Church Communications: Get Your Website & Social Media Ready for VBS Families
Vacation Bible School season is here, giving your congregation an intense, but short-lived opportunity to connect with the children and families in your community. What are some ways to keep the connection going?
In the May Family Ministry Moment, Deb Jurchen talks about the importance of making the most out of the momentum for connection and engagement created by VBS, how to connect with those visiting families, and how not to get derailed by the usual summer hiatus. Read more about connecting to follow up with families and volunteers after VBS (The Most Important Event) and the flexibility of family ministry in the summer here (Summer Plans).
One of the first things many visiting families will do before they entrust their children to you is visit your website or social media, so it’s time to do some digital housekeeping so your visitors can find what they need to know about your congregation. But don’t just get your website and social media ready for VBS. Consider what else visiting families might want to know about if they consider coming to Sunday or midweek services—and what to expect when they visit you. This is especially important if you have any change to your routines and services during the summer.
Pay Attention To Your Congregation’s Website and Social Media
- Clearly and prominently display the dates and times of your Sunday and midweek worship services and Bible studies on your website and social media accounts.
- Worship service information should include any pre- or post-service fellowship events; whether you provide staffed childcare during the service, an unstaffed cry room, or encourage children to attend the service with their parents.
- Include notes about any holiday services if applicable. For example, does July 4 being on a Saturday affect your Saturday evening service?
- Having names and pictures of staff and leadership on your website will help visitors know who to look for when they have questions or want to get connected.
- Consider what else visitors and potential new members might want to know about your congregation:
- Note that you are an LCMS congregation and include a link to the Synod website. Add a statement of faith, including information about communion and baptism.
- Who should they talk with about communion and what should they do if they are not LCMS members?
- What do people usually wear?
- Is there a Sunday School hour?
- Is one worship service more traditional than another, and what are the times of each?
- Who can they talk to about becoming a member?
- How can they get your newsletter?
- Can they give electronically? Where and how?
- What are your office hours if they want to call?
- Treat your visitors’ page like a virtual billboard, letting them know what you have coming up. If you are planning any special activities for the community in the year to come, be sure to add that information here as well. Even a simple “Information About Vacation Bible School This July Coming Soon!” will prompt them to think about your congregation as a place for community events.
All of this helpful information can be summarized on one page with a title such as “Plan Your Visit” or “What To Expect.”
Ask Members to Share Invitations
Use your congregation’s Facebook page to post the services and fellowship times as events, clearly indicating start and end times, and your congregation’s location. Encourage members to share these event posts on their own pages and in community groups, including a personal invitation such as “Come sit with our family during the 7 p.m. service!” Make colorful Instagram posts with that text in the image using free design tools such as Canva. Visit the Concordia Technology Solutions Blog for a number of articles about best practices when using social media for church communication.
Think Critically About Your Building and Grounds
It’s also important to consider what a visitor will see when they visit your building. Members can get used to confusing parking, hidden bathrooms, or clutter and not be aware of how it will look to visitors.
- Think about driving to your church and navigating your parking lot, the entrances, and the layout of your building as if you’d never been there before. Consider what signage you might need as a first-time visitor to find your way around.
- Is the entrance to your parking lot on a different street than your listed mailing address?
- Do you have extra parking somewhere if your main lot is full?
- Are only certain entrances considered ADA accessible?
- Are the bathrooms easy to find and clearly marked?
- Is there a separate changing area for babies, or a room for nursing mothers?
- Is there a cry room or place for restless children?
- Make sure any display boards or signs in your building show updated and correct information about services, events, Bible study groups, etc. Consider where you can post information so visitors will see it while in the building, including bathroom mirrors and entry/exit doors. Clean up outdated information on display tables and bulletin boards.
- Make sure printed bulletins or pew cards include information such as your website URL, upcoming activities, how to become a member, etc.
Having all of this in place before Vacation Bible School is best, but even the smallest changes will help your visitors. We also recommend you read the article “Creating a Welcoming Email Series to Follow Up with Church Visitors” and use those tips to be ready to contact the families you connected with during VBS.