Some of the Best Ways to Use Periodicals and Tracts
Work With Our Papers
Of his work in New York City, Brother George A. King, our veteran book and periodical solicitor, says:—
“I call at every door and leave a copy of the Signs, telling the people that it is a sample copy, and is free. A week later I call with another, and if possible secure the orders of those who are interested. I arrange to call later upon those who have not decided about subscribing. The work of following up those who are interested, but have not yet subscribed, then becomes a natural matter. I emphasize the fact that this paper contains that which the newspapers leave out; that instead of stories, crimes, and advertisements, this paper deals with righteousness, Bible thought and study, with the evidence of divine revelation, and the fulfilment of the Scriptures occurring about us on every hand. I keep before the people the great fact that it is the best all-round religious paper in the world. Many subscribe without any canvass at all. In old colonial times the publishers gave the people copies of their papers, and invited them to subscribe, and they did. It can be done to-day.”
Brother King makes a business of securing yearly subscriptions. He rarely accepts anything else. In a letter, accompanying the preceding suggestions, and with reference to this fall campaign, he says:—
“Be sure you make a strong pull through the whole nation for yearly subscriptions.”
Dedication of Profits to Missionary Work
Many of our workers have found that the dedication of profits on the sale of a publication to some good missionary enterprise has been very helpful. The minds of thousands of our readers will at once turn to their experience with “Christ’s Object Lessons,” but the same principle may be applied to other publications as well. Brother Jasper Wayne, of Iowa, has applied it to the circulation of our periodicals, with the following result:—
“In the last six months I have received over seventy dollars net on four hundred copies of the Capital and Labor Signs of the Times. This profit, which goes to foreign missions, has been collected from those outside our own faith, and was given cheerfully on the presentation of the needs of the cause. This is the way I presented the matter to the people:—
“Mr. A, I am carrying on a missionary enterprise, and wish to invite you to take part with me. Doors are now open for us in the fields beyond, which we wish to enter at once. The entire net proceeds of the paper I am selling go to this fund. I am sure you will not only be interested in this missionary enterprise, but in the paper itself. (I then proceed to show the paper, with a silent prayer for success.) Now Mr. A, I wish to interest you in this enterprise to the extent of not less than twenty-five cents. We have the men and women who are willing to sacrifice their lives in this blessed work, and we lack means for their support; therefore, we are willing to divide the blessing with you.”
“This plan not only brings the twenty-five cents, but often more. It also brings a ray of light and life into the heart that will not soon fade away. Brethren and sisters, here is indeed a golden opportunity, a threefold blessing; for the people need the message the paper contains, the foreign missions need the money, and we need the experience.”
In a private talk with Brother Wayne, he informed us that he is planning to use the special third angel’s message series of the Signs, as follows: He will take the first number and canvass the people, stating that there will be a series of four. He will make the same statement concerning the need of mission fields, and will ask for fifty cents for the series. He will then either deliver the four papers or have them sent from the office. In both cases he will, at the conclusion of the series, again visit the people in the interests of a year’s subscription.
The Personal Delivery Plan
The personal delivery plan of circulating papers is certainly the most effective way of developing an interest; for it gives the worker a weekly opportunity of learning how the truths which the paper contains are being received. The way this plan is worked up is as follows:—
A regular canvass of the individual is first made, with the request for a trial subscription for one month, or for three months. The worker then explains to his customer that these papers will be delivered personally each week. The very promise of a true missionary call each week is often sufficient to secure the order, even though the customer may not be so much impressed with the value of the paper. Therefore, how important it is that the worker should go with just the right preparation from above.
A Suggestion to Inexperienced Workers
You will find the gift of a tract on the general subject of the paper for which you are working a very helpful way of introducing yourself and entering homes. When the customer comes to the door, state that you are working in the interests of religious literature, a portion of which is free. The door will then usually open, and you will be given opportunity to tell about your paper. The gift of the tract establishes you at once in the mind of your customer as a missionary. Try it.
Experiences with Tracts
“As a general thing, I find tracts particularly good in following up an interest already awakened,—for example, at the close of a meeting or Bible study, or in connection with a conversation or letter,—but I have also found that properly selected tracts may be lent one at a time in a very profitable manner. The way we have done this is as follows:—
“We present the matter to the church and ask for volunteers, assign territory to each, and supply him with a sufficient number of the first tract in the series to cover his territory. We then begin work, leaving a tract in each home where a family cares to read, with the promise that we will call the next week for it, at which time we will lend them a second. This work should be followed up with Bible readings, or at least with an earnest effort to secure subscriptions for our missionary periodicals. The tracts we have used have been on such subjects as ‘Signs of the Times,’ ‘Coming of the Lord,’ and ‘The Messages.’ GEO. W. PETTIT, Asst. Mission. Sec., Pac. Union Conf.”