Is your church struggling to attract a sizeable crowd? This is not an uncommon situation. Church attendance numbers are declining across the board for various reasons – and not only due to a loss of faith. From self-directed spirituality to deciding to do other activities over the weekend, families are making less of an effort to visit their local church every Sunday.
Not all hope is lost. Even with numerous factors against you, it is possible to expand your church’s audience in the current day. The solution, in a paradoxical way, can be found with modern technology.
Live stream your masses and services
Even if community members cannot make it to your church in person, it’s still possible for them to attend a mass or service in a different way. They can watch everything at home – or elsewhere with a mobile device and internet connection – via a live stream broadcast. In the same way people watch live videos on the likes of YouTube and Twitch, they simply visit your church’s website when mass is about to begin. This is possible with Melon. Melon allows you to stream live mass each week in order to gain a larger audience and expand your reach beyond the local community. One can find spirit filled churches near me following this approach these days.
Be present on social media
Everybody is on social media. Your church should also be included in that statement. It is a great way to not only create an online community for your members but also to market and attract others. A Facebook Group, for example, can be excellent for letting people know about upcoming events and for them to have a place to chat with each other. Other social platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and even TikTok – you have to think about the younger demographic – can also become effective marketing tools.
Build a starting point for online visitors
First impressions matter. Potential visitors can be hesitant to go to church for the first time, particularly if they are new to the area. Instead, they might decide to visit Google, search about your church, and see what information appears. You must have a strong online presence – and that begins with a website. A site that lists your church’s information and contact details is a strong foundation for online browsers wanting to learn more about your church. A Google Business Profile to create a listing for your church is also highly recommended.
Monitor and stay in touch
Turning first-time guests into permanent members of your church is not easy. Technology can assist in that regard. Online forms can allow guests to highlight which contact details to use for them, whether it is email, text, phone, etc. You can then utilize the information to send out regular communication messages – from weekly newsletters to lending an ear for any concerns – to stay in touch. Furthermore, you can monitor analytics to see what content is hitting the mark with online users, and these details can form content marketing plans for the future as you will have an idea of what works for your audience and what doesn’t.