David Odom, Executive Director of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School, recently blogged about the increasing tendency of shoppers, including church shoppers, to shop online. When it comes to those who are looking for a church, Odom notes that they “frequently visit the congregation online by watching services, reading about services and asking questions.” This activity is a part of the screening process many now use in making a decision about whether or not to attend services or events at a given church.
So What?
Far more people will form their initial impression of your congregation from online experiences than from physically stepping foot on your church campus. This has significant implications for the use of church funds, and the education of church members and active participants about how they can help share your congregation’s unique story.
- How does your congregation do in presenting its story online?
- How does your website compare to those of other churches in your area? How active and relevant are the congregation’s social media accounts (and what kind of picture does one get when reviewing how church members and active participants mention the church using social media)?
- What kinds of content can “online shoppers” read, hear, and participate in? What items can these shoppers buy?