Easter...How to Get Families to Come Back the Next Week

Easter is almost here. In most churches, it is a high attendance day. Families that only come once or twice a month all show up at the same time. This increases your attendance. You may also have several guest families that day who come to check out your church on Easter. 

So here is the big question. How do you get them to return the next week? How do you get families who only attend occasionally to come more consistently? How do you get first-time guests to return?  

Let's talk about this. Here are some tips that can help you see more families come back after Easter. 

Be friendly, but not pushy.

One of the biggest factors in a family deciding to return is based on the friendliness factor.  This doesn't just stop at the entrance door but must permeate your church's culture. The front door is not the true measure of your friendliness.  It is based on the guest's overall experience with the people they come in contact with.  Be friendly...but not pushy. You know how you feel when you walk into a store and you are accosted by a salesperson who is working on commission.

The key is balanced friendliness.  

Make a great first impression with families.

The first impression truly is a lasting impression. If a family has a bad experience, they are not going to return. You can call them, send them a letter, text them and go the second mile to invite them back, but they are not going to return.  

Keep this in mind. Put your time, energy, and effort into giving guests a great first experience. People will remember how you made them feel on their first visit and they will or will not return based on this. 

Get tons of tips and practical steps you can take in my book "Be Our Church Guest." It is available at this link.

Make sure the kids have a great experience. 

Parents can have a great experience, but if the kids did not...they are not going to return. Another critical factor in seeing guests return is their kids liking it. 

A church that wants to grow and see people come back and become regular attenders, will invest heavily in children's ministry. I can't emphasize this enough.

Make a personal connection with them on their first visit.

Someone has to connect with them on a personal level. Whether that is you or a key volunteer, it must happen. Go beyond just "hello" and show a balanced interest in their family. 

Make sure you get their information.

It's hard to follow up without information. Normally you are able to get information about the family when they check their kids in.

Send the kids a personal, handwritten postcard. 

Kids rarely get mail and it's a big deal when they do. Send them a handwritten postcard with a personal note that is unique to their family. This will show them that they are important to your church and you are taking a personal interest in them.

Offer them an incentive to come back. 

Did you know that the average return rate for guests in most churches is about 7%? Yes...it's that low. But there is something you can do to change that. Start offering guests a personal gift when they return for a second visit. 

At one of the churches where I served, we started giving guests a t-shirt on their second visit. Yes...it was a financial investment, but we saw our guest return rate go from 7% to 38%. 

On the post card you send the kids, mention that they will get a free t-shirt (or other gift) on their second visit. Try it and I guarantee you that your return rate will go up.  Plus the kids will often wear their t-shirt to school and in their neighborhood. This is good advertising for your ministry.

Text the parents and thank them for coming.

Did you know that 98% of text messages get read? Can't beat that for effective follow-up communication.  

Have an after party.

Set up an after party for first-time guest families. Let families know about this when they are checking in. Have some snacks and drinks for them. Have a few key staff members and volunteers in the room. This will give you an opportunity to spend a few minutes with the guests. This is another huge way you can connect with families. 

Your turn. In the comment section below, share some tips and ideas you have for seeing guests return.