Could your church communicate more effectively? Are you getting the most value for your communications dollars?
No matter how well we think we’re communicating, we may be able to do even better. How do we find out? We evaluate and we ask questions, evaluate again, and make changes as needed. That’s the basis of a local church communications audit.
An audit can help answer such questions as:
Generally, an audit looks at the overall communications practices to see how everything fits together to meet the needs of the congregation, visitors, and so forth as well as addresses specific communications vehicles, such as the newsletter, website and so forth.
Key elements in a communications audit include:
A survey of the effectiveness of communications within the community can be more difficult – but the basic approach can be the same if you can pull together focus groups within the community. You will probably be considering the image the church has in the community; how well the community responds to or engages in things going on with ministry and so forth.
Key advice: Consider forming a task force for the audit. Keep the audit manageable so you can get information in a timely manner and respond to the needs as appropriate.