1. Social Ads
In America, social media is an integrated part of our society. According to Review 42, by 2021 there will be over 3 billion social media users. As of 2020, the average person accesses social media 3.48 hours a day.
People are using social media and will continue to use it. The question is what will they see when they pull up FaceBook or Instagram?
Churches have one of their biggest turnouts of the year on Christmas Eve. With COVID, churches have had to adjust to streaming online. This year is the perfect time to start utilizing social media ads to increase exposure for your church and attendance for your Christmas service.
The commute has been taken out of the equation, and attending your Christmas service made that much simpler by a “To Watch Now, Swipe Up” on an Instagram story. A link to your church’s website or a direct link to your service can also prompt people to curl up on the couch with hot cocoa and celebrate Christmas.
The more people see your church’s name and your Christmas service, the more likely they will tune in. Even if they don’t attend your Christmas service, by providing repeated exposure, you elevate your chances of being remembered in the future.
If you have been wanting to try social ads but don’t know where to start, this is a great resource!
2. Postcards
As much as technology has taken over, good old fashion cards are still an effective way of engaging people in your church.
Everyone likes getting a personalized card in the mail. It implies that thought and care has been put into the gesture…even if they are one in a thousand or two thousand to receive the postcard.
If people think a church is invested in them, they’re more likely to invest in the church.
The key is consistent design. Say someone saw a social ad for your church. Maybe they kept scrolling, but then they receive a postcard in the mail. If your color scheme, logo, and the overall feel of the postcard are consistent with your social ad, then that person is much more likely to recall seeing your church’s content.
That’s the second point of contact for their potential attendee, and after receiving a card in the mail, they’re much less likely to forget your church in the future.
If you’re looking for more information about how postcards can benefit your church’s outreach program, check out this comprehensive article that breaks down all the benefits.
Or if you’re feeling daunted by the task of creating compelling postcards, here is an easy way to compose content quickly!
3. Emails
If you’re in the position to send out emails, then you already have your foot in the door.
By entrusting you with their email, the people on your list have already indicated an interest in your church. These are the people who are most likely to attend your Christmas service.
They have visited your social media pages, scrolled through your website, and decided that they’re interested in learning more.
This is a perfect time for those people to learn more in a low-pressure environment. Launching an email campaign can be an effective way to nudge those fence-sitters to your church.
Start a few weeks out and send an email that lets them know the event is happening. Then send another the next week to remind them of the event. On the week before Christmas, you should send out an email early in the week and then a call to action the day of your service.
Don’t worry about bothering the people you’re emailing. If they weren’t interested, they wouldn’t be on your email list. Besides, they always have the option to unsubscribe.
Just make sure you make it clear in your emails where they can find your service or event. If that part is unclear, even if they want to invest more of themselves into your church, they can’t.
If you want more tips on how to wield email to your church’s advantage, here is a helpful guide.
4. Yard Signs
Yard signs are a great way to advertise 24/7 at a low cost to you and your church. So maybe they might be a bit hard to read in the dark, but during daylight hours, your yard signs will be on display for all oncoming traffic to see.
This goes back to a consistent color scheme and design for your church. Once a driver sees your sign a couple of times, they’re going to start recognizing your logo when they see it in other places.
Not only that, but yard signs make your church feel more inviting. The signs communicate that your church is more than just a building. These signs show everyone from drivers to dog walkers that you are a body of people who want to get to know them.
For the more socially anxious, signs can take that edge off walking in the front door if they have clear indicators that you want them there.
To find yard signs that will draw newcomers, browse OutReach’s selection, or to read up more on why you should invest in yard signs, check out this post.
OutReach Resources For Your Church
OutReach is a company that not only offers at least 4 ways to invite people to your Christmas program this year, but provides products to keep your congregation safe as your church returns to in-person services. From face masks to hand sanitizer in bulk to COVID conscious communion cups, OutReach has what you need to keep your church up to code with your county’s restrictions.
But that’s not all!
If you church and its leaders are feeling overwhelmed in the wake of this pandemic, OutReach has packages for church services and events, making your life a little easier in these unprecedented times. OutReach also provides campaigns to accompany these church services and events. These campaigns contain everything you need to make sure the most people possible see your services and attend your events.
OutReach has all the resources your church needs to make 2021 the best year yet.
