3 Ways Jesus Simplified His Marketing
Our lives are SO busy. Life moves so fast - if you want your messaging to stick, it must be simplified.
Blog posts are dying out while chat rooms are booming. Why? People want answers - but they don’t need all the extra fluff OR answers to questions they weren’t thinking about.
Today we’re going to talk about simplifying your marketing - from the best marketer to ever do it: Jesus.
The tool: SIMPLIFY
1. Parables as Simple Stories
Did you know that there are over 40 parables shared in the bible? We’re going to look at one specifically, but if you want to study some great storytelling, check out some of the others!
In Matthew 13:3, Jesus began teaching his audience using parables. Parables were simple stories drawn from everyday life that held deeper spiritual meanings. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus tells the story of a farmer sowing seeds on different types of soil, illustrating how the reception of God's word varies among people.
"Then he told them many things in parables, saying: 'A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.'"
So, out of this do you see the bigger picture?
It’s like when you’re reading a children’s story…and on the last page, you, as a grown (as grown as any of us truly are) adult, say, “Wow. What a great message”, not because of the writing or stories, but because of the message carried within. So simple that it lands.
In this specific parable, Jesus is showing the difference of you planting your roots in good soil, versus hardly any soil, verses Thorns. Where you plant is where you’ll grow is where you’ll harvest. Make sure it’s in good soil.
But Jesus could’ve said this a million different ways. He could’ve said,
“Follow me and you’ll have a better life.”
“You will grow with God.”
“WWJD”
Instead, he chose to share a story that nearly everyone could relate too- and if they couldn’t relate, they could definitely paint the picture in the mind and the message would still be conveyed.
Just as Jesus used stories to engage and connect with people, we can use storytelling to simplify our marketing messages. This can be done via using your own story, case studies, client testimonials, or even dream-world made-up stories.
The point is NOT to lie, but to break down the nuance in a way that’s easily digestible.
2. Core Messages (Or Values)
We all know Jesus’ core values, right? Love, Forgiveness, and Salvation.
It’s pretty clear that everything Jesus did and teaches and everything God does and promises is rooted in either love, forgiveness, salvation, or all of the above.
One of the most famous verses that I’m sure we’ve all heard is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
In just this one verse alone, we see all 3 core themes get presented!
For God so LOVED (core value 1) the world that He gave His one and only Son (there’s love again), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (forgiveness, core value 2) but have eternal life (salvation, core value 3).
One sentence, 3 values presented, impact made.
But, here’s the real kicker:
Love is mentioned over 300 times in the King James Version of the Bible. Forgiveness is mentioned hundreds of times, and salvation is mentioned over several hundred times.
So, if you haven’t already: You need to identify your core values and messages in your businesses.
Simplifying your marketing to revolve around your core principles will lead to simpler messages, quicker writing, and better content. That’s really all there is to it. But, if you need a bigger reason: standing by your core values will strengthen your community in a way that viral reels and hashtags simply can’t do.
3. Addressing People's Needs and Questions
Let’s talk about Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. We’ll be looking at John 4:1-26, but for the sake of simplification, I’m not going to quote this entire passage to you. Instead, here’s my SparkNotes summary.
Imagine Jesus taking a breather by a well, exhausted from His journey. He had been traveling from the Judean countryside back to Galilee and stopped in Sychar for some rest.
Along comes a Samaritan woman, and right off the bat, Jesus throws her a curveball by asking her for a drink of water.
(Now, you've got to understand, back then, Jews and Samaritans didn't exactly exchange pleasantries. There was tension due to cultural and religious differences. So, she must've been taken aback, right? Imagine the wall she already had built up with Him in this moment.)
But Jesus made this encounter suuuuuper underwhelming, in the best way.
Instead of preaching to her or trying to immediately sell her on who He was, He started with a simple request, acknowledging both His immediate need for water and hers — being that they were both at the well.
Smart move, right? He met her where she was, quite literally, at.
With her walls built up and held strong, she was like, “Dude, you don’t even have a bucket. How are you going to help me, and also, why are you even talking to me right now?” You know?
And instead of trying to explain how Jesus is God and God is all-powerful and flex, flex, flex, “I’m right, just trust me”…
Jesus stands firm in the woman at the well’s need of thirst.
He meets her immediate need, the “I can fix this right now” problem, and says John 4:13-14:
“Everyone who drinks this water (meaning from the earth), will get thrust again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst -not ever. The water I give will an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”
In response, she asks for His living water, even though she isn’t fully sure who He was. Regardless, she is ready for the solution because He met her problem RIGHT NOW.
As the conversation flowed, Jesus skillfully (and very simply) transitioned into deeper spiritual truths using everyday language. He asks her questions He already knows the answers too, and when she tells the truth, He explains how He knew. Then, by the end, she says, “I do know that the Message is coming,” and Jesus makes His BIG marketing move: “I am He. You don’t have to wait any longer, Jesus said” in verse 26.
See, Jesus didn’t start with, “I’m God, you’ve been waiting for me.” He took the time to see her need right now, provide the solution, and give HER the chance to take it.
In marketing terms, this is a prime example of starting with your audience's current needs and questions, understanding their concerns, and connecting on a personal level.
Just like Jesus at that well, you can gradually introduce your core message, making it relatable and profoundly impactful by simplifying your marketing and making a direct and meaningful connection with each customer based on their specific concerns.
How do you do this? Listen first, help next.
Simplified Marketing Simplified
You’re making your marketing a whole heck of a lot harder than it needs to be…and your community is feeling it, too. Instead of following a strict no-uniqueness-at-all marketing plan you got from your biz coach or spending days in posting paralysis, simply your marketing plan.
Don’t do this:
❌Write masterclasses for IG posts
❌Swap through a dozen different values
❌Answer questions your community isn’t asking
Do this instead:
✅Share quick stories that take 1% energy to relate to!
✅Choose your top 3-5 values and show up for them!
✅Listen to your community, answer questions they’re actually asking, and provide RIGHT NOW solutions!
That’s three posts for you right there. Go take messy action on your newly simplified marketing plan.
Create a minimum of 1 piece of content (swipe post, graphic, video, email) per number:
Share one short, fictional story that shows the problem your offer solves.
Share your top values: why them, why now, and what it means.
Share one answer to a question someone in your community asked (via IG stories, comments, past clients, replies).
Congrats. You’ve consumed, now go create!
Oh, and if you’re a writer struggling to stick to your writing goals, join The Secret Life of Writers, where writer’s block isn’t real, and we’ll plan AND execute your writing goals with simplicity, accountability, and quarterly planning.
-Jess
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