Over the years, I’ve conducted hundreds of discovery interviews as a consultant. It may be a church communications audit one day, social media strategy, or full website redesign the next. All projects begin with a series of discovery sessions, or conversations where both project stakeholders and their constituency share who they are and what they do. This becomes the foundation for what is eventually created. Continue Reading…
Let me preface this post by saying that I dearly love my family and that I am more than willing to support them unconditionally.
There’s an epidemic afoot that many in the technology field are suffering from, Family Tech Supportitis. If your job pertains in any way to technology, or if you simply own the latest and greatest in technology, you tend to be “the one” who becomes the family tech support. Especially true during holidays, you are met at the door with a laundry list of computer questions and critical fixes. I’m lucky in that my family has upgraded their technology over the years, but many of you are dealing with parents unwilling to upgrade from Internet Explorer 6 … and you are in my prayers. Continue Reading…
Google recently announced that it will soon be releasing Google Wallet. The app will make your smart phone your wallet, allowing you to tap your phone on the payment reader to checkout and/or redeem coupons. In the make-more-convenient world that we live, I’m confident you will soon see payment readers mounted on the back of church pews across the country. This left me to wonder, if churches do offer Google Wallet convenience, will you feel you are losing the symbolic act of tithing on Sunday? Please share your opinion below.
A few years back, my father retired after 40 years of ministry. For much of his career he was responsible for evangelism at various churches around the country. A key tool that he relied on heavily was the first time visitor card. You know, that index-size-card stuffed in the back of the pew, or for some that slip of paper you use to take notes. Well, for many churches around the country, it’s the single-most important means of following up with first time visitors. And for the sake of this post, let’s include the first time visitor pads passed up-and-down pews each Sunday — a hybrid of the visitor card.
89% of people will not share their details with companies with which they do not have any relationship unless this is strictly necessary.I remember my father bringing home a stack of first time visitor cards after each Sunday service. Throughout the week, he would meticulously call each person to invite them back to church and seek ways to assimilate them into the life of the congregation. Well, things have changed. In recent weeks, I’ve come to the conclusion that those churches still reliant on first time visitor cards are fighting an uphill battle.
Research from the fast.MAP / Direct Marketing Association (DMA) May 2010 Data Tracker revealed 89% of people will not share their details with companies with which they do not have any relationship unless this is strictly necessary. That’s not good news for churches hoping to connect with first time visitors.
As the demand for high quality data has grown so has the public’s skepticism, and the willingness to share the details of their life. Twenty years ago, we weren’t too concerned about sharing a phone number. Then came unsolicited phone calls and spam. Now we hold tight to our privacy. As we should.
It’s time to rethink the first time visitor card … and many forward thinking churches have already. Just beginning my hunt for a better mousetrap, I’m not convinced that the answer is a card, pad or other similar tool. I do know the answer lies in our willingness to first build a relationships of trust. Seekers, church shoppers, first time visitors, or whatever term you prefer — people are tired of church websites and advertising that over promises and under-delivers. It’s going to take sweat equity and radical evangelism.
How is your church rethinking the first time visitor card?
Image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppmsca.03199.As I’ve shared with you in the past, most of the designs I create are eventually powered by WordPress. Many still see WordPress as “that blogging system” … it’s far from that. The infographic below, created by TechKing, shows the growth and popularity of WordPress.
If you or your organization are interested in learning more about WordPress, please contact me.
Source: ChurchMag
Best described as a tech-toting evangelist for web and social media, Matt Carlisle consults with non-profits and faith groups to make the necessary changes to fully embrace new media.
