Boyink! - Spring Forward on the Web

Here’s another episode in the continuing saga of developing and marketing a non-profit, personal ministry site called StoriesAboutGod.org.  Today I’m thinking through the challenges of the site, and a response to those challenges.

I have two challenges, I think.  Well, at least two. 

Challenge One - the target audience isn’t well definable.
In the business and commerce world one of the first questions site developers ask the business owners is - “who is the target audience”?  In other words - who is supposed to use this site?

With the Stories site - there really isn’t a good answer for that.  Visitors may be Christians, or not.  They could have been looking specifically for faith-related stories, or not.  They could be of any age. 

You get the picture.  Without a specific target audience it seems like it will be hard to find another group of people wanting to support the site.  If we were talking about a site that raises funds to support AIDS orphans in Africa, that’s a much clearer cause to get behind—moreso if you’re a parent, or have dealt with AIDS in your family, etc.

Challenge Two - fewer number of stories than I’d like
This is related to Challenge One - without knowing who we’re writing for it’s harder to know what to write.

There’s also the “FUD” factor - Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.  Is our story good enough… is it really a story… What if someone reads it…  Is that all the site is really about….  Is Mike going to somehow try and make money on this down the road… etc.

Response - marketing and content development
So I’m thinking through how to respond to these challenges, and here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

On the marketing side, I’m thinking of starting with a local approach:

• A press release to local churches and religion section editors of newspapers
• Including something in that press release - either posters, bulletin inserts, bumper stickers, or…???
• Having business cards made with the site name and URL to pass out in relevant conversations, and leave in appropriate public places like grocery store bulletin boards.

On the content development side - here’s where I’m feeling led to go (although I’m not really comfortable with it):

• Once the press release has gone out, starting to contact some of those pastors as followup, but also to work with them in identifying members of their church with great stories to tell.
• Doing interviews with those people, and posting the interviews (think “This American Life” style) on StoriesAboutGod - both in audio format as a podcast, and in text format with a few pictures.

Even if I only do one of these a month, if I can produce them to the level that I’m imagining I think they’d be quite popular.  It’s just that I’m more of a geek with experience being the sound guy or video guy and not the interviewer, but again I’m feeling like this is really the direction God is calling me to go with the site.

Thoughts?  Other ideas?  Hints for successful interviews?  Recommendations on digital recorders and editing software?  Links to royalty free music libraries for some background? 

 

Comments are closed, but you can read the comments other people left.

1. Dave J. on July 29, 2006

   Easy answer is just to search for ‘podsafe’ music.

   Harder answer: You may be on the right trail by taking editorial control of the site.  How much leadership does the site need?

   Harder question: What’s the one thing that’s going to make it compelling? The stories, the storyteller, a vibe about God, miracles?

2. Michael Boyink (Author) on July 29, 2006

   I’m not sure it needs “leadership” so much as it just needs content and I seem to have a somewhat unique vision/passion/task/calling to get it there. 

   I think hands down the stories will make it compelling.

3. Jon Mark Allen on August 04, 2006

   As for recording and editing, there’s always Audacity.  We use it to record the sermons at our church and that has worked very well.  I also used it to record an interview last week, though the recording was more for me (so I could remember what was said) and not so much for publication.  I believe for simple, one-or-two-track recordings, Audacity will serve you well.  Newsforge had a nice article on smoothing out interviews with Audacity, too.

4. Jennifer on August 09, 2006

   Michael,
   I think a great way to get readers is start with young children pass out a cute weekly question have the sunday school teachers get the children to answer them in their own words and submit them to you. You will get readers because the parents and church members will be interested in seeing what they have to say. I dont feel you need to interview people some might feel embarassed to tell you or their church what has happend to them for fear people will think they are nuts or Bible thumpers.I have had some great experiences with God, but I have had to pick and choose what friends could handle it. Most church goers say they believe in God, but when you ask them to tell of their experiences with him not everyone will have had one. The other item I would like to point out is, if you feel the Lord is leading you to do this he will help you, let him do the talking and dont do anything on the site that makes you feel uncomfortable because that is not how he works. Watch and see what happens trust your gut cuz that is him helping you! Good Luck!!

5. Michael Boyink (Author) on August 09, 2006

   Hmm…thanks for the input Jennifer.  A couple of issues…#1 being I dont attend a church that has Sunday School…well actually it does it’s just that we’re all in it together and we add some worship time and call it the “Service”...;)

   Not sure I’m really after “cute stories from kids” on the site either…it’s just not the vision I have.

   On the discomfort issue - I’m reminded of the story of Jonah, and how we aren’t always comfortable with what God has laid out for us. Growth isn’t always easy/painless….;)

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