Let’s talk about biblical ways to promote a new business or product using applications from John The Baptist’s ministry. In this blog post, you’ll learn about how John the Baptist’s role was to prepare the Jews for the coming Messiah and how his strategy can be applied to promotional efforts today.
John the Baptist was a relative of Jesus, his cousin to be exact. His mother, Elizabeth, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were related. According to the Gospel of Luke, John and Jesus had a significant connection even before their births, with John leaping in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary visited her while pregnant with Jesus.
John the Baptist’s primary role during his lifetime was as a prophet and a forerunner to Jesus. He emerged from the wilderness, preaching a message of repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins. His mission was to call the people of Israel to prepare for the imminent arrival of the Messiah.
Now that you understand who John the Baptist was, his role towards Israel, and his preparation plan, let’s align this into 5 biblical promotional strategies for new businesses.
John the Baptist began his ministry well before Jesus started his ministry, creating awareness and anticipation for the coming Messiah. John’s early efforts ensured that the people were ready for Jesus when He arrived. We see in Mark 1:2-3 it says
“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’—’a voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him”
So, as Christian entrepreneurs, the first tip for promotion when starting a new business, or product/service, is creating early awareness and laying the groundwork to build anticipation and momentum. This prepares the market, or your target audience, for your product or service.
A good example of a brand that does this is Apple.
Apple is renowned for its highly anticipated product launch events. Months before the release of new products, rumors, and leaks begin to circulate, creating a buzz among consumers and tech enthusiasts. When the event finally occurs, Apple provides a detailed presentation on the new product’s features, benefits, and availability, generating significant media coverage and consumer interest.
Just as John the Baptist’s ministry created awareness and anticipation for Jesus, Apple strategically built anticipation for their product launches. By engaging with their audience early and building a sense of excitement, they ensure a high level of interest and demand when the product is officially released.
As a Christian entrepreneur, you can follow this same pattern for building biblical promotional strategies for your new business.
John was consistent. His preaching did not stop at only a few Jews. John’s consistent message of repentance and baptism prepared the hearts and minds of the people, setting the stage for Jesus’s ministry.
In Matthew 3:1-2 it says “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”
As a Christian entrepreneur, preparing your market through education and engagement ensures a smoother and more impactful launch.
A good example of a business that does this is HubSpot. If you aren’t aware of what HubSpot is, it’s a leading marketing and sales software company. They effectively prepared their market through extensive education and engagement strategies. They created valuable content, including blogs, eBooks, webinars, and courses on inbound marketing. By providing free educational resources, they helped their audience understand the principles of inbound marketing and how it could benefit their businesses.
HubSpot’s approach is similar to how John the Baptist educated the people on repentance and the coming of the Messiah. By consistently sharing valuable information and engaging with their audience, HubSpot built trust and positioned themselves as thought leaders in the marketing industry.
As a Christian entrepreneur, you can apply this same biblical promotional strategy. Share valuable information on your social media, through blog posts, through email communication, or through long-form videos, like YouTube.
When promoting a new business or product, it’s important to build trust and set realistic expectations. During his ministry, John was able to build trust among his followers. Here’s how:
1. John the Baptist’s message was clear, consistent, and authentic.
He preached about repentance and the coming Kingdom of God without deviation, reinforcing the reliability of his words. By remaining true to his core message, he built trust among his followers, who recognized his genuine dedication to preparing the way for the Messiah.
2. John practiced what he preached.
John’s life reflected his teachings in the same way our lives as Christians should reflect more of Jesus’ character each and every day. His austere lifestyle, characterized by wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey, aligned with his call for repentance and spiritual readiness. By living a life consistent with his message, John demonstrated his authenticity and commitment, which helped build credibility and trust. People could see that he truly believed in and practiced what he preached.
3. John was humble and honest.
He acknowledged his role as the forerunner to someone greater. He was honest about his position and purpose, which further cemented the trust people had in him. His humility showed that he was not seeking personal glory but was genuinely focused on fulfilling his divine mission. His honest admission of his role helped people trust that his message was not self-serving but divinely inspired.
4. John used facts to back up his preaching and mission.
He built trust by using prophecies rooted in the Old Testament to further his claim of the coming Messiah. He often quoted scriptures the Israelites would have been accustomed to knowing, connecting his message to well-known and respected prophetic traditions. John established a sense of continuity and legitimacy by grounding his message in scripture. People trusted his message because it resonated with the prophecies they were familiar with and anticipated.
5. John was bold and courageous in his mission
He boldly confronted both the common people and the religious leaders of his time, calling them to repentance without fear or favor. His courage in speaking truth to power and his willingness to confront wrongdoing, regardless of the consequences, earned him the respect and trust of the people. They saw him as a fearless prophet committed to righteousness.
6. John showed action
John didn’t just preach; he also baptized people, giving them a tangible action to demonstrate their repentance and readiness for the Messiah. Through the act of baptism, John provided a concrete way for people to respond to his message. This tangible action helped solidify their trust in him, as they experienced a physical manifestation of their spiritual commitment.
John’s unique approach and clear message set him apart, making him a standout figure who captured the people’s attention. As a Christian business owner launching something new, distinctive, and clear messaging will help your product stand out in a crowded market, capturing attention and interest.
So how do you do this? Well a few examples include:
John also educated the people on the uniqueness and significance of Jesus, highlighting His value as the Messiah. So for this biblical promotional strategy, educate your customers on what makes your product unique, valuable, differentiates it from competitors, and demonstrates its worth.
John’s practice of baptism and personal interaction with the people created a deep, meaningful engagement. Meaningful engagement fosters a strong connection between your business and your audience, building loyalty and trust. So this is plain and simple, you have to TALK to your audience, not particularly about your product or business, but you have to communicate authentically with them. You can do this through building an email list of people interested in your new business or product. You can speak with people through your DMs or within your comment sections. You have to talk to people.
Sharing your mission and vision creates a strong connection with your audience, aligning them with your business’s goals and values. Once you do that you can start to nurture quality leads.
John built a loyal following through his consistent message and genuine engagement with the people. So for this biblical promotional strategy, be consistent in your messaging before the launch of your business or product
