5 Post-Easter Communication Strategies

Most churches put a lot of thought, time, effort, and money into communication leading up to Easter, but what about post-Easter communication?

Easter Sunday is probably going to be your church’s highest attended services of the year. You’ll have lots of first time visitors and lots of people who come to church only a few times a year. So, what are you going to try to do to make connection with them and establish ongoing communication?

Here are 5 post-Easter communication strategies:

1) Have everyone who attends fill out a communication card. You can’t follow up with people if you don’t have their contact info. A communication card is one of the best ways to do that. But one of the big problem with communication cards is guests don’t want to stand out as guests by being the only ones who fill them out. Make an announcement that you want everyone to fill out the card. That means the person making the announcement and the senior pastor need to fill it out too.

2) Give people communication options. While we’re on the subject of communication cards, make it clear that you are not going to put them on your mailing/email list for eternity or have someone show up at their house unannounced. Let each individual choose how they want you to communicate with them. Use check boxes:

• Mail me info about the church
• Email me info about the church
• I’d like to talk with someone about the church
• Please pray for me concerning_______

3) Follow up immediately. A while back I read the results of some research that found that when it comes to following up with visitors to a church, each day the church waits the percentage of people who come back the following Sunday drops significantly. (Big thanks to anyone who can find and post a link to that study). Monday is ideal. Tuesday is good. Wednesday is OK. Beyond that you’re really hurting yourself.

4) Invite people to follow the church on Facebook and Twitter. If your church uses Facebook and/or Twitter, don’t just put their little icons in the program. While you’re pausing to allow everyone to fill out the communication cards, put the Facebook and Twitter URLs up on the screen. Consider inviting people to pull out their smartphones and make the connection right then. You might even post something intriguing to Facebook or Twitter right before the service – the passcode for a free cup of coffee or a picture of the senior pastor in a chicken costume – and tell folks they can go to Facebook or Twitter to find it

5) Tell your members to follow-up. A lot of the first-time or irregular visitors on Easter will be people who came at the invitation of a friend or family member. Communicate with your members with a day or two after Easter and encourage them to follow-up personally with the people they invited, ask them what they thought of the service, ask them if they have any question about the church or about Christianity, and invite them to come back with you the following Sunday.

These are just the tip of the ice burg. I’m sure many of you have lots other great ideas. So, what is your church’s post-Easter communication strategy?

Paul Steinbrueck

Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com

Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.

An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.

Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication.