Church attendance has changed over the years. More people are okay with attending every once in a while versus going to most Sunday services at their local church now more than ever before. People are looking for more meaningful experiences outside of traditional church services. This may involve events, smaller gatherings in home, attending services online, and more. Technology is helping churches to improve attendance at their locations, and here’s how:
Have a Website
In order to increase church attendance, you must have a website. People often visit websites and social media channels first before they ever decide to step into a church building. They will look at the different programs available, the sermons, and the worship to decide if it feels like they should try that one out. You’ll want everyone on your site from your history to your mission statement, and statement of faith. Having a website provides a way to connect with people and promote your church.
Offer Online Resources
Downloadable Bible studies, e-books, videos, and more can help people connect with your church even when they are not there. Whether work takes them away on Sundays or they find themselves out of town, online resources give people a way to connect with your church no matter where they are. You can even link to different community resources designed to help people in need.
Use Email Marketing and Social Media Marketing
Email marketing is a great way to reach people and remind them that your church exists. Using church management software, there are many different things you can do. You can share highlights from events that they might’ve missed, blog posts written by different people on faith topics, and even video snippets of powerful moments in worship or during a message. Additionally, social media marketing can be used to reach people in your community. You can encourage people to attend services, sign up for groups, share testimonies of the good things that are happening, and so much more.
Leverage Facebook Ads
Running a church sometimes feels like running a business when you are behind the scenes. Use Facebook ads to drive traffic to your website or event registration page, or to connect with people via email. You can even drive traffic to your prayer requests at your church. These ads are instrumental in helping many churches increase traffic and connect with individuals in their communities.
Offer Live Streaming Services
There are many reasons why someone may not be able to make it to a Sunday service. Offering live streaming services makes it easy for people to watch from home when they aren’t able to make it in person. This is especially helpful for people who want to stay caught up on sermon series and to worship with their local church, even from a distance.
Participate in Online Forums and Social Networking Sites
How often do you share about your church? Participating in forums and networking sites can be a great way to use technology to connect with the people who visit these sites. Plus, they make it easy to connect with your congregation throughout the week, and gives them a place to easily send their friends and family who are interested in attending your church.
Create an App for Your Church
Don’t create an app just because it’s cool. Create an app because it’s an easy way to share content and connect with people in your community. Use the app to display information about your church. You can also use it to share announcements and events. Plus, it becomes one more channel where you can share helpful resources for people who need them most.
Technology Helps you Reach More People
Whether you are adding services online, or creating ways for people to connect with each other, you can do it with technology. Video conferencing software, social media, and even websites are a few of the ways that you can leverage technology to boost church attendance.
Conclusion
Technology has the potential to be a great tool for churches to use, but it’s important not to get caught up in the hype. You don’t need every new gadget or app out there in order to connect with people and increase attendance at your church. What matters most is using technology in ways that make sense for your ministry.
