Think of this as an e-book from A-Z on what you need to start a women’s ministry. I’m covering as much as I would if this were one of my ebooks. So, let’s jump in! If you’re thinking about starting a womens ministry, I have several things you’ll want to consider. Years ago, when I started a single mom ministry for the community, I had no format or any idea of what I was doing. It was super hard, and I bumped my head lots of times. I started it in the 90s, and we didn’t have the wealth of information we now have available to us.
The Internet was fairly new; I know that’s hilarious now, but it really was. As a result, I genuinely had to rely on the Lord to guide my steps and open doors for me.
He did! Oh boy, did He!
Quick Note: I am INTENTIONALLY leaving the apostrophe off the words “women’s ministry.” You will see it reflected as “Starting a Womens Ministry.” This is for algorithmic reasons. Please disregard.
This women's ministry post covers:
Introduction: Starting a Womens Ministry
My women’s ministry wasn’t marketed as an actual “women’s ministry.” In fact, I just promoted it as a support network for single mothers like myself (at the time).
That really is what I thought it was – a network.
But it turned out to be much more.
Even though I was not affiliated with a church, I implemented elements of my Christian faith into it because Christianity is who I am.
Remember: you cannot sequester who you are from what you do. I guess you can, but you won’t be happy because inauthenticity is always a precursor to discontentment.
My group primarily focused on providing monthly support to single mothers.
I only did one or maybe two events for the most part. Speaking of events, check out my tips for creating a planning calendar!
The group was about consistent support for single women parenting children by way of awesome speakers and regular meetings. Simple.
My Thoughts on Starting a Womens Ministry outside
church vs. working within the church.
Let’s talk a bit more about the difference between stand-alone women’s ministries and those based in a church.
When starting a womens ministry, it’s important to understand that you generally have two main options.
The options are starting a womens ministry INSIDE a church (or affiliated with a church) and starting a women’s ministry from scratch.
Each option comes with its own set of advantages and challenges.
So, let’s explore them.
Pros of Starting a Womens Ministry Outside the Church:
- You won’t have to navigate church politics.
- You’ll have full creative freedom—you’re the leader.
- The ministry will reflect your personal vision just as God gave it to you.
Cons of Starting a Womens Ministry Outside the Church:
- You may be on your own without the built-in support system of a church.
- You’ll need to find venues—and in many cases, pay for them.
- You won’t have access to church resources like tech support or printing services.
The pros and cons speak for themselves. Women’s ministry doesn’t have to be confined within church walls.
Starting a women’s ministry inside or affiliated with a church comes with both blessings and boundaries. One of the greatest advantages is the built-in support system—access to meeting spaces, pastoral guidance, and a congregation of potential participants and volunteers.
You also benefit from the church’s existing credibility, which can make it easier to attract women and promote events.
However, there can be limitations. You may need to follow church protocols or obtain approvals for new ideas, which can slow down momentum or restrict creativity.
Additionally, if leadership changes or ministry priorities shift, your women’s ministry could be impacted.
Still, for many leaders, the spiritual covering, accountability, and shared mission make church-based ministries a beautiful and fruitful place to serve.
Pros of Starting a Women’s Ministry Inside the Church:
- Built-in audience and support system
- Access to church facilities and technology
- Spiritual guidance and pastoral covering
- Easier promotion through church bulletins, announcements, and newsletters
- Immediate credibility and trust from attendees
Cons of Starting a Women’s Ministry Inside the Church:
- Must follow church leadership structure and protocol
- Limited flexibility for planning and innovation
- Potential restrictions based on denomination or doctrinal focus
- Subject to leadership or staffing changes in the church
- Budget and resource limitations depending on church priorities
One More Option for Starting a Women’s Ministry!
You do have options—and neither is right nor wrong. In fact, there’s a third path: you can partner with another ministry and enjoy the best of both worlds. Faith-based nonprofits, Christian schools, or community organizations can all serve as strong partners. The possibilities are truly endless.
Step #1: Starting a Womens Ministry
Design Your internal structure.
Write the Women’s Ministry Goals and Objectives
When starting a womens ministry, setting clear goals and objectives is one of the most important steps you can take.
Goals and objectives work beautifully together.
It’s like peanut butter and jelly.
Goals describe your long-term vision, and objectives break that vision down into practical, actionable steps.
For example, if your goal is to host three events in two years, your first few objectives might include defining the type of events you want to host, choosing potential dates, identifying venues, and delegating leaders for each event.
Each goal will likely require several smaller objectives to bring it to life.
Think of your objectives as the roadmap to your destination.
Keep Stakeholders Informed Of Your Progression Toward Goals
When starting a womens ministry, accountability and communication are key.
Be sure to regularly update your board and any stakeholders on your progress toward achieving your women’s ministry goals and objectives.
These check-ins keep everyone aligned and provide the opportunity to rally additional support or resources when needed.
Also, managing your ministry’s resources wisely is crucial—especially if you are considering registering your women’s ministry as a legal nonprofit, like I did.
Strategic stewardship goes a long way in building trust and laying a strong foundation.
In many cases, women’s ministry goals serve as the starting point, with detailed strategic planning coming later. That said, I personally love beginning with a vision statement.
Without a Vision, a Women’s Ministry Fails
There’s something about a strong vision—it creates excitement, clarity, and momentum that can carry the rest of the planning process forward.
If you need help writing a women’s ministry vision statement, click here to see my step-by-step guide.
When you’re starting a womens ministry, your goals become even more important.
A well-articulated set of goals will help you gain that trust and demonstrate that your women’s ministry mission is well-thought-out, impactful, and faith-driven.
Your women’s ministry goals should guide everything you do—from the events you plan to the fundraising efforts you lead. These goals provide the big-picture direction for what your ministry will accomplish over time.
A Quick Example
Let’s say your goal is to host three events over the next two years. That’s a solid, measurable goal. From there, you’ll develop specific objectives that support and move that goal forward.
Make sure your goals are realistic and attainable.
This is where a board of directors can be a huge blessing. They can give you honest feedback, help refine your goals, and distinguish between what’s doable and what might be too ambitious for your current resources.
Now, let’s talk about one of my favorite parts of starting a womens ministry: naming it!
Step #2: Starting a Womens Ministry
Name Your Women’s Ministry
Choosing a name for your women’s ministry isn’t just about picking a catchy phrase or word.
I think it’s about creating an identity.
Your ministry’s name is often the first thing women will see or hear. It should reflect your mission, your heart, and what they can expect when they get involved. It’s like naming a book: the title sets the tone for the journey inside.
When starting a womens ministry, take time to brainstorm. Involve your team, your community, or even close friends.
Think about who you’re trying to serve and how you want them to feel.
When I ran a group for single moms, we included the word “Sisters” in the name because I wanted each woman to feel part of a loving, supportive sisterhood.
Before locking in a name, I think it helps to complete the planning steps discussed earlier.
Many times, your name will naturally rise from the vision or goals you’ve written. You might discover the perfect name as you’re developing your mission, or as you identify the specific needs your ministry will meet.
Truth be told, I love naming ministries and projects!
My friends often call on me to help with this because I’ve got a knack for creating memorable, meaningful names.
Still, I encourage you to bring in other voices too.
Why?
Because I’ve learned (often the hard way) that what makes total sense to me might completely confuse others!
Getting outside feedback will help ensure your name resonates with more people and is easily understood.
When you finally choose a name, keep it simple and clear.
It should be easy to say, spell, and remember. I’m a fan of straightforward, descriptive names—like this blog, Women’s Ministry Resources. It tells you exactly what it is.
Acronyms can work too, as long as they’re not confusing.
Consider Your “Guiding Documents” When Naming Your Ministry
It is also a good idea to seek inspiration from your ministry’s goals and the desires of the women you aim to serve. What do they want? What do they need? That would be captured in your women’s ministry name.
A well-chosen name can be like a map. It will direct like-minded women to your ministry and set the stage for a vibrant and impactful group of ladies.
Yes, a good place to begin as you ponder starting a womens ministry is the name and the concepts surrounding it.
Think About Your Name—and Your Brand
When I was working with a youth training organization years ago, one of my favorite acronyms was B.E.S.T.—short for Building Exemplary Systems for Training Youth Workers. Catchy, right? Acronyms can work really well when they make sense and stir emotion. But if they confuse people or require too much explanation, they can fall flat.
Take AARP, for example.
Most people recognize the name, but few know what the acronym actually stands for. (Do you?) That’s not necessarily bad—it’s just something to think about as you’re starting a womens ministry and considering different naming options.
It’s a good idea to test out a few potential names with others. Your board of directors, your advisory team, or even trusted friends can provide helpful insight. Ask them:
- Does this name spark any emotion?
- Is it memorable?
- Does it reflect the vision and mission?
- Is it too narrow to allow for growth?
- Does it sound too similar to something else?
You could even go so far as to mock up a business card or a simple logo with your name idea on it. Seeing it in print or on-screen might give you a better feel for how it will land with others.
Leave Room to Grow in Your Ministry
When starting a womens ministry, you’ll want to choose a name that leaves room for your vision to expand.
While it’s tempting to choose something super specific—like “Bible Study Helps for Women, Inc.”—names like that can unintentionally box you in.
What if God later leads your ministry into events, outreach, or mentorship? A too-specific name could make those shifts feel awkward or confusing.
Instead, go a little broader.
Choose a name that encompasses your current goals but also leaves room for future growth. Ministries grow, evolve, and shift over time, so your name should be flexible enough to grow with it.
What a Good Name Can Do
Here’s what a great name can help you accomplish when starting a womens ministry:
- Create unity: A name gives women something to rally around and feel part of.
- Build credibility: It signals professionalism, intentionality, and structure.
- Spark excitement: A good name inspires others to ask questions and learn more.
- Attract the right people: It speaks directly to the women God is calling you to serve.
Again, don’t underestimate this part of starting a womens ministry. Pray about it. Sit with it. Say it out loud.
See how it makes you feel. The name you choose will help shape everything from your communications to your branding to your event materials.
So take your time and choose wisely. And most of all—let it reflect the heart behind your ministry.
Need some inspiration for naming your women’s ministry? Check out Steve’s video from Nonprofit Ally.
Step #3 of Starting a Womens Ministry
Get your paperwork in order
I incorporated and filed the proper paperwork with my Secretary of State’s office.
I wanted to be a nonprofit recognized by my state. I could not accept donations and have them be tax-deductible to the donors because I did not get 501 (C) 3 status – nor did I want it. My women’s ministry was simple. That’s how I wanted to keep it.
Since marketing was important, I also learned how to write press releases – good ones – and how to market my women’s ministry throughout my community.
On my paperwork, I listed my board of directors.
While I had a board of directors, they pretty much let me do what I needed to do, acted as an advisory committee, and provided financial support when needed.
Some of the work your board of directors will do includes strategic planning.
This involves making critical and far-reaching decisions on behalf of the women’s ministry. It also typically involves making decisions to ensure the ministry is successful over time.
Think of it as a document showing who your organization is, what it does, and what it hopes to accomplish.
I found this page and must share it because it has so many resources for writing your strategic plan. Adapt it for your women’s ministry.
I love this resource! Click to see it: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/strategic-planning-nonprofits
Step #4: of Starting a Womens Ministry
Shape The Ministry Committee
Create a governing body for your women’s ministry, even if it is simply one or two advisors. I highly recommend you have someone to keep you accountable and support you.
This is especially true if money will ever be involved in your women’s ministry.
Your governing body could be a formal board of directors meeting quarterly or monthly.
If you opt for a board of directors, make sure you create a description of what you expect from them, how often they will meet, and whether or not you will require them to support the ministry financially. It’s also a good idea to create job descriptions for an Executive Committee consisting of board members.
Sometimes, boards are super large or spread out across the United States. In this case, an executive committee should be created to handle the more micro-decisions.
Based on my experience, some sample positions for an executive committee include:
- Chair or Board President
- Board Secretary
- Treasurer
Read my job descriptions for each role.
Sometimes, I have seen the executive committee have a marketing and fundraising chair, but I never did.
When starting your womens ministry, spend some time thinking about who you want on your board and what they bring to it.
Avoid just having your friends. Think gifts, talents, and resources. Starting a women’s ministry requires lots of help in a variety of forms.
Resources for Women’s Ministry Board of Directors:
“6 Things to look for When Picking Your Company’s Board Members”: https://www.inc.com/patrick-henry/6-things-to-look-for-when-selecting-your-companys-.html
“How to Choose a Board of Directors for a Nonprofit Organization” View article: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/choose-board-directors-nonprofit-organization-911.html
“5 Criteria for Choosing Your Board” by Forbes.com: https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2018/07/05/5-criteria-for-choosing-your-board/?sh=7bcbe47f2f20
One More Option for Governance
I have another governing body option for starting your womens ministry.
It is an advisory committee meeting with you occasionally to keep you on track and provide resources, advice, or support.
The Bottom Line
How you choose to organize your women’s ministry and your board of directors largely depends on whether or not you will legally incorporate it as a women’s ministry.
Incorporation is a legal process, and I am not qualified to advise you here. I will say incorporation may provide you some protection for both you and your board of directors.
Following are some resources and links to help you make the proper decision. However, I do think it’s a good idea to speak with a legal professional.
Step #5 of Starting a Womens Ministry
Know exactly how you will perform ministry.
Obviously, you pray about starting a womens ministry.
After prayer and broad brainstorming, consider the type of women’s ministry you will create.
There are many ways a women’s ministry can take shape. Women’s ministries are not just bible studies at potlucks anymore.
Women’s ministries can cover a wide range of issues and needs.
To inspire you in your journey of starting a womens ministry, here are some common types of women’s ministries you can focus on – as a ministry outside a church:
- Women’s Shelters: These Christian ministries provide safe and supportive environments for women who have experienced domestic violence or homelessness, offering shelter, counseling, and resources to help them rebuild their lives.
- Women’s Health Clinics: Here, you would focus on women’s healthcare, offering family planning and screening services.
- Women’s Economic Empowerment: Women’s ministries in this category provide resources, training, and support to help women develop job skills, start businesses, and achieve financial independence.
- Women’s Education and Scholarships: These ministries offer educational opportunities, scholarships, and mentorship programs to empower women through academic and professional development.
- Women’s Advocacy and Policy: Women’s ministries like this work to advance women’s rights and gender equality through advocacy, lobbying, and policy change efforts.
- Women’s Leadership Development: These ministries focus on mentoring, training, and networking opportunities to help women advance in their careers and take on leadership roles.
- Reproductive Rights and Family Planning: Women’s ministries in this category advocate for women’s reproductive rights, access to contraception, and comprehensive sex education.
- Women’s Support and Counseling: These women’s ministries provide mental health services, counseling, and support groups to help women cope with trauma, addiction, or emotional challenges.
- Women’s Cultural and Art Initiatives: Women’s ministries promote women in the arts, culture, and media, fostering creativity and providing a platform for women’s voices and talents.
- Women’s Global and International Initiatives: Women’s ministries work on international women’s issues, such as gender-based violence, education, and economic development in underserved communities worldwide.
- Women’s Sports and Fitness: Women’s ministries in this category promote women’s participation in sports, fitness, and wellness activities, empowering them to lead healthy and active lives.
- Women’s Supportive Housing: These women’s ministries provide housing and support services to homeless or low-income women and their families.
- Women’s Entrepreneurship and Business Networks: Women’s ministries fostering women’s entrepreneurship by providing resources, mentorship,
These types of women’s ministries play a super important role in addressing the challenges and opportunities women face.
Your women’s ministry could empower them to achieve their full potential!
Wait! Don’t Let My List Get You Into Trouble!
When starting a womens ministry, it is easy to want to jump in and do something “big” RIGHT NOW!
The above list of opportuntiies could inspire you just to jump in, choose one, and get started!
Slow your roll.
Take your time.
You STILL have more work to do.
Pause. Wait. Pray.
Before launching, think about what your target audience’s needs and wants are. Maybe do a survey. Click here to learn more.
Step #6 of Starting a Womens Ministry
Do a Ministry Needs Assessment
A needs assessment is a great tool to collect the data or information that solidifies the need for your women’s ministry. It is sometimes a cumbersome process, but a needs assessment is immensely imperative.
Otherwise, you may find yourself creating a ministry that isn’t needed or necessary. That would be a monumental waste of time.
Imagine a woman in the Arizona desert creating a women’s ministry to distribute winter coats. That would be pretty foolish, right?
Your needs assessment will help you set priorities for what is useful to work on and when.
For example, if you survey women in your church and discover that many women struggle with morning prayer, then your women’s prayer ministry can prioritize techniques to help women solve this problem.
So, in short, a needs assessment is a process that will bring to light the information that will either validate your women’s ministry or render it unnecessary.
If you find that your needs assessment does the latter, you will tweak your women’s ministry strategy to be more fruitful and in line with what women need in your community or demographic.
Resources you can use for ideas as you are conducting a needs assessment for women’s ministry:
- “Methods for Conducting Needs Assessments” by Paul F. McCawley: https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/bul/bul0870.pdf
- I found this resource on a Kentucky government website, and I found it very informative. Use it as a research document: https://education.ky.gov/federal/progs/tid/Documents/Needs%20Assessment%20Template.pdf
- Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys from the Community Toolbox from The University of Kansas: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/conducting-needs-assessment-surveys/main
| Consider | Thinking through the need |
| Understanding the Scope of the Current Women’s Ministry | What are the characteristics of the women in your target population? Are they younger or older, or age is not a factor? Are they married, single, or widowed? Do they drive, or would they prefer virtual activities? How many of them are there? Is the population increasing or decreasing? Note: You may have an informal women’s ministry occurring now. This doesn’t mean you don’t continue to develop the ministry; it just means you build upon what currently exists. For example, if women are gathering after choir practice every Saturday and go to coffee. That is something you can build upon. |
| Gathering Information to understand the current population of women | What are the characteristics of the women in your target population? Are they younger or older, or age is not a factor? Are they married, single, or widowed? Do they drive, or would they prefer virtual activities? How many of them are there? Is the population increasing or decreasing? Note: You may have an informal women’s ministry occurring now. This doesn’t mean you don’t continue to develop the ministry, it just means you build upon what currently exists. For example, if women are gathering after choir practice every Saturday and go to coffee. That is something you can build upon. |
| Compare Current Women’s Ministry Resources | What are the primary women’s ministry offerings now? A few events or nothing at all? How do women fellowship with one another? Is what is currently occurring sufficient? Is there a need for a women’s ministry? Yes or no – and how do you know? |
After you have an idea of what currently exists in the women’s church population, now you can plot out what can occur. Here is a sample you can download:
Narrow Your Target Audience for Your Women’s Ministry
I’ve created a blog post that strongly focuses on creating your ministry avatar or a person or thing representing your target audience.
Still, some of the elements you want to think about as you plan and shape your women’s ministry to meet the needs of your target audience are elements like:
- Where does the target audience hang out in person and online? In other words, where can you find them? Are they in Facebook groups or on Instagram?
- How do they like to communicate? Is your target audience largely text message communicators, or would face-to-face/in-person communication work best for them?
- What is their demographic – age range, spiritual maturity level, ethnicity, hobbies, and life station? (This is particularly important if your target audience includes audiences with specific needs like, for example, young mothers who would likely need babysitting for events).
- What are their behaviors, attitudes, lifestyle preferences, and even personality types?
- What are their pain points? What problematic situation will your women’s ministry solve?
Additional thoughts about your target audience:
- Physically go where the ladies are. If you have a women’s group at your church, be sure to attend those meetings and see what concerns the women express they have.
- Virtually go where they are. There are so many online Facebook groups and other communities that you should have no problem finding Christian women to communicate with.
Find Facebook groups that specifically target the women you hope to serve.
As a pastor’s wife, I am part of a Facebook group for pastors’ wives. I also created one myself. Anyway, a month doesn’t go by without someone posting about the struggles of being married to a pastor.
This information gives me insight into the resources I want to offer for pastors’ wives on my blog. Join as many groups as you can and just be there to support and bless others. You’ll find that you’ll gain lots of information if you keep your eyes peeled. Also, you can search through old Facebook posts and get some rich data to learn about your target audience. - Follow your competitors. The term “competitors” gets such a bad rap. But I couldn’t think of another way to state it. Essentially, follow ministries like the one you want to create. Not to steal anything from them but to get a pulse on what people are responding to and confirm what they need. For illustration, if you follow a blog for young Christian mothers, the comments will give you great insight into what young Christian mothers are struggling with.
These are resources for networking like a pro on behalf of your women’s ministry!
- Read an article I found called “11 Tips to Help You Network Better”: https://www.kangan.edu.au/students/blog/successful-networking-tips
- Caroline Castrillon with Forbes.com says we need to network differently. See why here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2019/03/10/why-women-need-to-network-differently-than-men-to-get-ahead/?sh=d26e71eb0a17
- “Networking: The Most Important Thing Women Should Do for Their Careers — But Aren’t” is an article directed toward entrepreneurship, but I think the resources are useful for anyone starting women’s ministry outside the church. Click here to view the article: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/332039
Step #7: Ask yourself this question
“Is your women’s ministry a Program or a Quick-Fix?“
As you are planning a women’s ministry from scratch, think about how you plan to begin ministering to women now and how you want to scale for the future.
Alternatively, is your ministry a program meeting a pressing need? Do you have a women’s shelter that will train women to be better parents or to get a job? This would be an example of a program in women’s ministry.
For example, ITW Ministries Online is a teaching nonprofit organization that provides ongoing written resources to help individuals grow in the Lord.
However, they also have annual events where you can physically walk into an event and learn or network.
This is a perfect example of an event-based ministry that is also a programmatic ministry combined.
Another consideration is how your ministry will be housed. Will it require a designated space like a rented office or an office in your local church?
I have always had women’s ministries that I could run from my home. However, you could start a ministry requiring a reading library and a place for women congregating. Such a ministry would likely need its own space.
Establish a Ministry Budget
Managing finances can be a challenge for any women’s ministry.
In other blog posts, I’ve stated that partnering with your local church for accountability and financial resource support is a good idea.
For example, a church member likely manages the money there and could help you handle registration fees and other financial structures.
Let me tell you, when I led the women’s ministry at my church, I could not have imagined conducting women’s ministry without the financial undergirding of my church.
Our financial secretary already had many of the structures in place I needed to organize the incoming funds. It was so nice not to have to recreate the wheel. Since you’re likely branching out on your own, ask around for a trustworthy person who could donate their time to help you. You never know until you ask.
If you are starting your women’s ministry from scratch and will be a stand-alone women’s ministry, I recommend hiring An accountant or bookkeeper to help you stay compliant. Watch your books closely and make sure every penny goes where it needs to go.
Do not be raggedy with your records (I was!)
Keeping good records will be critical to your women’s ministry. Several online software packages could help you. I used QuickBooks by Intuit. It was an absolute lifesaver.
They offer a 30-day free trial as I write this blog post. But their simple start program is $25 each month. If you’re reading this a long time after I’ve published this, things could have changed.
Unless it’s absolutely necessary, I would avoid handling money in my women’s ministry. Aside from registration fees, I wouldn’t bother with it at all.
You’re undergoing a process to create a women’s ministry outside the church. In my humble opinion, you have enough to think about. Get someone reliable to help with money.
Of course, that’s up to you, and if you use money, ensure you have the proper systems and support to ensure success.
Step #8: How to start a women’s ministry?
You need a budget!
I know I sound like a broken record, but if you are handling money, you want to make sure you manage it responsibly. This means you will definitely need a budget for your women’s ministry.
You’ll want to consider things like operating expenses, food for meetings, postage, printing, office supplies, and web hosting costs.
Women’s Ministry Leader, I don’t have to tell you what a budget does. It will help you know how you’re spending your money and ensure that you have enough money to do your women’s ministry activities.
Without a budget, you’re in the dark.
Create a soft budget so that you know what you will spend.
Even with my small women’s ministry back in the day, I had a line item for the contingency planning period, which was in case something unexpected happened, like I had to pay rental costs for a place to meet or something. A failure to plan is a plan to fail.
Step #9: Plan to spread the word!
Create a marketing plan.
You can reasonably think about your marketing plan now that you have a name. How will you make sure people know about your women’s ministry?
Now, let’s talk about creating a plan to reach the women you want to be part of your women’s ministry.
What is the best way to reach your women?
This is why I create an avatar or persona of the women I am targeting for ministry. Are your potential women mostly online? Or are they in an age group that doesn’t live their lives online?
Would they respond better to posters? If so, how will you get them in their hands? Where do they hang out? Where will they likely see a poster?
If you create a website or blog, as I mentioned in this post (click here to view), you may already have an audience for your women’s ministry!
If you don’t know how your target audience will receive information, just go ahead and list all of the ways you can communicate with them.
This includes all the varieties of social media as well as local community calendars.
Most local community calendars are online and may list your women’s ministry events! Some won’t for religious organizations, but some do. Investigate it. I’ve had a great experience with that through the years.
Leverage Social Media
If you’re planning on targeting one social media outlet, learn as much as you can about it.
For instance, most people know Facebook will not show Facebook posts unless a page has been active and has lots of engagement.
Similarly, Facebook always wants you to pay to make your post available to others. This is valuable information for your women’s ministry marketing plan. I did create a page, but I am not planning on promoting posts…as of right now, that is. Please like the page: https://www.facebook.com/WomensMinistryResourcesandTips
Next, if you use social media, you want to devise a schedule for posting content to that social media outlet. The key is frequency.
You need to post often, and you need to post things that will garner responses and engagement. Include all of that in your women’s ministry marketing plan.
Understand this: a women’s ministry outside the church is competing with women’s ministries that may be part of churches. You want to stand out; you want to be discovered. In this day of social media, you can. You have to research how to do it.
Take the time to learn about whatever social media outlet you like and select. What are the best practices? What can you do to make sure you are found by women in your niche?
Hubpost has a good article on writing your marketing plan. I like it because it is basic and perfect for a beginner: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/marketing-plan-examples
I downloaded a sample marketing plan template from the Small Business Development Center. I really like it. It’s a great template you can use to type your information. Click to download it from my Google Drive.
My Final Step, #10:
Be ready to pitch your women’s ministry!
While the magic of social media to reach the women in your target audience is an amazing approach, face-to-face is still a great way to get the word out about your women’s ministry.
Try to schedule meetings with local pastors’ wives to share about your ministry. Invite her to lunch or coffee and bring printed resources she can take with her.
While we live in a largely virtual world, building good old-fashioned relationships still works – especially with women’s ministry.
If nothing else, it creates a “buzz” around your work. Word of mouth is the best way to market your women’s ministry.
Create a spreadsheet to keep track of your contacts. Include who you contacted, when, and the result of the contact. This spreadsheet will be helpful to you later should you need to follow up.
Other ways to market your ministry are:
- Partnering with local ministries and church events (as I mentioned like twice already 🙂
- Sponsoring Christian women’s events or buying space in their programs
- Blogging on a topic important to your women’s ministry and including your local city or town to attract local women
- Distribute flyers and postcards (not modern, but can work).
- Incentivize others to promote your women’s ministry by offering a free t-shirt or something cute and pretty if they promote the ministry.
- Always keep cards with you and hand them out when you meet or see someone
Starting a womens ministry from scratch will not be an easy task, but it will be a fulfilling one when you find you are achieving your ministry goals and seeing your women’s ministry vision statement come to life …right before your very eyes.
By the way, I wrote another installment with tips on starting a womens ministry, check it out here.
What questions do you have? What comments? Share them below!
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