7 Things to Focus On With Guest Services

New guests. You look for them every week. And rightly so, for guests bring excitement, potential and the hope of growth. But for that to happen, you've got to see guests return. And for the average church, the return ratio is nothing to write home about. Guests return first and foremost because they had a great first experience.

Follow-up helps...a little. But follow-up can't overcome a negative first experience. Churches would be wise to invest funding, personnel and strategy to enhance their welcome experience.

Let's look at 7 things you should focus on with guest families.

1. Parking. Think about how frustrating it is to not be able to find a decent parking spot when you are shopping. You drive around and around the parking lot trying to find one. Finally, you give up on getting a good spot and you settle for the spot that's a mile from the front doors. Or you give up and drive away.

Contrast that with the feeling you get when you find a great parking spot right in front of the store. You walk into the store feeling privileged and happy.

That's how your guests feel at church. If they have to park in a sub-par spot and then walk across a big parking lot, they are going to enter the building with a negative rating for your ministry.

You can focus on making those first few minutes a home run by having reserved parking for guests. Except for handicapped spots, guest parking spots should be the best parking sports.