
        Why Consider?
Approaches to Use
        Church Group Membership
        Church Leader Membership
        Caution
Facebook     Individual Sign Up                           
        Sample Parish Priest Account
        Religious Organization Sample
        Religious Organization Sign Up Steps Sample
        Link Religious Organization to Twitter?
        FAQs and Help Website
        Caution
Twitter   Church Uses                               
            Instant Feedback
            Interactive Homily
            Keeping in Touch
Explained Further
        Profile Page Sample
        Personal Homepage Sample
        Privacy
        Sign Up
        Twitter Groups           
LinkedIn   Overview                               
Privacy
Sample Professional Page
Form Groups for Discussion

Video uploads including You Tube                       
        Uploading Video to Church Website
        Uploading Video to You Tube
        Instructions to Embed Video
        Instructions to Embed Video on Your Site Using Example

Skype       Why Skype as Part of the Church Marketing Plan?       
        Skype Explained

Chat Rooms     Hotmail in Windows Live Sample               
            Benefits of ‘Chatting’
            Chat Room for a Church
            Sample Chat Room
            Overview of Windows Live Messenger
            Download Other Aspects of Windows Live
            Sign Up Process
            Get Chatting

Church Marketing Plan and Church Marketing Manager                                           
Church Marketing Plan (CPM)                             
CMP Overview Sample

Analysis of the CMP

Be Ethical
Who Needs a CMP?

Church Marketing Manager (CMM)                       
Overview
Full / Part-Time or Shared Role
CMM Skills Needed
Church Response to CMM

Church Marketing Manager Support Clusters             
Overview
Support Cluster – Church Leadership Team
Support Cluster of CMMs
Diocesan Support and Deanery Cluster

Branding                                         
First Impressions
Uniformity
Key Branding Areas
Primary Areas
Secondary Areas
Tertiary Areas
Branding Changes
Creativity of Design

Budget                                       
Overview
Invest During Good Times
Shared CMPs – Regionalized or Localized
Caution
 
Surveys                                       
Aims and Sample Questions
Discussion Groups
Survey vs. CMP Evaluation

Church Parish Marketing Plan Evaluation                     
Stakeholders
Survey and Feedback
CMM Support

Deanery Marketing Plan                               
Overview
Advantages
    Caution

Church Marketing Relationships
                                           
Powerful Stakeholders                                 
    Insiders’ Views
    Diplomacy
    Confidence in the Church and Parish
    Parish’s Reputation is Paramount
    Nielsen Survey Results and Extrapolation

Parish Open Day                                     
Overview
Reasons for Attendance
Strategies
Promotional Materials
Best Time
Venues
Uniformity
Addresses
Parishioner and Parental Involvement

Church - School Relationships                            
Improved Church – School Relationships
Church Leadership
Parish Engagement
Priests
Parish – School Liturgies and Groups
Other Key Church Personnel Engagement
Improved School – School Relationships
Strategies to Build Stronger School – School Relationships
Priests Publicly Support Schools
Principal Intervention for Non-Supportive Staff and Parents

Feeder School Visitations                             
Introduction
Role of Priests
Role of School Staff
Year Levels Visited
Presentation Overview
Room and Facilities
Preparation Before Visitations
Preparation on the Day
Sample Visitation Presentation Agenda

Taster Days                                         
Overview
Priest and Pastoral Associate Involvement
Different Experiences
Day Plan
Teachers
Transport

Parish Recognition Night or …                           
Overview
Other Options

Church Marketing Resources + Instructions    
                    
Marketing Resources                               
    Overview
    Considerable Range of Resource Options
    Examples Used in this e-Book

Parish Information Kit                                 
Introduction
Content
Branding
Inclusions
Photos

Producing a Parish Information Kit                         
Commercial Printers and Graphic Artists
Production Plan and Tips
Inserts

Photos – Critical for Success                           
    Introduction
    How to Take Good Photographs – Website Examples
    Photos on Church Website
    Church Photographers
    Digital Cameras
    Film Cameras are a Challenge

Parish DVD / CD                                   
Introduction
    Purpose
    Production
    Production Plan
    Videoing Skills
Video Editing Software Examples
Advice for Hardware and Software Purchases
    Post Videoing Sequences
    Part of Church Marketing Plan
    Internal Promotion
 
Church Staff and Greeters                           
Introduction
Branding
Front Desk Monitor
 
Telephone and TXTing                                
Parish Office Response to Calls with Samples
Staff Voicemails with Sample
Challenging Calls
Staff Response to Challenging Calls
TXTing and Church Marketing

Telephone On-Hold                               
    Introduction
    Production
    Planned Recordings
    Script
    Looped Play of Recording

Newsletter                                       
Weekly Publication
    Website Updates
    Professional Publication
    Effectiveness of Content
    Brevity
    Sponsorship Dilemma
    Layout Development

Commercially Produced Newsletter                       
    Introduction
Frequency
Distribution
Color or Grayscale
Layout and Content

 Flyers                                         
Introduction
Purpose
Target Group and Costs
Layout
Paper Type
Size of Flyer
Delivery Methods
Producing a Flyer

Posters                                         
Introduction
Effective Posters
Poster Display and Production

Brochures                                       
Key Brochures
Accessibility
Other Suggestions
 
Signs and Signboards                               
Church Signs
Signboards
Regular Updating of Signboards
Large Photographic Signs
Professional Advice Sort
 
Promotional Items                                 
Feel-Good Approach and Examples
Suppliers
Mid to Long Term Success

Parish Yearbook                                   
Introduction
Graphic Artist
Production Timeline
Editor
CMM and Editor
Plan for Yearbook Editor

Church Marketing and the Traditional Media
+ Instructions                                   

Traditional Media                                     
Do not be Afraid of the Media. Be Respectful.
Positive Relations
Church Contact Person
Media Release
Direct Contact with Media Outlets and Journalists
Balanced Relationship Needed
CMM’s Availability
Be Careful – Do Not Seem Uninterested

Media Releases                                   
When Used
No Guarantees
Better Chances of Coverage
Long Dry Periods – Response
‘The Event’ – Two Media Releases
 
Writing a Media Release (+ Sample)                       
Media Release Writing Skills
Sending a Media Release
Response of Media to an Event
Suggested Media Release Outline Plan
Sample

Media Interview                                   
Be Well Prepared
Who is Interviewed?
Preparation for the Interview
Conducting the Interview
CMM at Interview
Negative Questions – A Response Method

Journalists Visiting the Parish                           
Meeting Time
Coverage of an Event and CMM’s Role

Photojournalists                                   
Overview
Own Parish Photos
CMM and the Photojournalist
Stopping Inappropriate Photos and Follow-Up

Editorial from the Parish + Sample                       
When Needed
What is Editorial?
Advertisements Without Editorial
Way to Gain Editorial
Steps for Creating Editorial
Photos
Sample

The Difficult Media Situation                             
Overview
Parish Response
Criminal Matters
Follow-up
Staff Preparation for Interviews

‘Staged’ events                                     
Defined
Main Events
Something Different
Other Possible Events

Church Marketing - Advertising in the Media
+ Instructions                                            

Advertising in the Traditional Media                       
Purpose and Overview
Advertisement Creation Options
    Two Options
    Background Preparation
    Be Prepared
    Check Proofs
    Sign-Off on Advertisements

Newspaper and Magazine Advertising                     
Overview of Newspaper Advertising
Planning
Effectiveness
Prestige
Solid Advertising Account Advantage
Advertising Consultants
‘Stressed Advert’
Magazine Advertising Overview

Creating a Newspaper or Magazine Advertisement Instructions       
Overall Tips
The Plan – Instructions
Collect Resources
Creative Decisions
Create the Advertisement
Directions and Resources to Graphic Artist

Radio Advertising                                   
It’s COOL
Cost is Relatively Expensive – Worth Considering
Positives are Potentially Numerous
Campaign Enhancements
Advertising by Parish, Cluster or Deanery?
Audience Demographic
Advertising Times
Suitability of Stations
Be Prepared
Advertising Consultants and Proposals Plan
Special Event Day

Creating a Radio Advertisement + Instructions + Sample           
Overview for Success
Scripts
Readers / Voice
Recordings – CMM Role
Recording Cautions
Live Reads and Other Cautions
Recordings for Church Community / Website / On-Hold
Copyright
Campaign Advertisement Play Time

Television Advertising                               
Beware the Challenges
    Quality
    Large Cities
    Smaller Cities and Towns
Television Station Advertising List – Learn from …

Creating a Television Advertisement                       
The Proposal
Professional Quote / Presentation Proposal
CMM and Advertisement Preparations
Include Parish Personnel and Facilities
CMM’s Role in Production

Action Plan Activity                                                                                               

Conclusion                                   

Glossary     
                                                                              
Bibliography                                   

Index

The 'Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), 2011, by Bryan Foster - CONTENTS' blog post written by Bryan Foster, author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), - the paperback and ebook manual for Church communications and marketing personnel - 304 pages of easy to read and implement summarized points, which allow for a considerably large number of quality stategies and examples to be detailed and available for church marketing personnel - with copyright remaining GDPL. Book available from Amazon.com and Createspace.com