Summer can mix up the usual church routine, right? With everyone’s schedules changing and all sorts of special events popping up, it’s easy for folks to feel a bit out of the loop. This is especially tricky during vacation times when your members might not make it to church as often. If we’re not careful, our church community could start feeling a little disconnected during the summer months
In this blog, you’ll learn how to tackle summer communication hurdles head-on. We’ve packed this blog with smart, practical ways to keep everyone in church connected using digital tools at your disposal. So, whether you’re dealing with dips in attendance or trying to keep everyone excited about summer programs, we’ve got you covered!
1. Create a Dedicated Summer Page
Creating a dedicated page for summer activities on your church’s website is an excellent way to centralize all relevant information, making it easily accessible and regularly updated. Here’s what to include:
Calendar of Events
Provide a clear, visual church calendar that highlights key dates and events to keep everyone informed. Include any specific summer events such as VBS, volunteer opportunities, summer BBQs, retreats, and more.
Registration Links
Ensure links for event registration are visible and functional to facilitate easy participation.
Photos and Video
Utilize engaging visuals from past events to generate excitement and give newcomers a taste of what to expect.
Contact Information
Include essential contact details to assist members and visitors with inquiries, enhancing the sense of community support.
2. Post Regular Blog Updates
Maintaining a vibrant blog throughout the summer can transform your church’s communication dynamics. Here’s how to maximize the impact of your blogging efforts:
Share Updates on Church Activities and Summer Plans
Keep the community informed with regular posts about upcoming and ongoing activities. This keeps everyone connected, whether they’re able to attend in person or not, by providing updates and insights into the church’s vibrant summer schedule.
Educate and Inspire with Seasonal Content
Leverage your blog to share educational and inspirational content that ties into summer themes and biblical teachings. For example, blog posts could explore themes of growth and renewal, offering spiritual insights that resonate with the season’s activities.
Encourage Participation
Use your blog to highlight the benefits and spiritual significance of engaging in summer events. Sharing personal stories and testimonials from congregation members who have had transformative experiences during these activities can inspire others to participate.
3. Optimize Church Messaging
Effective messaging is crucial for keeping your church connected during the bustling summer months. Here’s how to optimize your church’s messaging system.
Schedule Updates
Regularly schedule updates to keep your congregation informed about upcoming events and any changes. You can send out an email newsletter to your members to keep them in the loop on upcoming events and happenings. This consistency ensures that members feel connected and valued, regardless of their summer schedules.
Event Highlights
Share highlights and testimonials from recent events to maintain excitement and engagement. These messages serve as powerful reminders of the community’s vibrancy and the enriching experiences offered by the church.
“Our church members love our website! We use it to publish daily Bible Readings, Sermons, and blogs as well as all the other stuff! Recently, an app option was provided and I have heard how “wowed” our members are with the new app! I have told everyone I know about the ease of use, which is a great selling point! Time is at a premium, and with ChurchSpring you can make adjustments, updates, upload sermons, and even change the look in a matter of seconds! But, for me, customer support is what makes the difference. You guys are awesome!”
Terry R. from Penia Baptist Church
Inspirational Messages
Send occasional inspirational messages or scripture verses that tie into the summer activities’ themes. Post them on our social media channels, email newsletter, or on your church blog. This approach keeps the spiritual connection alive, offering support and inspiration even to those who might not be physically present.
4. Create Interactive Content
Engaging your audience with interactive content not only enhances participation but also provides valuable insights that can influence the planning and improvement of your church’s summer activities. Here’s how to effectively implement interactive content.
Surveys and Polls
Collecting input through surveys and polls is essential for understanding the preferences and feedback of your congregation regarding summer activities. This direct feedback will help you tailor your events to meet the interests of your community effectively. Use tools like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey to quickly create, distribute, and analyze surveys, making it easier to gather and act on member feedback.
For instance, your church might use a poll on social media to ask members about their preferred themes for summer Bible study sessions or to vote on locations for church outings. Similarly, surveys can be distributed via email after events to gather detailed feedback on what members enjoyed or what could be improved, differentiating it from more general community feedback by targeting specific activities or events for immediate insights.
Q&A Sessions
Hosting live Q&A sessions on platforms such as Facebook Live, Zoom, Instagram, or in person, provides a direct line of communication with your congregation. These sessions are ideal for addressing specific questions about the summer schedule, detailing upcoming events, church updates, and receiving immediate feedback. They also allow church leaders to connect more personally with the community, enhancing relationships and promoting transparency.
5. Be Active on Social Media
Social media platforms are powerful tools for expanding your church’s outreach and boosting engagement. To maximize the benefits of social media, consider implementing the following strategies.
Posts Regularly
Keep your community engaged by maintaining a consistent presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X. Share updates, photos, teasers for upcoming events, and live videos to keep everyone informed and interested throughout the summer. Regular posts ensure that your church remains visible in your members’ social media feeds, which is crucial for reminding them of upcoming activities and encouraging participation.
Develop Church-Related Hashtags
Develop and promote a summer-specific hashtag for all related social media posts. This strategy not only helps in promoting events but also encourages members to share their own experiences and content related to church activities. A unique hashtag can gather and display all community posts in one accessible location, making it easy for everyone to view updates and shared experiences.
6. Lean into Visual Engagement
Visuals play a critical role in capturing attention and enhancing the effectiveness of your communications. To maximize engagement through visual content, check out these strategies.
High-Quality Images
Utilize visually appealing photos from previous summer events or related church activities to enhance your posts and announcements. High-quality images can evoke strong emotions and vivid memories, making your content more engaging and relatable to your audience. This visual appeal helps to draw in viewers and can significantly increase interaction with your content. You can find free images on tools such as Unsplash or receive full access to ChurchSpring’s Media Library.
Videos
Videos are exceptionally effective in conveying the vibrant atmosphere of events. Share recaps of past events or teasers for upcoming activities to build anticipation and excitement. These videos provide a dynamic glimpse into what participants can expect, which not only builds interest but also encourages higher attendance and participation.
7. Ask for Community Feedback
Actively seeking and using feedback from your community is crucial for refining and improving your church’s communication and events. Understanding the responses of your community helps tailor your offerings to better meet their needs and expectations, ultimately enhancing engagement and participation. Here are effective methods to gather and use this feedback.
Feedback Forms
After events, send out feedback forms to collect detailed insights from attendees. Ask specific questions about what aspects they enjoyed and areas for improvement. Tools like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey facilitate easy collection and analysis of this data. The insights gained allow you to make informed adjustments that can enhance the quality and appeal of future events.
Comment Sections
Enable comment sections on your church blog and social media platforms to allow members to express their thoughts and suggestions directly. This direct engagement makes community members feel more involved and valued. Monitoring these comments provides real-time insight into the interests and concerns of your community, which is invaluable for adapting your content and interactions to better suit their preferences.
Leverage Summer Events
Effectively marketing your church’s summer events is crucial for keeping your community connected and engaged during summer months. Through the strategies outlined—from establishing a dedicated summer page on your website to leveraging social media and interactive content—you help ensure your church remains a vibrant hub of community activity.
Want to see how ChurchSpring can help keep your church connected? Start with a free 7-day trial or join us for a demo.
