Showing posts with label follow-up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label follow-up. Show all posts

6 Steps to Effective Fall Festival Follow-Up

6:40 AM  Dale Hudson  

Churches across the country hosted Fall Festivals this past week.

As a result, many churches saw first-time guest families walk through their doors. 

Now that the event is over the big questions is - How do I get them to return for a weekend service?  How do I engage them with our church and more importantly see them become followers of Christ?

Here's 6 steps that will help you effectively follow up with your Fall Festival guests.

 1. Get their contact information. 
If you're going to follow up with them, you obviously have to get their contact information.  Have a plan in place for this.  It might be having them register to enter the event or a drawing for a giveaway during the fall festival or a photo booth where you take their picture and mail it to them later.

2. Give them a great experience.
Make sure your guests have a blast at the event.  If they have a bad experience, follow-up will be futile.

3. Send them an email.
Send them an email the day after the event.  Here's the email we sent out this year.

Dear Parent,

Thank you for being our guest at the 2013 Family Fall Festival. We hope you had a great time. Christ Fellowship is a family made up of people just like you and me, who come together to encourage and support each other on this journey called life.

One of the most exciting and challenging parts of life is being a parent. At Christ Fellowship, we want to help your kids learn more about God and discover the purpose He has for their lives.  We also desire to come alongside parents to provide parenting tools, resources, encouragement and support.

You can get more information about Christ Fellowship by visiting our website at www.goChristFellowship.com or by calling (561) 799-7600. We also invite you to be our guest at any of our weekend services. We're here for you and your family.

Hope to see you this weekend!

4. Send them a letter.
Another option is to send them a letter with the above information or send the email and then a letter the next week with different wording.

5. Call them.
A short...thank you for coming...if we can be of any service to you...phone call is appropriate.  I would encourage you to keep it light and not come across as pushy. 

6. Invite them to your next big event.
Add them to your mailing list and invite them to your next event.  Even if they don't show up for a church service the next weekend, you may see them return for another event.  Keep planting seeds...God will bring the fruit.
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Effective Fall Festival Follow-Up

6:21 AM  Unknown  

Whew....you breathe a sigh of relief.  The Fall Festival is over!  That was a lot of work.  It took many hours of planning, organizing, recruiting, and advertising to pull it off.  Now you're ready to relax.

Hang on.  Before you close the books on the event...don't miss one of the most important elements.  Follow-up.

You probably had lots of new families on your church property for the event.  The big question..."How do I get them to come back for regular services?" 

Here's some tips for effective Fall Festival follow-up.

Make sure they have a good experience at the event.  If people are rude to them, if their kids don't get much candy, or if the festival doesn't match what was advertised...it doesn't matter how much you follow up.  They won't come back. 

Get their contact information.  You can't follow up without it.  Just ask for basic info.  Keep it simple and quick.  People hate filling out long forms.  You'll see ways to get contact information in the follow-up ideas below.

Have a box they can check to receive more info. about the ministry.  It's polite to ask people's permission to send them information.  If you don't, it will feel like a bait and switch. 

Have a table or booth set up with church information, brochures, etc.  Staff it with friendly volunteers who can answer questions.

Have a drawing for some large prizes like a bike, family meal certificate to a local restaurant, movie tickets, etc.  Ask people to register for the drawing. 

Pick the winners for the prize drawing the day after the festival and then notify them.  Have them pick up their prize after a church service.  Tell people when they sign up when the winners will be notified and where they will pick up their prizes.

Have a free photo spot with a professional photographer.  Offer to email them the picture.  

Have people register for a free gift that they receive right on the spot.  It might be something as simple as a full-size candy bar for their kids.  With all the mini-candy bars being passed out, you'd be surprised how many people will give you their contact info. just to get a large candy bar for their child. 

Follow up as quickly as possible.  If you follow up within 48 hours, the likelihood of them returning goes up.

Send them an email thanking them for coming.  Include information about weekend services or other upcoming events.  Keep it short and simple.  If they had their picture taken per above, you can attach it to this email.

Send them a handwritten note on church stationary.  Include a coupon that they can redeem for a free gift the next time they attend the church.  It might be a drink for the parents and a small toy for the kids.

Put them on a mailing list of people you invite to special church events, programs, etc.  (with their permission)

Let them know up front that you are not going to show up on their door step the next week.  People will be hesitant to give you their information if they think you are going to show up at their house unannounced. 

How do you know if your follow-up was effective?  A good measuring stick is how many of those families are part of your church a year later?  Can you write any names down?  The ultimate purpose is to see families reached and discipled.

What are some other ideas you have used to follow up after a festival?
What has worked?  What has not worked?
Share your ideas and input with us in the comment section below.
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