Crafting the Perfect Plan Your Visit Guest Experience on Your Church Website
Visiting a new church for the first time can be an intimidating experience for many people. There’s often uncertainty about what to expect—questions like “Where do I park?”, “What should I wear?”, “What are the service times?”, and “Will I feel welcome?” can create stress and hesitation.
That’s why it’s crucial for churches to have a dedicated ‘Plan Your Visit’ website page or popup for guests. This resource serves to warmly welcome potential visitors and provide all the key information they need to feel prepared and comfortable attending for the first time.
The Importance of a Plan Your Visit Guest Experience
By offering a comprehensive Plan Your Visit page or popup, churches can proactively use their website to address common concerns and put visitors at ease. This open communication shows that the church values newcomers and wants to remove any barriers to visiting. Ultimately, creating an informative and inviting Plan Your Visit guest experience online can lead to higher first-time visitor numbers and increased engagement.
Strategies for Crafting the Perfect ‘Plan Your Visit’ Experience
Let’s get into the specifics of what to include on your Plan Your Visit page to maximize its effectiveness and put your guests at ease!
Clear Directions and Parking Instructions
Provide a map with your church address embedded on your church website and clear parking instructions so visitors know exactly where to go when they arrive. Consider adding photos of your building’s exterior and parking lots.
Service Times and Descriptions
List out all of your weekly service times and include brief descriptions of each one so visitors can determine which service aligns best with their needs (e.g. traditional vs contemporary, kids programming available, etc.). Provide the option for guests to RSVP for an upcoming service or event.
Dress Code Guidance
Put newcomers at ease by setting expectations around what dress is typical for your congregation. A simple line like “We have no dress code, come as you are!” can make a big difference.
Children’s Programming Information
If you offer nursery, kids church, or youth programming, describe what’s available during each service including age ranges, check-in instructions, and security measures.
Welcome Gift Details
Let visitors know if you offer any sort of welcome gift, like a free book or gift bag, when they fill out the connection card and where to pick it up. This provides an incentive to fill it out and will encourage them to reach out to volunteers to receive their gift—and give you an opportunity to make a connection!
Next Steps for Getting Involved
Explain how a guest can get more information about membership, small groups, volunteering or other next steps if they want to get plugged in further after visiting.
Best Practices and Tips for Implementation
As you work to implement a guest experience on your church website, keep these best practices in mind:
Use a clear and compelling call-to-action (CTA): Make sure your ‘Plan Your Visit’ button or link to the page is prominently displayed on your website.
Seamless integration with your church website and ChMS: Ensure that the ‘Plan Your Visit’ feature integrates seamlessly with the design and navigation of your church website and syncs to your church management software.
Interactive and informative content: Provide visitors with relevant information about your church, such as service times, location, and what to expect during a visit. Incorporate multimedia elements, such as videos, photos, or virtual tours, to give visitors a glimpse into what they can expect when they attend your church.
Keep it simple: Make sure the ‘Plan Your Visit’ process is straightforward and easy to understand.
Provide clear instructions: Guide visitors through the process step-by-step, making it as easy as possible for them to plan their visit.
Follow up: Don’t ghost your guests! Send an automated email to your guests before they attend your church and a follow up email encouraging them to reach out with any questions and next steps.
Test and iterate: Continuously monitor the performance of your ‘Plan Your Visit’ feature and make adjustments as needed to optimize engagement.
ChurchSpring’s ‘Plan Your Visit’ Feature
ChurchSpring’s ‘Plan Your Visit’ feature automatically integrated into any church website builder is a powerful tool designed to enhance guest engagement on your church website. With this feature, you can provide potential visitors with all the information they need to feel welcome and comfortable attending your church for the first time.
From directions to service times to information about what to expect during a visit, ChurchSpring’s Plan Your Visit guest feature makes it easy for visitors to take the first step towards becoming a part of your church community.
Grow Your Church With an Inviting Guest Experience
By being open and upfront about what someone can expect when visiting your church, you’ll put minds at ease and make guests feel welcomed before they ever step foot on campus. Craft a Plan Your Visit guest experience on your church website to start engaging visitors and fostering a sense of community.
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