Kem Meyer, Less Clutter, Less Noise: Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales. Thirty-one Press, 2009.
Referenced in: Marketing and Communication
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
You may be like me and prefer to back away from books about church marketing because you think the whole idea smacks of consumerism, yet also realize that without deliberate attention to what we are communicating we may communicate all the wrong things. You may be like me and think the church often feels like a “mall of religious goods and services” that members work frenetically to fund and maintain, and you have recurring doubts that Jesus ever wanted it to be that way. If so, this book is for you. It is both refreshing and convicting, insightful and simple. Read this book before you read any other book about marketing or advertising. It is an honest call away from all the things about our ministries which we think should impress others but do not, and a call to truly know who we want to reach, remove barriers to entry, reduce the noise, send a much simpler message, and eventually achieve buy-in. It is written in the language of business, leadership, and marketing, but the genuineness will disarm anyone who thinks of marketing in slick terms.
But this book isn’t just about marketing. It’s about effectiveness in leadership, communication, and mission. Two pieces stood out to me. First was chapter 9, “Tell One Story at a Time,” where she says to find the one thing that is more important than all the rest you are doing and try to communicate it in one sentence. She quotes theologian Joseph Priestly, that “the more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.” (139) Then there was chapter 14, “Bring the Glue” where she discusses vision drift, what happens when people do tasks but lose sight of how their daily decisions affect the bigger picture. But “when you bring the glue, you can more easily keep people connected to the same vision, fostering collaboration and cross training that move people from spectator to participant. Find ways to create mirrors that show the parts what the whole is doing. That is the glue.” (213) This book is a great read for missional focus, marketing and leadership effectiveness.
From the Publisher
Simple Strategies for Getting the Word Out
Do you ever wonder why people today aren’t getting your message? Maybe you can relate to how they feel—bombarded, skeptical, stressed, overloaded—looking for something amidst the pressure of life that will make a real difference. Your mission is as compelling as ever! But hitting people with more promotions, flyers and brochures isn’t helping them find the good news.
What if you could break through the clutter and find the direct route to their hearts and minds? It’s easier than you think.
With proven “now” communication strategies—practical solutions and principles that build trust instead of walls—you can make every aspect of a person’s engagement with your church simple and more rewarding. Packed with short illustrations and real-life stories, this book is written for leaders in today’s attention-deficit world, making it easy to grab, read and use anytime.
When you help clear the path, you help people take their next step toward Christ. You’ll find that less clutter, less noise speaks louder than anything.
Editorial Reviews
“Meyer takes a candid look at the stupid barriers that prevent progress and explains how to tear them down. By reading this book, evangelists in churches, non-profits, and businesses can learn to connect with the head, heart, and gut of their customers and employees and then change the world.” — Guy Kawasaki, author of Reality Check and co-founder of Alltop.com
“Practical, insightful, even breathtaking at times. If your communications are failing to communicate, this book is a fabulous place to start.” —Seth Godin, author of Tribes
“The greatest message ought to be communicated in the most memorable ways. And, Kem Meyer will show you how to do it. This book is both inspirational and practical. A must read for those who care about communicating the message of Christ in the most compelling way possible.” —Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor, National Community Church and Author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
About the Author
Kem used to think church was for out-of-touch people who just needed to “get a life.” Now? She believes the local church is the hope of the world—it just needs some help. She believes it so much that after a 15-year career in corporate communications, Kem left the marketplace to join the staff team at Granger Community Church. As the church’s Communications Director, Kem leads creative, information and technology teams to champion a clutter-free, cohesive and unified experience across departments and campuses.
While her faith is primary in her life and what drives her to achieve more, she doesn’t believe in huddling inside church walls. She’s an advocate for applying these same principles and insights in businesses, schools, not-for-profits or any organization struggling to find ways to get the word out and, simply, do better.
Join Kem on her blog: www.kemmeyer.com.
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