Ministry Marketing: SWOT analysis

Maybe you don’t feel like you can totally take on the brunt of change in your ministry and the way they market themselves? Would you like a very easy and practical way to get started without having to just totally destroy any bridge you might have by asking for a total overhaul? Or would you just like to get your feet wet a little bit? Or are you just ready to get past the overly utilized, yet classic infomercial introductory question time?

Then the SWOT analysis is for you!!!

But seriously a great place to start is a SWOT. Contrary to what you might think this has nothing to do with slapping anyone’s wrists or destroying insects, but instead has everything to do with gaining a little focus for your ministry.

Simple Overview Time!

SWOT = Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Ask yourself some questions about each of these.

Strengths:

• What would the community say are the strengths of our ministry?
• What assets do we possess? (financial, property, key relationships, or maybe just awesome people)?
• What needs are we meeting in the community?
• We are incredible at…

Weaknesses

• What would the community say are some weaknesses that are present?
• Do we have any liabilities?
• Are there some needs that are obvious that we are not meeting?
• We are pretty much bad at…

Opportunities

• Are there trends in your community that you can support, be a part of, or contribute to?
• Are there needs in the community that we can meet that no one else is?
• What opportunities are there in the community that align with out strengths?
• We could really do…

Threats

• Any community trends that could hinder your impact?
• Long Term Plans?
• What is the plan after this leadership is gone?
• We could do this, but…

Again this is a pretty basic SWOT. But it’s a great place to start the process and gives you some nice ideas with where to go from where you are now!

Hope this helps you out. Have you ever been a part of a SWOT analysis? Give me some details, let me know what the process was like.