Customer Reviews

Less Clutter. Less Noise.: Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales

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By Michelle Wegner

Kem wrote this book brilliantly. She held a conversational style, yet unveiled truths about communicating my message that I had simply never thought of before. With almost every single page I turned, I could think of someone I knew whose business, website, or ministry would be tremendously impacted by putting into practice the things that Kem has to say about simplifying and streamlining .

You should read this book if:

you want to increase the power of your voice by simplifying your message.

you want others to hear what you have to say, but don't think you are being heard through the noise

you are a blogger, a ministry leader, a web-designer, or business owner.

The biggest take-away idea I got from Kem's book is this: Your voice will actually be louder and clearer if you clean away the clutter that surrounds what you are trying to say. "More" is not better-usually ever.

This book is really a pretty spiritual book in that it challenged me to think about who I am at my core, what my message is, and how I am going to convey it to others.

If this book were free, I would gather up as many as I could and hand them out to just about every business owner, web-designer, blogger, or ministry leader I know. Definitely worth anyone's time.

Here are four reasons why this book makes me smile:

1. I'm really proud of Kem. Not only because she's written this book, but because she's shaping how we communicate the Gospel more clearly in churches throughout the country.

2. I've watched Kem live out and lead through all the principles she writes about. She doesn't want you to change your message, but she will challenge you to deliver it differently.

3. Most churches are about more clutter and more noise especially when it comes to communications. I know churches of all shapes and sizes are going to benefit from this book.

4. It reminds me that Kem has my old snowblower. When I left Indiana for South Carolina, I walked my snowblower down the street to Kem's house. Now I have less clutter and less noise in my garage.

What if I told you there's a way to get more people to hear and respond to your message, and you can do it by spending less money? What if it created more time for you to focus on ministry? What if it made life easier for you and your team?

I know you. I've seen your church. I've seen your life. You need Less Clutter. Less Noise.

I recently read "Less Clutter Less Noise" (to many people's amazement). While it is written as a Communications/Marketing strategy, tips, and best practices using the "church" as a case study... I read it as an Operations Manager for a technology company.

Here are my top 10 favorites for the business world as I observe at our company and the hundreds of clients we consult with:

Our people (employees) are going to have several touch points with our clients, if they don't "get" what we're about, trying to do, or what we're trying to communicate.... our marketing/communications strategy is already in trouble

Our communications strategy and a firm understanding of who we are (and aren't) should come well before we create our first marketing piece or develop our website... (We thought we knew our's until we encountered the principles and questions in this book...)

We try to tell our entire story, everywhere, all the time. We need to focus on telling one or two key messages at a time and leave them wanting more.

So in light of that message, I'll stop there.... not 10.... just 3 bullets.

This book is not for everyone. Just 8,460,000 of you.

The target? If you're a decision-maker/influencer in ANY of the organizations you belong to and actually want your message heard... say the top 10% of the workforce.... this applies to 18 million of you.

Even hotter target? (18 million of you) x (47% regular church attendees) = 8,460,000 of you. Go get it here.

Now I'm off to learn how our clients REALLY experience us..... :)

The title for this book is, Less Clutter. Less Noise.: Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales It is authored by Kem Meyer, self styled as one who "used to think church was for out-of-touch people who just needed to "get a life." Now, after having left the business world, Kem is the Communications Director at Granger Community Church.

The main focus of this book is about how churches can be more effective in communicating to our members as well as to the world around us. You would think we would already be good at this, after all, as preachers it is our job to communicate! Realistically, we know that we fall short in this area and because of that our ministries suffer.

Ms. Meyer is a huge believer keeping things simple. At first I thought that her straightforward and practical style of communication was an effort at "dumbing down," actually, it is just the opposite. People are smart, people are also bombarded with tons of information on a daily basis, what about your message demands my attention? Here is a small sampling of Kem's minimalistic approach:

o The more elements you put on a page, the less important each element becomes.
o The more announcements you have from a platform, the less people hear. (I have always said the only announcement people hear is the one you didn't make. Think about it. Mitchell)
o The more brochures you add to the pile, the harder it is for people to find what they're looking for.
o Which communication vehicles in my church or organization are most effective and why? Which tools would not be missed if they were gone? Can I identify communication pieces that exist purely to serve the internal politics of the organization?

The ideas in this book will help you reevaluate how you and your church communicate in every facet of every ministry. Announcements, PowerPoint slides, bulletins, your website, email blasts, facebook, twitter, it all deserves your attention because realistically, it is probably not getting the attention it deserves.

If you are a minister, church secretary, elder, deacon, active church member, anyone who needs to communicate effectively in ministry then this book is a must read. It is also a very easy read, written in everyday language with tons of insightful illustrations that really drive home the message.

Kem Meyer has a way of saying things you are aware of, but don't know how to say. This book is a good read for any design or communications individual. While the book certainly deals with church marketing, the overall principles and themes are for anyone in communication. I highly recommend this book!

Like the author, I also have a corporate communications background and am now working in ministry at a church. The first few chapters were not earth shattering for me (I get the "less is more" concept, but I know others need it broken down). For a while, I didn't think I was going to get anything new out of this book...and then I had my "aha" moment(s)!

I really connected with Kem when she acknowledged her weaknesses. Some of the things she said really challenged me on a personal basis.

I've been feeling very frustrated/discouraged lately. This book has helped me consider how other people view the work I'm trying to do and what I can do to change the negative perception.

This book is a quick, easy ready that packs quite a punch! Thank you for taking the time to write this.

Less Clutter, Less Noise is a great resource for people working in church communication as staff, volunteers, and pastors. It presents information about how and why the church should be helping people deal with all the noise that surrounds us and how by communicating less we communicate more effectively. If you have any involvement in sharing the message of the church you'll find several ways to improve your communication efforts that will make you more effective. It's quick to read, well written, funny, and incredibly insightful.

It is increasingly common that people will point to Facebook, Twitter, and blogs when describing how they first met someone. And, that is the case for me with Kem. It has been a blast getting to know her via those media and I look forward to when we get to meet in person. I also have no reservation about commending her first book, Less Clutter. Less Noise.

What a person has to say about something always has more "gravity" if she has broad-based experience in that area. Kem absolutely has that, and has done a quality job of translating that experience onto the page. I have no doubt that you will enjoy this read and be exposed to realities regarding communication that are new and fresh. You also just might feel convicted about some of the well-intentioned but errant tactics you have used. Her real-life examples will provide plenty of "a-ha!" moments.

There is no greater story to tell than the one that God has been writing for thousands of years. It is a message of redemption and hope...and it deserves - more than any other - our very best efforts. Our best involves communicating that redemption and hope. As a friend of mine often says to her Old Testament students, "Tell the story, and tell it well!"

Kem's book will help us do that.

good insights. practical advice. really helps churches see how the people around them are (not) hearing their intended messages, announcements, etc. read this book. it will help you. easy read. keeps your attention all the way through.

This book should be in the library of any person that is in leadership at a church. It will give you tools to communicate more effectively both interdepartmentally and to your congregation.