And I actually rarely listen to Christian radio.
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Keeping Christian Radio Relevant
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Hey Big D, - Did a quick search on yp.com and found around 130 churches listed with a Selma address. Add in the surrounding area and it approaches 200. How many of those churches have you met with? Not just left some flyers, but actually met face to face with a pastor?
BTW, do you have any type of online presence about your radio station…web site, Facebook, etc?
BTW, do you have any type of online presence about your radio station…web site, Facebook, etc?
None at the moment. Plan on setting up a Facebook page soon. Talked with the Pastor, of that Church. He told me, things came up and the meeting was canceled for now. Talked with my own Church and they've been trying to help me some. Spoke with another Pastor friend of mine. He's trying to help me get some donations. Still waiting to see if he's able to come through.
Dan <><
P.S. Thanks to everyone who keeps this dream in their prayers. I appreciate it. If anyone reading wants to help, let me know.
Dan <><
P.S. Thanks to everyone who keeps this dream in their prayers. I appreciate it. If anyone reading wants to help, let me know.
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What's keeping you from doing that right now…both setting up meetings with the churches in Selma and getting that Facebook presence established? How about a youtube.com "channel" complete with links to video of the artists your radio station will play? All easy to do and costs nothing.
I read elsewhere that you've raised less than $1,000 so far. You started fund raising last fall prior to filing your app with the FCC. The CP dates back to February 4th. You have less than 14 months left to raise the money needed to get you built out and on the air. At this rate, you're going to be hard-pressed to reach that goal.
Is there a local Christian Business Association in Selma and have you talked with them? Who are you networking with to find the the persons who can help you bankroll this start up? Is there someone in Selma who can mentor you in not for profit fundraising? I'm sorry but flyers and talking with a couple of local pastors won't get it done. You need to pursue every possibility to make this happen.
Have you contacted your local newspaper about them doing a story on your startup plans…your vision and goals for your radio station?
I read elsewhere that you've raised less than $1,000 so far. You started fund raising last fall prior to filing your app with the FCC. The CP dates back to February 4th. You have less than 14 months left to raise the money needed to get you built out and on the air. At this rate, you're going to be hard-pressed to reach that goal.
Is there a local Christian Business Association in Selma and have you talked with them? Who are you networking with to find the the persons who can help you bankroll this start up? Is there someone in Selma who can mentor you in not for profit fundraising? I'm sorry but flyers and talking with a couple of local pastors won't get it done. You need to pursue every possibility to make this happen.
Have you contacted your local newspaper about them doing a story on your startup plans…your vision and goals for your radio station?
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Been trying to get the local TV news outlet, to come and do a story about it. Contacted them, a few days ago. Still waiting for them to respond. More than likely, I'll have to contact them again. Trying now to set up meetings with the local Churches, I want to air. So far, mine is the only one that has even bothered to offer any form of assistance. Got some businesses helping me raise money. Trying to expose myself to everyone here. Doing some hard advertising. Plan on talking with the local newspaper to see what they'll charge to put my ads in there and to conduct an interview. ...And as of this posting, I have over $1000 saved now. Just got another donation today. Things are slowly picking up for me. If and when the local news media catches hold of this awesome news and allows me to expose it, things will speed up.
Dan <><
P.S. As of this posting, plan on contacting the local TV news outlet again. Will contact the right people, so I can share this great news with them and get the ball rolling big time. I'm not going to let this CP go to waste, if I can help it. Want to put it to good use.
Dan <><
P.S. As of this posting, plan on contacting the local TV news outlet again. Will contact the right people, so I can share this great news with them and get the ball rolling big time. I'm not going to let this CP go to waste, if I can help it. Want to put it to good use.
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I have read the remarks thus far and I have some suggestions for whatever they might be worth. I am not really trying to ruffle feathers but hopefully make us look at ourselves and how we all work. I'm not without blemish as I'm indeed spouting my opinion too. Hypocritical, huh?
First and foremost, be a radio station. Program it to the best of your ability to get as many listeners as you can. If that means jingles, 10 in a row, contests or whatever to bring in the listeners, then do what you need to get as many listeners as you can. Then let God do His work. Let the lyrics minister and edify the listener and bring people to the Lord. That's it. There is no watered down, etc., just people who want to spread hatred in the name of it's not MY way. It's not about ANYBODY's way or beliefs, it's God's way and He will reach people where they are and then everybody else can help them grow. Read: I know a preacher that worked as a bartender because he was able to say the right thing to a bunch of people but many thought he was evil because of where he worked. Radical, yes, but come down on him and I can show you many who turned to God as he served them another drink in that bar (and one critic preaches to prisoners). See my point? Not sure I made that really clear but it's more about reaching people than how you do it. (My thought is if lyrics over screeching cats works, great. I just can't find anywhere in the Bible that says music that is contemporary is evil.)
A Christian Radio Station should be what it is, a radio station. Minister is an action word, what a station does but most of the time, we have to step back and let God direct versus your personal opinion ruling.
I say Christianity is like football. There are lots of teams out there and they all have their players and concepts to win the game. No matter the differences, the fact is every team has to make a first down, has to move the ball and they all have the same goal of getting that touchdown. Instead of arguing about who is right, why not focus on the commonality of the various denominations and let God do His job of directing the lost soul in the right direction.
With the 'differences' and 'criticisms' I hear, I'd think all the Churches in a town would never feed the homeless and poor because they'd all have a problem with the dang menu. Come on folks. Lets look to what we share in common with the faith and expectation that God will work if we'd just hear Him whispering, excuse me, please. If that's watered down, then great. After all, water is essential to life...and by Biblical accounts the way to demonstrate you've asked for forgiveness and allowed God to direct you. So, I'm ready for a shower!
So Dan, Stay the course, pray and make your station the best station it can be, then let God reach people where they are.
I hope I didn't offend a bunch of folks. It's okay to have your beliefs. My comments are based on working Christian radio and all the quibbling I had to referee along the way. Our policy was if you have to cut down a belief to makes yours look good then that makes quite a statement about your beliefs.
I have read the remarks thus far and I have some suggestions for whatever they might be worth. I am not really trying to ruffle feathers but hopefully make us look at ourselves and how we all work. I'm not without blemish as I'm indeed spouting my opinion too. Hypocritical, huh?
First and foremost, be a radio station. Program it to the best of your ability to get as many listeners as you can. If that means jingles, 10 in a row, contests or whatever to bring in the listeners, then do what you need to get as many listeners as you can. Then let God do His work. Let the lyrics minister and edify the listener and bring people to the Lord. That's it. There is no watered down, etc., just people who want to spread hatred in the name of it's not MY way. It's not about ANYBODY's way or beliefs, it's God's way and He will reach people where they are and then everybody else can help them grow. Read: I know a preacher that worked as a bartender because he was able to say the right thing to a bunch of people but many thought he was evil because of where he worked. Radical, yes, but come down on him and I can show you many who turned to God as he served them another drink in that bar (and one critic preaches to prisoners). See my point? Not sure I made that really clear but it's more about reaching people than how you do it. (My thought is if lyrics over screeching cats works, great. I just can't find anywhere in the Bible that says music that is contemporary is evil.)
A Christian Radio Station should be what it is, a radio station. Minister is an action word, what a station does but most of the time, we have to step back and let God direct versus your personal opinion ruling.
I say Christianity is like football. There are lots of teams out there and they all have their players and concepts to win the game. No matter the differences, the fact is every team has to make a first down, has to move the ball and they all have the same goal of getting that touchdown. Instead of arguing about who is right, why not focus on the commonality of the various denominations and let God do His job of directing the lost soul in the right direction.
With the 'differences' and 'criticisms' I hear, I'd think all the Churches in a town would never feed the homeless and poor because they'd all have a problem with the dang menu. Come on folks. Lets look to what we share in common with the faith and expectation that God will work if we'd just hear Him whispering, excuse me, please. If that's watered down, then great. After all, water is essential to life...and by Biblical accounts the way to demonstrate you've asked for forgiveness and allowed God to direct you. So, I'm ready for a shower!
So Dan, Stay the course, pray and make your station the best station it can be, then let God reach people where they are.
I hope I didn't offend a bunch of folks. It's okay to have your beliefs. My comments are based on working Christian radio and all the quibbling I had to referee along the way. Our policy was if you have to cut down a belief to makes yours look good then that makes quite a statement about your beliefs.
Dan, - I really want to encourage you to become more proactive about your fundraising.
About contacting your local news outlets. It may sound old fashioned but I'd recommend still using traditional mail for your first contact. Take some time with Google to learn more about the best way to format and write a press release. If you haven't already, take the time to design a logo for use in the letterhead of your press release. You have to present yourself in the most professional way. They have to understand from the start that you are serious about the rollout of this radio station. It's all about first impressions.
Find a low cost domain registrar and host and obtain the domain name for your radio station now. Use that domain in any e-mail relating to your station. A personal e-mail address through a local ISP isn't good enough. Build a basic website detailing your efforts and include the URL in all mailings, press releases, contacts, even in your signature on radio discussions.com. Create that Facebook page and include a link on the website. Update the Facebook page regularly. Build a You Tube Channel with video of the artists you'll be playing on your station. Update it regularly and link it to the website.
You need to put together a press kit that explains your current needs, plans, timeline and goals and get it into the hands of your local media. You can also use that kit as a takeaway when first meeting with local pastors and businesspersons regarding fundraising. Let me suggest that you produce and include an audio example of what your radio station will sound like. Leave a space in that audio example where you can drop in a specific produced message about the business or church you're meeting with to give them a better idea of what their message will sound like on the air. Create a Sound Cloud account, upload a generic version of the audio demo and include a link to that audio example on your website.
You need to expand your outreach to more that just the few churches you plan to air on your station. It would be a mistake to limit yourself to a specific theology or denomination. You can't afford to become known as just the "Presbyterian radio station." Make initial contact by letter. Ask for two meetings. Make the first meeting about getting to know who you're meeting with, not about yourself. Ask questions about what is important to the church or the person you're meeting with. Leave them with some printed information about you and your efforts. Then, take the information you've gleaned from that first meeting. Use it to build a specific request for funds, add that audio message to your demo and meet with them again.
Make sure you take full advantage of what you've learned in that first meeting. Adapt your fundraising request from that information. Rather than just rebroadcasting a Sunday service, consider targeting programing to a specific ministry of that church…youth, senior, singles, missions. Find ways to include what's important to that church in short form two minute or less features in drive time along with more long form Sunday morning programming. Obviously, make sure they understand what their on air underwriting message will sound like. Take an mp3 player with good sounding small external speakers and play their specific audio example in the meeting. Include a Sound Cloud link to their targeted demo audio in the printed material you leave with them at that second meeting.
Again, whether you're talking with a local pastor or a local businessman, get to know them in that first meeting. Then use what you've learned in the second meeting. Build your request for funds in a printed form around that information. Understand that not everyone can contribute at the same financial level. Create several levels of giving for your radio station. Rather than ask for an open non-specific contribution, approach them with a specific figure in your funding request. Make sure all is clear in the printed material you leave with them at that second meeting.
Beyond local churches, use your personal contacts to reach out to local businesspersons and para-church organizations. Talk with the customers of your lawn care business. Talk with your doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, insurance salesman, etc. Explain your goals. And ask if they know of anyone who might have interest in helping you with your startup. Pursue introductions from your personal network to others you don't now know who you can further help in your fundraising.
And certainly, yes, pursue a story option with your local TV newsroom as well as your local newspaper. Make a first contact to find specifically who you should be talking with in those newsrooms. Then direct your initial press release to that specific person. Does your local TBN affiliate do a local "Praise the Lord" broadcast? Find out who hosts that local edition and push for an on camera appearance on the show. Do you do any print advertising for your lawn care business? Contact your sales representative with information on your radio station, give an idea as to what future buy you might have with the newspaper and see if they'd be willing to give you some advance publicity in the form of a print story in connection with a future ad buy.
I'm sure there's a lot that I've left out in this message. Please, if anyone else has ideas or opinions regarding how Dan can further develop his fundraising efforts, write it up. And Dan, I'm sure you know that you have only until August of 2015 to get this radio station on the air. Don't fool yourself. That's not a lot of time. And I'm sure you understand that if you don't hear back after your effort at a first contact, keep reaching out to them. Don't accept a "no" or "I don't have time now." Keep pursuing those meetings. You can't afford not to.
About contacting your local news outlets. It may sound old fashioned but I'd recommend still using traditional mail for your first contact. Take some time with Google to learn more about the best way to format and write a press release. If you haven't already, take the time to design a logo for use in the letterhead of your press release. You have to present yourself in the most professional way. They have to understand from the start that you are serious about the rollout of this radio station. It's all about first impressions.
Find a low cost domain registrar and host and obtain the domain name for your radio station now. Use that domain in any e-mail relating to your station. A personal e-mail address through a local ISP isn't good enough. Build a basic website detailing your efforts and include the URL in all mailings, press releases, contacts, even in your signature on radio discussions.com. Create that Facebook page and include a link on the website. Update the Facebook page regularly. Build a You Tube Channel with video of the artists you'll be playing on your station. Update it regularly and link it to the website.
You need to put together a press kit that explains your current needs, plans, timeline and goals and get it into the hands of your local media. You can also use that kit as a takeaway when first meeting with local pastors and businesspersons regarding fundraising. Let me suggest that you produce and include an audio example of what your radio station will sound like. Leave a space in that audio example where you can drop in a specific produced message about the business or church you're meeting with to give them a better idea of what their message will sound like on the air. Create a Sound Cloud account, upload a generic version of the audio demo and include a link to that audio example on your website.
You need to expand your outreach to more that just the few churches you plan to air on your station. It would be a mistake to limit yourself to a specific theology or denomination. You can't afford to become known as just the "Presbyterian radio station." Make initial contact by letter. Ask for two meetings. Make the first meeting about getting to know who you're meeting with, not about yourself. Ask questions about what is important to the church or the person you're meeting with. Leave them with some printed information about you and your efforts. Then, take the information you've gleaned from that first meeting. Use it to build a specific request for funds, add that audio message to your demo and meet with them again.
Make sure you take full advantage of what you've learned in that first meeting. Adapt your fundraising request from that information. Rather than just rebroadcasting a Sunday service, consider targeting programing to a specific ministry of that church…youth, senior, singles, missions. Find ways to include what's important to that church in short form two minute or less features in drive time along with more long form Sunday morning programming. Obviously, make sure they understand what their on air underwriting message will sound like. Take an mp3 player with good sounding small external speakers and play their specific audio example in the meeting. Include a Sound Cloud link to their targeted demo audio in the printed material you leave with them at that second meeting.
Again, whether you're talking with a local pastor or a local businessman, get to know them in that first meeting. Then use what you've learned in the second meeting. Build your request for funds in a printed form around that information. Understand that not everyone can contribute at the same financial level. Create several levels of giving for your radio station. Rather than ask for an open non-specific contribution, approach them with a specific figure in your funding request. Make sure all is clear in the printed material you leave with them at that second meeting.
Beyond local churches, use your personal contacts to reach out to local businesspersons and para-church organizations. Talk with the customers of your lawn care business. Talk with your doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, insurance salesman, etc. Explain your goals. And ask if they know of anyone who might have interest in helping you with your startup. Pursue introductions from your personal network to others you don't now know who you can further help in your fundraising.
And certainly, yes, pursue a story option with your local TV newsroom as well as your local newspaper. Make a first contact to find specifically who you should be talking with in those newsrooms. Then direct your initial press release to that specific person. Does your local TBN affiliate do a local "Praise the Lord" broadcast? Find out who hosts that local edition and push for an on camera appearance on the show. Do you do any print advertising for your lawn care business? Contact your sales representative with information on your radio station, give an idea as to what future buy you might have with the newspaper and see if they'd be willing to give you some advance publicity in the form of a print story in connection with a future ad buy.
I'm sure there's a lot that I've left out in this message. Please, if anyone else has ideas or opinions regarding how Dan can further develop his fundraising efforts, write it up. And Dan, I'm sure you know that you have only until August of 2015 to get this radio station on the air. Don't fool yourself. That's not a lot of time. And I'm sure you understand that if you don't hear back after your effort at a first contact, keep reaching out to them. Don't accept a "no" or "I don't have time now." Keep pursuing those meetings. You can't afford not to.
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Already telling the local Church people, lawn customers and other related businesses about this. Getting some donations from those folks. Hope to get even more soon. Not giving up yet. Will use all avenues possible, to get this radio station going and in business. Our local TBN station, is located in Montgomery, east of Selma. No they don't air a local PTL program. 95% of their programming is TBN network feed.
Dan <><
P.S. My Dentist is located, just north of Selma, in Maplesville. The Dentists here are too high in price and their services are not that stellar.
Dan <><
P.S. My Dentist is located, just north of Selma, in Maplesville. The Dentists here are too high in price and their services are not that stellar.
Explaining my intentions to them. Letting them know why we need this radio station. Sharing ads, I created, that help bring attention to this start up. I'm making sure that everyone in Selma is fully aware about this new radio station and doing everything possible to get the funds and items needed to build things out.
Dan <><
P.S. Just contacted the local newspaper and WAKA's newsroom again. Left two messages for them to call me. Fixing to give my project some major exposure. Hope those two outlets will return my call.
Dan <><
P.S. Just contacted the local newspaper and WAKA's newsroom again. Left two messages for them to call me. Fixing to give my project some major exposure. Hope those two outlets will return my call.
Give me details. How do you explain "your intentions?" What do you mean by "share ads?"
To the point Dan, when was the last time you sat face to face with someone, meeting to raise funds for your radio station? How many of those meetings have there been?
Beyond that, how have you contacted print and television? Have you taken the time to discover the specific contact person that you need to talk with?
To the point Dan, when was the last time you sat face to face with someone, meeting to raise funds for your radio station? How many of those meetings have there been?
Beyond that, how have you contacted print and television? Have you taken the time to discover the specific contact person that you need to talk with?
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I'm letting everyone know that I'm working on a new 100 watt LPFM radio station for Selma Alabama. My plans are to do a full time CCM presentation for the 18-54 year old crowd. I want to use this radio station to help Minister to the youth populace of the city and lead them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. So far, my Church is the only one I've had serious talks with. They're now bringing attention to this start up, in the weekly bulletin. One Church was supposed to have a meeting with me. Due to some sickness issues, within their flock, they called it off for now. Will make it a point to reschedule the meeting again. Going to now get my hands dirty and work hard, at getting this radio station up and running. Not going to let the CP waste away. I know Selma needs this radio station and will do everything I can to make it happen. Hard Praying will pay off too. Been doing a good bit of that lately.
Dan <><
P.S. An update...As of this edit, I'm now getting my hands dirty for WPJB-LP. Not going to give up yet. Have plans of building out the facility. If anyone reading wants to help me get on the air, let me know. I'll take anything God sends to me.
Dan <><
P.S. An update...As of this edit, I'm now getting my hands dirty for WPJB-LP. Not going to give up yet. Have plans of building out the facility. If anyone reading wants to help me get on the air, let me know. I'll take anything God sends to me.
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You know…Dan...your answers are always so…nebulous. No real specifics. If it were up to me...if I'd been fundraising since the fall of last year and all I could reference was one face to face meeting and one cancelled meeting with potential backers…well, let's just say that wouldn't be enough. I don't know what else you have to deal with in life. I know that in the past you've referred to yourself as slightly handicapped…maybe there's a simple reason as to why this is all you can do and you're just unwilling to share more details. Again, I don't know. I'm sorry if I'm out of line in suggesting a more proactive workload. But it takes more than just "letting people know"…whatever you consider that to mean. Sharing ads…flyers at the local Christian bookstore or at your church don't cut it. The kind of funding you need doesn't come from that. You need to press the flesh, shake hands, look professional, offer a well rounded presentation in print and online. You need to hustle for the kind of money needed to do this right. Fundraising is hard work...long hours…basically a full time job. It takes a special type of personality to be a success at fundraising. It takes more than an online "P.S." asking if anyone reading wants to help. It takes more than asking for a free contribution of used gear. It takes letters, e-mails, phone calls and multiple face to face meetings with people in your community every day. Maybe I'm the only one with this opinion but one grand every six months isn't going to get you on the air fourteen months from now. It takes more than just waiting for "anything God sends." Frankly, I think God has sent you a lot of bright people who've offered far better advise than I have...here and elsewhere. But it's your CP…your dream for Selma. Do it your way.
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Working on getting some interviews conducted with the Selma Times Journal, WAKA Selma/Montgomery, The Montgomery Advertiser and possibly ABC 33/40 in Birmingham. Fixing to give this dream some major exposure, once I hear from those people. Will keep bugging them, till they respond to me. I'm ready to expose this dream to the mass public, at large. Just called another Church, I had plans of airing. That one is without a Preacher now. The former one just died. Will contact one of their head leaders, and see if we can make a meeting happen. The first Church and I are still in talks. Want to have a meeting with them too. Hope we can get the ball rolling on that.
Dan <><
P.S. My hands are getting dirty. Not giving up yet. Will pursue this through all means necessary.
Dan <><
P.S. My hands are getting dirty. Not giving up yet. Will pursue this through all means necessary.
I have to say this. It's truly ironic but it is what I heard when after "Car Talk" I didn't turn off the radio. I heard (though didn't pay much attention to) "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" and "Says You" as I did my online work for the day. I wasn't finished at 1:00 so "Science Friday" came on. Liberal NPR, on a science program--I heard the most beautiful performance of a Christian song and I'd like to know who did it. If I had to choose a style it was somewhere between Barbershop and Southern gospel quartets.
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