Media Outreach

A very good Wednesday to you, my loyal reader(s). Here’s hoping that your week has been filled with warmth and joy in this, the very best time of year. No, this post will not be written in verse, nor will it rhyme. Apologies to anyone who was looking for poetry, but I must stress that I am not blessed to be able to rhyme all the time, so keep that in mind and you shall find that my posts are for the most part to teach, but not to preach, the things that will make your site look and feel all right. (The previous sentence may or may not have been a coincidence to completely undermine my point.)

At any rate, those of you who partook in last week’s foray into my literary bag of tricks may recall that the topic of discussion was impending Christmas services, and how you might utilize your website to maximize your efforts. However, there are far more recommendations we can make that will not, unfortunately, fit into the re-written text of “The Night Before Christmas.” Therefore, I thought I’d expand upon the ideas we broached in last week’s post… this time without having to worry about making things rhyme.

1. Brace yourself… they are coming: Much like an exam day at my beloved alma mater, Christmas services will be filled with people that you may have never seen before. Regardless of how often someone frequents your church, everyone should be made to feel welcome. By accepting visitors with open arms, you’ll not only make their Christmas church experience more enjoyable, but you may just see them come back the week after Christmas as well.
2. Procrastination is not an option: Before you can get hordes of visitors knocking on your door, you’re going to have to let them know you’re there.  Get the word out now about when your services are… where you’re located… anything that lets people know what’s going on. As Christmas Day draws nearer and nearer, people’s attention will grow fainter and fainter. By getting the word out now, you’ll plant the seed early, and will afford more people the opportunity to join you for your services.
3. The little things really do matter: Christmas services have been described by some as, “organized chaos,” “a logistical nightmare,” and on occasion, “a time of joy and wonder as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.”  However, the mass influx of visitors often requires a few extra steps to make each service enjoyable for everyone. Things such as signs on where to park, parking lot attendants , clearly marked “crying rooms,” front door greeters, etc… anything that will help ensure that things run smoothly.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, Christmas is my absolutely favorite time of year. When I’m not on the phone at the office, I’m usually listening to Christmas music and wondering why no one’s written a new Christmas Classic since my parents were playing with their hula hoops and Red Ryder BB guns. I absolutely think the fact that church attendance jumps way up at Christmas is a wonderful thing, as I think everyone should share in the joy of Christ’s birth. By taking the steps we’ve outlined today, you can help ensure that everyone’s Christmas church experience is an enjoyable one, and hopefully welcome some wonderful new members to your church family. Until next week loyal reader(s), I hope you all bask in the magic of the season, and that your retail purchases are made with liberty and 25% discounts for all.

Photo By: George Eastman House