Sevista Helps Marketplace Leaders Reach Out to the Workplace
Marketplace Leaders wants working people around the world to remember that their work is their ministry. To that end, the Atlanta-based organization reaches out to tens of thousands of men and women daily, helping them better understand how to apply faith in the workplace so that they—and others—can live more fulfilling lives. To accomplish this, Marketplace Leaders leverages the power of the Sevista e-marketing platform, communicating its meaningful mission worldwide.
Charis Hillman is certainly committed to the goals of this unique organization. In addition, she is passionate about her role as database manager and communication specialist, responsible not only for the daily devotional, but to promoting the books, speaking engagements, marketplace mentoring programs and consulting and partnering services to the groups and individuals that help this ministry achieve its goals
Sophisticated Database Management Needs
Hillman manages the communications to multiple audiences using Sevista. “I was immediately drawn to Sevista because of its ease-of-use,” she says. “Sevista makes it easy to create emails and surveys, and manage response. We also appreciated the fact that the Sevista platform could accommodate our E3 Program.”
Marketplace Leaders’ E3 program, allowing other organizations to private label or co-brand Marketplace Leaders’ tools and services, requires sophisticated database management capabilities. “Sevista helped us set up multiple sub-clients. This allows us to expand our ministry through other organizations interested in our message. It’s a great way to leverage the content we offer to further our reach,” Hillman says. Businesses, churches and ministries participate in the E3 program, managed by Hillman, tapping Marketplace Leaders resources for the benefit of their constituencies.
Leveraging Viral Marketing
Sevista has helped Marketplace Leaders gain a strong Internet presence, essential for growth of the ministry. The TGIF (Today God Is First) Daily Devotional is a powerful communications tool that has grown from its inception 10 years ago to a important part of the day for 147,000 people. About half receive the devotional directly from Marketplace Leaders, and another 65,000 to 70,000 receive it from the organization’s E3 partners. “We have built our lists and subscribers virally. Our messages touch and encourage people, and they often share them with friends, family and co-workers. Sevista makes it easy to sign up, and that’s how our reach grows,” Hillman says.
This sort of viral marketing works not just with the daily devotionals, but with other communications efforts. Marketplace Leaders Founders Os and Angie Hillman are frequent speakers and conduct workshops worldwide. Charis Hillman is able to segment her databases geographically to get the word out about these events—which recipients in turn forward. Interested people also receive special offers from the Faith and Work bookstore, and Hillman has found these communications an effective way to grow the ministry as well, assuring that more people get the word about the importance of faith in the workplace. You can sign up for the free faith-based inspirational newsletter at www.TodayGodIsFirst.com.
A New Solution
“When Marketplace Leaders needed a new solution for sending out millions of daily devotional emails each month, we turned to Sevista,” says Hillman. “Sevista’s technology, experience, and long-term commitment to nationally known clients gave us the confidence to select them for our emailing needs. Sevista provides reliability, deliverability, and scalability of sending email to large lists that is difficult to find but mission-critical for any organization that uses email to spread their message," she adds.
Client Service is Key
While Hillman is quick to cite the benefits to her organization of the robust functionality of Sevista’s email, e-newsletter, online surveys and web forms capabilities, she is equally positive about the more intangible component of the Sevista offering: service. “We’ve had a very positive experience with Sevista,” she says. “Whenever we have an issue or concern, they are there to help us.”
“We’d recommend Sevista to anyone. The people there are a great asset to our business—they have helped us help Christians see their work as their calling and ministry, and apply their faith to positive ends in the workplace,” says Hillman.