The Christian Science Joint Media Committee of Southern California is continuing with Facebook advertising for all lectures in So Cal, and your upcoming lecture will be included. We are working hard to make your advertising money reach further, so we are making slight changes in order to increase the number of users reached.
The process is similar, and the required budget is the same at this time. Only technical details are changing as the ads will now be linked to your Website event page, rather than a Facebook event page. See #12 below which explains the benefits.
Ad campaigns can also be run for any public event such as an open house, or film screening for a church or reading room.
- Why are we doing Facebook advertising for churches?
- What is the purpose of the ad campaign?
- What information do I need to provide?
- Where and when do I send my lecture flyer, and where does it appear?
- When will my ad campaign run?
- What does the advertising cost?
- How do I review the event page?
- Can we use the flyer as the Facebook ad?
- How are event page headers and ads designed?
- Can I change the ads or event page?
- Who is the ad campaign targeting?
- How many users will ads reach?
- Does it make a difference how long our ads run?
- What does the ad program and an increased budget cover?
- Do we need to increase the budget if we are having a joint lecture?
- How can I monitor progress of my ad campaign and can I see it?
- What results should I expect from Facebook ads?
- What if we already have a Facebook church page?
- What else can I do?
- Where do I send my ad contribution, and what if we do not have an advertising budget?
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Will I be receiving an invoice?
1. Why are we doing Facebook advertising for churches?
Social media is a great way to reach people new to Christian Science, and also dedicated church members and attendees. Prayer that Heals Facebook has nearly 7,000 fans, and a majority of new users are non-Christian Scientists. Lecture events ads reached 204,000 Facebook users in 2021. Facebook ads are also run on Instagram as they are connected platforms.
2. What is the purpose of the ad?
Although Facebook ad campaigns are promoting lectures, the main purpose is for the Joint Media Committee to help SoCal churches raise awareness of Christian Science and of lectures in their areas.
Sample ad:
3. What information do I need to provide?
Normally, just your flyer and amount of your budget. However, a full description of your lecture is helpful to encourage users new to Christian Science to attend. We may use flyer information in conjunction with the ChristianScience.com lecturer page to create a full event description and ad. Typically, an event description and ad copy is already available from past lectures.
4. Where and when do I send my lecture flyer, and where does it appear?
Please send a pdf and jpg or png file if available at least one month ahead to contact@prayerthatheals.org and tinareedjohnson@gmail for the Website event page. It is important that we receive information as soon as possible so we can get your ad campaign ready in time.
The flyer is included in a Facebook post for your lecture on https://www.facebook.com/
5. When will my ad campaign run?
Ad campaigns are based on the lecture date. Ads need to run with enough time before the event to set up the Web page, ad campaign, and to get the best results. We start an ad campaign no later than one week before your lecture.
6. What does the advertising cost?
The minimum ad budget is $300 per ad campaign.
A higher ad budget of $600 per ad campaign will reach additional users.
Note: Facebook advertising rates vary based on location and other factors which are out of our control. Rates or policies may change at any time affecting the number of users reached.
7. How do I review ad copy?
An email is sent to you with the ad copy for your review a couple of weeks before your lecture. We typically create multiple ads with different sets of ad copy to ensure the best results.
8. Can we use the flyer as the Facebook ad?
No, because flyers do not meet social media design requirements and cannot be used as ads.
9. How are ads designed?
Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns require an image or video.
We have seen that the best results are achieved when a suitable, inspirational image for ads is used. We choose a stock image based on past results.
10. Can I change the ads or Web event listing?
Yes, but please be aware that there is a quick turnaround time on any changes. There is no charge for one-time changes or corrections.
Note that ad copy is tested and may change occasionally to improve ad performance. We need flexibility with the copy and images to get the best results. Ads are designed to get click throughs to your Website and will not have all of the details. Ads are continuously monitored for cost, engagement and responses.
To make a change, please reply all to the email your church received about Facebook advertising with details.
11. Who is the ad targeting?
Facebook and Instagram users 21+ in the general area surrounding the church or lecture location. Most of these users are new to Christian Science. Users are invited to become followers and receive notifications of future events. Targeting, including geographic areas, may be changed at any time based on factors such as past or current performance, budget and Facebook changes.
12. How many users will the ad reach? New!
Reach depends upon the ad budget. For a minimum budget of $300, an estimate of 1,500 users or more may be reached.
This season (Fall 2023) we are changing the advertising goal from event responses to Website clicks. This will allow us to reach more users. Lecture ads will link to the Website event page on prayerthatheals.org, rather than a Facebook event listing. This will give people responding to your ads access to your lecture information, and all of the resources available on our So Cal Website.
13. Does it make a difference how long our ads run?
No. Your ad budget covers the Facebook ad cost which is spread out evenly per day, until the date of your lecture, or shortly before. Online ads are completely different than print ads in terms of the number of users reached, and does not depend upon how long an ad campaign runs. The amount of time your ad campaign runs does not affect the number of users that see the ads.
14. What does the ad program and an increased budget cover?
When a church contributes $300 (the minimal amount for an ad), Facebook is paid $150 for the ad cost, and $150 pays our consultant for creating an ad campaign, planning, creating and managing ads, continuously monitoring ads, responding to comments, ad adjustments to get better responses, and tracking and reporting results. Lecture replays are also posted on Prayer that Heals social media, and invitations are sent to any users that have responded to like the main Facebook page.
When the budget is increased to $600, we can potentially reach twice as many users because we are doubling the amount paid to Facebook.
15. Do we need to increase the budget if we are having a joint lecture?
We request that each sponsoring church contribute a minimum of $300 for a joint lecture. Funds contributed by each church allow us to reach more Facebook users and help to ensure coverage for each sponsoring church.
16. How can I monitor progress of my ad campaign and can I see it online?
No. You can only see ads if you are being targeted by the ad campaign.
Facebook and Instagram ads are set up in Facebook Ads Manager which can only be accessed by page administrators, whom receive notifications when users engage with ads. Ads are monitored carefully in order to respond to comments. You will receive an email with the ad statistics after the campaign has ended, which includes the number of Facebook users reached and the number of clicks to your Website event page. This service is included in the cost of advertising.
17. What results should I expect from the ad?
A budget of under $600 allows for a basic Facebook ad campaign. Results vary based on multiple factors, including Facebook algorithms (which help determine cost per user reached and can be more expensive in some areas). The way to reach more people is to increase the budget. The number of people reached corresponds directly with the number of clicks.
Users that have engaged with an ad are invited to follow the main Prayer that Heals Facebook page. Users that like our page may receive future notices of Facebook events and daily posts, so the efforts to advertise individual lectures are beyond what you see reported. In addition, users that visit your Website event page may see other information on the site. There is a ripple effect, and the results are magnified.
Facebook users that respond are not assured to attend any event. Many users are simply expressing their interest, thereby accomplishing our awareness goal.
18. What if we already have a Facebook church page?
If you wish us to advertise your lecture, we will need to use Prayer that Heals Facebook and our ad account. You may advertise your own lecture, but it will need to be posted on your page and you will need your own Facebook ad account. Please let us know if you are planning to run your own Facebook ads.
19. What else can I do?
Join us in prayer to know that your ads will be well received by the public, and that your lecture will bless our communities.
Church members or attendees with Facebook accounts should be encouraged to participate on the Facebook page for their event. The lectures that are more successful on Facebook, have members sharing, commenting, liking, and inviting others. This engagement helps encourage non-Christian Scientists and friends to respond.
Like the main Prayer that Heals Facebook page to support our Internet marketing efforts, and receive notifications of new events in SoCal.
Please let us know results or fruitage from the advertising campaign. We appreciate hearing the number of attendees from Facebook ads, or viewers of online lectures. This feedback helps us maintain this advertising program.
This is a basic ad campaign that is being provided by Joint Media and our online marketing consultant as a service to our local churches. Any church can contribute funds to the ad program if they wish to increase the reach of their ad campaign to additional Facebook users. A treasurer remittance form is attached to the initial advertising email. Print form.
Sign up to receive Joint Media email newsletters in order to receive more communication about advertising efforts.
Be sure to add our social media consultant, Tina Johnson, to your email contact list tinareedjohnson@gmail.com
One ad will not necessarily encourage users to attend a lecture or event. Similar to a print ad, it takes several attempts to reach people for them to take action. Facebook advertising should be done in conjunction with branch church advertising. Churches and societies will ideally consider other forms of advertising including church listings in directories (print and online), local mailings, online calendar listings, their own social media presence, press releases, radio ads, newspaper ads, etc. in order to reach more people in their area.
20. Where do I send my ad contribution, and what if we do not have an advertising budget?
The basic ad cost is $300, and you have the option of paying an additional $300 to potentially double the number of users reached and ad responses. A check can be sent directly to the Joint Media Committee of Southern California, P O Box 846, Los Angeles, CA 90078-0846. Please include a "Remittance Form for Church Treasurer" and keep a copy for your records. Print form. If your church or society does not have funds for advertising, Joint Media will kindly fund your ad ($300).
21. Will I be receiving an invoice?
You will not be receiving an invoice through Tina Johnson or Joint Media. Please submit a Treasurer Remittance Form with your payment to the Joint Media Committee and keep a copy for your records. See "Print form" in the question above.
Last Update: 8/29/23
Please direct further questions to tinareedjohnson@gmail.com | Website: tinareedjohnson.com