I ran across a method of following up on first-time visistors that I am now recommending in my Double Day campaign. I thought I would share it with you.
On Monday morning send a package to every first-time visitor who signs in and include all or some of the following:
- A Veggie Tales CD for children, or an appropriate CD for a youth, and a CD introducing the adult ministries and leaders of the church
- A 25% discount to your bookstore
- An invitation to the next pastor’s gathering
- An assortment of any other items that might be appropriate to your church.
You can be sure any package you ship is going to be opened.
Using a FedEx envelope is little gimicky, isn’t it? And just including brochure-ware is probably a let down.
If it is about open rates, there are other ways to get something opened including investing some of that $19 FedEx fees into something you can give them of value.
The folks that use the Fed Ex send a box, not an envelope. The box includes a $25 gas card, a study Bible (or a kids Bible is they have children), pictures of the children at Children’s church (again, if they have children), a DVD of a sermon series the pastor preached, the obligatory church mug, and a brochure.
The pastor started doing this (on his own dime) when the church had less than 100 in attendance. It now averages over 900. And though the Fed Ex box is only a part of the reason people return and stay, it’s indicative of the church’s commitment to reaching their community and making a first impression that lasts.