EvangelismCoach

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Is your church website an open door or barrier to your church?

Today, Yvon Prehn allow me to share her guest post about your church website.

Yvon is an excellent writer and shares frequently on church communications – in fact, that is her ministry.

I’ve benefited much from my conversations with her and her regular newsletter provides all sorts of great snippets.  She also runs a membership site that is extremely affordable for churches and ministries.

Guest Post: Is Your Church Website an Open Door or Barrier?

Today, if we have a question about anything, where do we look up information?

If we want hours of operation, products offered, staff bios?

If we want to know what movie is playing, what time a concert starts, what classes are offered at a college where do we do to find out?

Obviously, we go to the website.

It’s the same whether we are looking up information about what computer to buy or what church to attend.

We judge the organization, its people, and its products based on the website.

If the website gives us winter hours and it is spring; if the sale has been over for weeks or if the hours of operation are incorrect, we aren’t likely to visit the business or have confidence in it.

If the business is a franchise and the website is an obvious template, with little local personalization, we won’t think much about the technical skills (equated with competence overall) of the staff.

Again, we judge a church the same way.

Unfortunately many church websites don’t meet the minimal standards.

Though lost customers may be bad for a business, the consequences for a church are much more serious. Following is an example of what can happen and then some suggestions for change.

Read more:

Excellent Church Website Tips

The article goes on to give excellent tips to keeping up your church website.

  • Keep it current.
  • Learn how to create one in wordpress

In my experience, I still see a lot of churches that make dumb mistakes on their website – stuff that should easily be fixed:

Help your church visitors find you this coming Easter

Easter is right around the corner.

Does your church website reflect your Easter services?

Does it promote the post Easter sermon series to help your visitors decide to return?

This Easter, some people might want to visit your church.

This Holy Week, some out of town guests may want to visit your special services for holy week.

You don’t know who they are.

They don’t know where they want to go.

God has given these first time church visitors spiritual thirst that propels them to seek a church.

So what do they do?

They likely search the internet first to find a church website.

Read more:

Coaching Corner:

Take a good look at your church website.

Would a potential Easter visitor find the basic information needed to attend your services?

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How @BrandonACox is Planting a Church Using Social Media

What if you are a brand new church with a near zero marketing budget?  That is how Brandon A Cox started planting Grace Hills Church in Bentonville Arkansas.  Read below as he shares some of what he is doing in social media to get visitors to come to his church.

Using Social Media to Market a Church

This snippet on planting a church using social media comes from Paul Stienbruck’s article at the Ourchurch.Com Blog

Planting a Church Using Social Media

In a recent blog post, Brandon wrote:

    • We started with two couples (including the Cox’s). We spent $0 on traditional advertising but had 35 at our first gathering in July of 2011.
    • We grew to approximately 80 within six months by word-of-mouth and while spending $0 on traditional advertising.
    • We launched with 176 on our first Sunday, mostly gathered through Facebook, word-of-mouth, and search engines.

Sounds like a pretty good start.

So how did they do it?

Brandon included some great tips!

1) Start with a website

“It’s a content hub, of sorts. Sometimes your goal is to move people from social platforms to your site. Sometimes it’s the opposite. And sometimes they simply co-exist for different purposes, but having a hub on the web is essential.”

2) Use Facebook Pages Well

A few key tips:

    • Understand the difference between a profile (which is for people) and a page (which is for brands, organizations, celebrities, etc.).
    • Use your personal Facebook profile to connect with new people in your community, people who get in touch about your plant, etc.
    • Write often. At least daily.
    • Converse. Answer messages, reply to comments, and be helpful to those with questions.

3) Provide Easily Sharable Content

“You are a content-producing master! … We take our messages and break them into bite-sized pieces and share them as a daily devotional on both our website and our Facebook page… All of the content a church produces can be distributed to the volunteer army of people in the pews to equip them to share their faith, their church, and their story.”

You should really read on for their 5 things they are not doing.

– See more at the original post here.

How do you use social media to market your church?

He’s learned some great lessons.

If you are using social media in your church plant, what is a tip that you want to share?  Add it to the comments below.

Then share this post with a tweet or plus one, inviting others to share their tips as well.

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Are Church Welcome Packets a good idea?

SummerWallpaper-The fall ministry season is approaching in the US.

Perhaps it’s time to review the materials in your church welcome folder.

If you do not have a visitor packet ready, you are missing out a great opportunity to help newcomers find their way into your church family.

You can check out this list of 15 things to put in your folder, as well as some more ideas for visitor welcome packets.

Are visitor packets worldly?

Perhaps you’ve encountered an objection like this:

I think a folder like this or little marketing gifts is a bribe we are offering for people to come back.  I feel like we don’t need to bribe people. Why do we feel the need to resort to the world’s tactics to bribe and entice people to embrace God?

1.  Visitor Welcome Packets are not Bribes

They are a communication piece.

Your visitor folder shares information about your church, and perhaps includes a small token of appreciation for making the effort to come and visit.

If I visit a church, I’d like to know more information about it. I will not learn everything in my first visit.

This packet allows the church to communicate aspects of its program, how you can grow closer to Christ, how you can serve Jesus with us in the community, etc. . .

2.  Welcome Folders a Useful Tool for your Visitor.

Just because similar ideas are used in business seminars does not mean we must dismiss it as a worldly tactic.

Speakers speak at business seminars too, so I’m not dismissing my preacher as a worldly tactic.

Rather, these folders become a useful tool for communicating important information about your church to people who are considering  their involvement in the life of your church.

Think about your first time visitor for a moment:

  1. No friends in your church yet (except maybe people who invited them to church).
  2. No connection to any ministry or programming you may have.
  3. Not aware of the good your church does in the neighborhood.
  4. They may consider joining a new network of people they don’t know.
  5. They may consider where they will give of their volunteer time.
  6. They may consider where and how they can receive ministry and give ministry.
  7. They might want to know more about the Jesus who was heard about in the sermon.
  8. They might be looking for a new community.
  9. They may not know what simple next steps they can take to join your community.

Your welcome packet has the potential to answer those questions and in a way that a single Sunday morning service cannot.

These are packets that can be taken home and reviewed in the quietness of a morning, or in a family discussion over lunch.

The Purpose of the Visitor Packet

The primary purpose of the church welcome folder is to communicate information about your church to the first time visitor.

This visitor may have never attended church before.

Your visitor may have been shopping for churches for the last 5 weeks prior to coming to yours.

It is simply a tool to help them in their decision making process, with the caveat that the Spirit of God can work in a person’s life no matter what you put in your visitor folder.

Your Turn

What about church visitor folders?  Are they a useful tool?

Did you receive one that was helpful to you?  What made it helpful?

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How to Follow Up on the Anonymous Church Visitor

How to follow up on the Anonymous Church Visitor

If your church visitor doesn’t fill out a connection card, how can you follow up with them?

They have chosen not to fill your:

  • connection card,
  • friendship pad,
  • pew register,
  • guest book
  • pew welcome card.

They have signaled that they wish to remain anonymous.

Depending on the size of your church, you might not even know they have come.

If you don’t get their contact information, you can’t

  • send them a follow up letter,
  • send them literature about your church,
  • make a home visit,
  • carry cookies to their house, or
  • invite them to come to the next service.

How can you follow up with them if you have no record of their presence?

Give them a church visitor welcome packet before they leave.

A church visitor welcome packet gives your guest something to review when they get home after their first visit.

It provides a way for your anonymous first time visitor to learn something about your church after they have experienced your worship service for the first time.

The packet can help anonymous church visitors become a little more familiar with your church structure, background, worship practices, and beliefs.

It also provides a way to share low commitment next steps towards becoming a regular attender, if they choose to come back.

Hopefully, your awesome church hospitality will help them decide to come back, but your church visitor folder can give them information to consider once they get home.

How to follow up on the Anonymous Church Visitor

What do you put in your Church Visitor Welcome Packet?

14 Different Ideas of what can be in a Church Welcome PacketI’ve written about this before, so see:

Five more ministry leaders have chimed in on the discussion:

David – Our guests get a box that folds to look like a very small gift. Inside is info on all major ministries, easy ways to get connected to serving and groups, a welcome note from lead pastor, and a memory stick with a couple high energy videos about the church and multiple links to our website. Goal is to move them toward connecting and be memorable…thus the gift box look.

Ron – We offer a stainless steel travel coffee mug filled with candy to new guests. This works well in getting them to fill out a card with contact information (95% effective rate). We also give a small group directory, welcome letter, CD recording of the service message, and offer free bibles, post dates for upcoming water baptisms, baby dedications, Discover Membership luncheons, an tri-fold color brochures of various ministries in the church. We have coffee, water, lemonade, bagels and sour cream, donuts etc specifically for Guests. The Congregation had other refreshment areas. We send a letter from the Pastor and call them within 24 hrs.

Leslie – We include a coffee cup, a flash drive with a video about the congregation and it beliefs and activities. We include a brochure of activities and the schedule. We invite them to a six session introduction to the congregation at the end of which they can decide to become as a member or not.

Jennie – Our visitors packet contains a contact card, brochures about our various activities, a coupon for our bookstore, a free snack coupon for our cafe, and a flower. The flower is easy to find and our congregants make a point to greet people when they see this flower. We don’t make people stand up, just raise their hand, and we applaud them for taking time to visit. Our visitors’ table in the back of the sanctuary is a place to meet the pastor after the service and get plugged in right away. We always are in gratitude for our visitors and conscious of their experience. As a follow-up, our pastor calls each visitor a couple days after their visit.

Jeanne – Our packet has a sheet welcoming them & tells about our church and what we believe. It also contains our vision and mission statement. It includes a worship CD, a teaching CD & our 10 year DVD. We have home bible studies we call Community Groups. The brochure listing the latest homes is included.It contains a church business card and info on our radio station. The service times, etc are also on the business card. We have a separate New Believer Pack with lots of info on how to receive Christ. Our church has free bibles in the chair seat backs for people to take & are encouraged to do so if they want/need one.

Don’t forget these items:

You’ll want to make sure some of the basic information about your church is available somewhere in the packet:

I found this sample church visitor packet on line (a download PDF) and like how it is laid out.

Under the Radar Image credit: 72soul / 123RF Stock Photo

Let me ask you this?

Please share your ideas on what you put in your church visitor welcome packet in the comment field below.

Improve Your Church Hospitality

Do you want more first time church visitors to come back a second time?  Taking care of your hospitality systems can help you keep more of your visitors.  I’ve put an ebook together to help you review your hospitality systems.

Read more on How To Welcome Church Visitors

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More Church Visitor Packet Ideas

What to put int a church welcome folderChurch welcome packets are a great marketing tool to put in the hands of your first time visitors, particularly those who stay anonymous.

I recently put this question out some of the networks I am a part of:

What sorts of things do you put in your visitor welcome packet /folder to give to first time church visitors?

Here are some of the answers.

Add your helpful suggestion of ideas for church welcome packets in the comment field below.

What do you put in your Visitor Welcome Packet?

Justin – When we create Welcome Packets for churches we recommend including information about your beliefs, a list of ministries/opportunities your schedule of services, and pictures of your pastor/staff.

Deborah – Hi Chris, We ask for info such as: Are you just visiting or looking for a new home church, or have a prayer request.  Basic info, address, phone number etc. Would you like to be contacted by the pastor or home visit. Office hours, service and Sunday School times. Phone numbers etc.

Lawrence – The gospel of John, welcome notes with the pastor’s and church leader’s address and phone numbers to contact in case of needs, the church activities and motto.  A gift token and hope to see you again note with Jesus love you.

Matthew – When I was at one church we made a DVD that had people if church talking about the missions vision and values of the church. We also showed pictures and videos of other things we did in the community.

Christopher – Tracts, a contact information sheet, and a church events schedule for the current month.

Nodela – We give our first time visitors gift bags that contain: visitors card to fill out and return, ministry brochure, church administrator business card, pen, pad, candy, monthly calendar, a thank you and invitation note card, prayer card written by my Bishop, a sermon CD and one of my Bishop’s books.  On the outside of the bag I place a portion of our mission statement. I then follow up with more information about our ministry and then a “hello” note card for those that do not have a church home. Many have been receptive of this method and pleasantly surprised to receive it. Some have come back and purchased additional CDs or DVDs.

Richard – I’m partial to the Pocket Testament League’s Gospels of John which have the plan of salvation on the first few pages. They’re especially good for New believers Packets.

John – We used to put in a magnet with the church’s name and address and church times for the fridge. Some good candies (Wurthers), a $5 gift card to Tim Horton’s ( or Starbucks for some of you), and a church pen (only use good quality), and a simple short relevant tract.

Nick – I wish churches would include the pastor’s theological positions so you can determine at the front end if you’re a good fit.

Tom – Our packet includes the Folded Cover with Welcome on front, Church Name & Location, Inside: Information card for visitor to fill out and a Thank you card is mailed later for visit.  Also, card inviting them to a Daily Telephone Scripture Message, A Bic Clic Stic pen.  Many churches give imprinted pens to their visitors.

Lisa – From the perspective of someone who has visited many churches, I appreciate when the packet includes a current church newsletter (so I’m aware of events), a statement of the policies of the church, a bulletin, a name tag, and a snack (one church I went to, Sts. Martha and Mary Episcopal Church in Eagan, MN, offered a snack of M & M’s, perhaps a play on its initials).

Michael – Besides the usual items describing the church, CD of the message and some fun things like coffee mugs and pens with the church logo and some goodies one church includes a $5.00 visa card so the visitor could buy gas for a return visit. This church also hand delivered the welcome packet to the home the next day after the first visit

Your Turn

What sorts of things do you put in your church visitor welcome packet?  Add your comments or ideas for church welcome packets below in the comment field.

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Does your church website answer questions for potential visitors?

This question came across my twitter feed (@EvangelismCoach) this past Sunday:

“It’s 2nd Sunday .. I’m visiting a new church .. Heels or Tennis shoes ? I never know how to dress when I’m a visitor”

This brings up the point:

Can potential first time church visitors find out the information they need on your church website landing page?

  • Where is the church?
  • What does the building look like so I can recognize it?
  • Would I fit in with these people?
  • Who is the pastor?

Church websites lead people to your door.

I once visited a church website and couldn’t find an address, so I didn’t even know what state or country it was in.

Then it took me several pages to discover what time was their meeting.

I visited another church website and couldn’t find the time of their Christmas Eve services, so we didn’t go.

That shouldn’t be.

How is your church represented on your church website?

Here are some quick questions a potential church visitor might want to know:

  • What are these people like?
  • What is appropriate to wear?
  • Will I understand the message? (Do you have your sermons easily online for people to hear examples of what they might hear at a service?)
  • Where is this church located?
  • What does the building look like so I will recognize it?
  • What is done for my children?

You can fix some of these issues quickly by:

  • Sharing photos of church life, of some worship settings
  • An frequently asked questions page for church vistors
  • Address and service times on every page.
  • Real life photos of pastors vs formal studio photos

Do you need help with your church website?

Look into Clover for your church website.  This is an affiliate link which will benefit our ministry work in Latin America.

I subscribe to a email list of church administrators and this one has been highly recommended in that list.

We just switched to Clover Church Websites Sites last month. Our Youth Pastor maintains it and loves it. They even have a live person that answers the phone if there are any questions!

We compared Clover to Bridge Elements which had a cheaper upfront cost, however the Clover Church Site was much easier to work with and edit. They are also going to be rolling out an on-line giving platform we may also switch to.

We use Clover Church Websites for the exact same reasons that you mention and absolutely love it. I have been responsible for many different websites over the years from designing them from scratch to taking over other people’s designs and Clover has made web site administration a joy again for me.

Very easy to use. I have several different staff who have no web experience updating various content. I mainly make sure that it stays within our graphic standards and make changes to structure when necessary.

Very good support from Clover. ­ Extremely helpful and friendly and responsive. But I’ve had very little to call them about ­everything just works.

Definite limitations due to the fact that they’ve designed it for easy use by non-web designers but the benefits, in my opinion, far outweigh the limitations. We haven’t been backed into a corner by any of the limitations.  Most have an easy work around.

Google

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