Easter is being celebrated at home this year. Easter followup and connecting with families will look a little different for our teams. Hopefully there will be hundreds and thousands of guests tuning into church services all over the nation. Perhaps some who otherwise would not have attended at all. Guests are coming. This year is different than all the others, which means Easter follow up will need creative ways to connect with families.
That sentence implies that there IS something next! What do you have ‘next’ for families that tune-in for your online Easter experiences? With Easter Sunday, less than a week away, now is GO-TIME to nail down the details for your plan.
Following up with families after Easter is equally important whether we meet them online or in our building.
One could argue that it is actually MORE important. In a season where individuals and families are looking for hope, are longing for encouragement and in some cases in desperate need of support there has never been a better time for them to partner with the local church.
First, run down this quick checklist to ensure you are ready to engage with the guests who will visit your ‘church’ experiences this Easter weekend.
1. Do you have a digital way to collect information? (For KIDS as well as adults?)
2. Is there a strategy in place to encourage families to supply their contact info? Think outside the box. Incentivize whatever ‘digital info card’ you have in place. Help give a little bit of motivation to families to take an extra minute to complete the form.
3. Does your digital presence represent your physical presence? (Is what 1st time guest families are seeing online going to deter OR encourage them from connecting with your church family after social isolation has ended?) If it does NOT…now is the time to up your game. (People understand that some content is being recorded in homes. However, dressing well, checking for good lighting, speaking clearly, ensuring stable sound and video quality really go a long way. Check and improve the things that you can!)
4. What are you offering NEXT for families? (online programming, resources, opportunities to connect, support, etc)
5. Is your website equipped with a landing spot for parents to ‘preview’ your Sunday experience and facilities for their kids?
Does your digital presence ‘deter’ or ‘encourage’ guests to check out your church?
Whatever means you use to collect information, make sure it is fast to complete and easy to locate. Consider offering an entry into a giveaway drawing for every new family that completes your information card. Families will be itching to have quality time outside of their houses when the social isolation order is lifted. What a great opportunity to give away tickets to go carts, mini golf, a trampoline park or even a theme park. Or perhaps, you could bless a family NOW. You could give away a week of groceries and send an electronic gift card to a grocery delivery service (or maybe just a supply of some hard to come by items; toilet paper, paper towels, milk, eggs & meat).
Easter follow up and creative ways to connect with families only happens IF contact information is collected. It is the key to being able to resource families, answer their questions or help meet tangible needs.
Easter Followup – Connecting with Families:
Here are three steps in a multi-tiered approach to connect with as many families as possible.
1)Email: a quick family survey is a great way to collect additional information – send it out ASAP after Easter.
Below are some details/questions you can include:
- Mailing Address
- Do you have any questions about Salvation or Jesus that we can answer?
- Do you need any resources for talking to kids about Salvation, etc?
- Have you heard about our Small Group opportunities for parents?
- Online opportunities for kids and students to participate in NOW
- Link to PREVIEW your kid’s ministry environments (Create a landing spot on your website where families can see a tour of the kid’s area AND watch a highlight reel of your Sunday morning kids ministry experience!
- How can we support your family in this season?
*Check out the Salvation Conversation Guide I created for parents. This, or something similar could be a valuable resource for your families.
2) Mailers: two-step mailer strategy
- Send an initial mailer out immediately. If you can have it PERSONALLY hand-written that is going to be a super-special, personal touch. If not…then order printed cards that can have the child’s name added on later. Remember to include website and information about all the opportunities for families to be connected, right now.
- 2nd Mailer to be sent prior to your next in-person service. Send out an invitation to join you – IN PERSON! Make it extra fun by giving away something to every child who comes & brings their postcard with them!
3. Personal Contact – this is the most personal and meaningful point of contact for first time guests.
- What did you think about the experience?
- Do you have any questions or anything you need that I can be a help or support?
- Please stay connected with us & I will be looking forward to personally meeting your family when our buildings open again for services.
*This is also a great time to verify that you have their contact info correct AND that they know how to contact someone from your church in the event they need to reach out. Volunteer teams will be a great support in helping implement all steps of this follow-up strategy. Give them an opportunity to play a part!
Be intentional and strategic about following up with families. Let them know you are FOR them, they are seen and they do not have to do life alone.
Having a strategic and intentional plan for following up with families will communicate to them that you care for them beyond just the Easter experience they joined you for. Ultimately, helping a family feel cared for and connected in a season where everything else may feel like it is wheels off, may just be what creates an opportunity for them to meet Jesus.
You can check out my post Focused Family Follow Up for some additional, practical ideas for following up with families that visit your church.
If you would like to connect to brainstorm an action plan for Easter follow up this year or any other facet of your ministry, please reach out through the Contact Form.