We are finishing up the Fusion book by Nelson Searcy. If you need to have your own copy you can find it at AMAZON HERE.
What happens after Sunday morning? This is a most critical time and our follow up must be FAST, FRIENDLY and FUNCTIONAL.
Immediate 36 hour follow up. Monday is a good day to do this. First time guests should receive an email that thanks them for attending and directly invites them to come back. Include a link to your website where they can fill out a guest survey (which takes 30 SECONDS) Email should be sent between 2 and 3pm when people are looking for things to distract themselves.
96 hour snail mail response. Handwritten note (in an envelope that doesn’t look like a bill)with a small appropriate gift. Starbucks card, etc.
Growing churches spend $400 to $500 on evangelism for each person who walks through the door as a first time guest. Investment…..because it is always harder to get a return visit than an initial visit.
One Month Followup. Focus on getting returning first time guests not chasing down guests from months ago. Don’t focus on the unresponsive. Often guests that do not return have simply fallen back into their Sunday routine. Wow them by remembering them.
Handwritten notes can be made by FIRST RESPONSE TEAM….but should carry the name of the pastor who preached.
Second Time Guests .
Encourage them to sign the Second Time Guest Box on the communication card. The are encouraged to sign because they got gifts the first time! That’s ok ….. remember you are moving them through a process.
Encourage Deeper Involvement Through a Next Step. You want them to get involved in a serving opportunity, connect with a small group or have them attend some special event (even a simple movie night)
Follow up with Second Time Guests: 1. 36 hr email response. Thank them. 2. Give them an opportunity to fill our a second time guest survey. 3. Give them an opportunity to get plugged in and include a link that will help them take a NEXT STEP.
Follow up with a letter that they receive on Thurs. This time no handwritten note but a typed letter (but no business envelope!) thanking them and giving them more information on how they can get involved. Include another gift. (This is the last gift)
How to make them STICK.
1. Friends. The more they have the more likely they will continue to come.
2. Small groups….GOAL of having ALL regular adult attenders in groups. (Window of opportunity. If they don’t make friends within 4 to 6 months, they will not stick!)
3. Fun Events.. Play groups (bowling, movie night, pottery class, community events, etc.)….low pressure, low commitment and fun!
4. Service teams. Even if not believers…..in fact, this helps them stick so they can become believers.
Taking ownership – give them RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility precedes ownership and ownership precedes membership.
RETENTION – RETURN, RELATIONSHIPS, RESPONSIBILITY
