Contact: Eric Abel, Outreach, Inc., 760-940-0600 x3229, eabel@outreach.com

VISTA, Calif., Mar. 30 /Standard Newswire/ -- "Hi Joe, Welcome to the Neighborhood!" Outreach, Inc., the nation's leading church communication company, launches its WelcomeOne New Mover Outreach Program that uses the technology of variable data personalization to attract new movers to local churches.

Photo: Eric Abel, vice-president of marketing for Outreach, shows some of the WelcomeOne New Mover "personalized" postcards that are attracting new movers to local churches. Hi-res. version available upon request.

Outreach's WelcomeOne New Mover Program is an automated turnkey program that targets new movers shortly after they relocate; creates customized 4-color over-sized postcards; provides the church with new mover contact follow-up data; and ensures design exclusivity within a 3-mile radius. But the real innovation with WelcomeOne is its variable data personalization.

Everybody loves to see their name in print--variable data personalization makes this possible by allowing the new mover himself to enter the picture--literally.

New Neighbor "Joe's" name is placed everywhere on a WelcomeOne postcard--he's in the greeting…on a coffee cup… on a "To Do" list, all in eye-catching, warm and playful designs. It's an approach designed to make the new mover feel not only welcome in their new community, but also more motivated to connect to a church home where he or she feels they're already "known".

Studies show that the use of variable data personalization can result in response rates that are up to 200% higher than traditional direct mail; research also shows that mail recipients favor it up to 80% more than the impersonal direct mail they receive.

"Eighty percent of church visitors come because they were personally invited by a friend," said Eric Abel, vice president of marketing for Outreach. "Perhaps a cleverly designed invitation--with the new movers name written all over it--might just be the next best thing."

"It's like that theme song from the old TV show, 'Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came,'" continued Abel.

Outreach client, Pastor Dan Deghi of First Christian Church of Huntington Beach, California would say "Amen" to that. Like many other pastors, Pastor Dan knew his congregation offered just what new movers needed: community, connectivity and caring. But he needed help in reaching these new transplants.

Hearing of the success other churches had with the WelcomeOne New Mover Outreach Program, Dan contacted Outreach. First, Outreach acquired the names and addresses of the people who had recently moved into his area. Then, they printed those new neighbors' names on the front and back of a jumbo-sized individualized postcard, with First Christian Church's information on the back. Finally, Outreach addressed the invitations, completed the bulk mail paperwork and mailed the invitations.

The mailing was a resounding success. Deghi boasts that out of 225 WelcomeOne postcard invitations sent, they received 50 visitors--making it one of the most successful direct-mail packages First Christian Church ever implemented.

According to Abel, there's no better time to try WelcomeOne then early summer. "One-third of all moves take place between June and August," says Abel. "But it makes sense to reach new movers the rest of the year too, especially because the program is so cost effective--donations from a single church member can typically pay for the entire year of Welcome One.

To view product samples, and for more information on the WelcomeOne New Mover Outreach Program visit. www.outreach.com

Founded in 1996, Outreach, Inc. is the nation's leading provider of church marketing and communication resources. The mission of Outreach Inc. is to further the kingdom of God by empowering Christian churches to reach their communities for Jesus Christ.