Church of the Customer Blog
« God is a helluva marketer | Main | TV shows and evangelism »
September 11, 2005
God is a helluva marketer
Purpose Driven Life author and pastor Rick Warren is not very happy with the forthcoming book PyroMarketing: The Four-Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them for Life: .
PyroMarketing outlines the marketing strategy for Warren's mega-selling book. Warren told Publishers Weekly:
The effectiveness of 40 Days of Purpose spread from one pastor to another through word-of-mouth endorsement, not through anyone's marketing plan....Instead it was the result of God's supernatural and sovereign plan, which no one anticipated.
I most heartedly agree with the good pastor about the book's word of mouth among pastors. It's huge. But a "supernatural plan?" Well, that's a pretty big leap of faith. A Forbes article explains the actual, down-to-earth marketing plan:
* Leverage Warren's pastor portal Pastors.com. It reaches 100,000 pastors worldwide each week with e-mail forums, archives of 22 years of Warren sermons and digital prayer requests.
* Invite churches to participate in a "40 Days of Purpose" event to correspond with the book's 40 chapters. [1,562 churches participated.]
* Create a simulcast with all churches in Warren's portal.* Sign up radio stations to run a "40 days campaign" during the same period. [267 radio stations did.]
* Release a CD of "Songs for a Purpose Driven Life" featuring well-known Christian artists.* Ensure the book and CD are available in mass-market retailers such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Barnes & Noble and Borders.
So far, 22 million copies sold.
Not to tweak Warren's nose too much (perhaps it's too late for that now) but there's the theory of intelligent design... and then there's really intelligent marketing.
[Hat tip: 800-CEO-READ]
Other blogs that reference God is a helluva marketer:
» Pyro Marketing - Again from achievable ends
In late July, I commented on Ed Brenegar's post regarding the Greg Stielstra book, PyroMarketing. The story was that Rick Warren was not happy with Mr. Stielstra writing about the marketing behind Pastor Warren's best seller, Purpose Driven Life. Publi... [Read More]
» Stielstra's PyroMarketing to be published from Bene Diction Blogs On
Some time ago I posted Tim Challies look at PyroMarketing and The Purpose Driven Life. He featured the techniques of Greg Stielstra, Senior Marketer at Zondervan, owned by Harper Collins. Challie's first post on Stielstra was in May 2005. Stielstra man... [Read More]
» Rick Warren: 2 Perspectives from CCUCEO
Rick Warren is the author of the best-selling The Purpose Drive Life: What on earth Am I Here For. I haven't read it. I doubt I will. I'm not really here to talk about the book or the author. I'm [Read More]
Great post! I'm still stuck on blogger so I can't trackback, but I have posted something here: http://tinyurl.com/87tdd
In short, I can relate to Warren on this. I think there was some supernatural intervention. But at the same time, he had a great plan in place. I think it's a both/and situation.
dear Rick warren- I need your help, I've written a story on my adiction, miracle, a dog and peace of mind, my story is called " Charlie Chan and I ". I've written to all the rich and famous and also oprah over the last ten years + publishers and agent but I can't cut threw the Red Tape. I've seen you twice on t.v.and I admire you and your work, I'm hoping you can help me get my story out there. I live my life with god over the last 65 years and my story is about faith and hope. hope I hear from you personally. I would love for you to read my story, I'm hoping for a miracle from you. yours truly Leo Sedillos, address 40620 Sanalamar Dr. Hemet, Ca. 92544
From Hemet, CA as well:
Don't hold your breath Leo, you don't have enough money!!
Leo,
I was wondering if anything ever came of your story? Have you posted it on the web.
I market real estate in Hemet and find this facinating.
John Occhi, Hemet REALTOR
www.JohnOcchi.Com
