Rick Richardson Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey
The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel
Bill M. Sullivan New Perspectives on Breaking the 200 Barrier
« Most Crazy Search Yet | Home | Health Stuff »
Activate: The Four Fs - Fill
By jason | June 9, 2008
The next step in their process is developing a system to fill your groups. (For fuller description read the book.)
Key Questions:
- What date will group sign-ups begin for the upcoming semester?
- When will online sign-ups be available?
- How many Sundays will we push group sign-ups?
- What are the newsletter deadlines for getting group sign-ups listed?
- What is the last day someone can sign up for a group this semester?
- What is your sign-up goal? (Sign-ups are easier to track from semester to semester than show-ups)
- Promotion month
One month until groups start - sign-ups begin, groups catalog, etc.
Three weeks until groups start - same.
Two weeks until groups start - teaching from pulpit on groups, etc.
One week until groups start - same as above, also include things like testimonies.
Fill Factor #1: One-Step Sign-Ups
Mistake #1: Lack of Clarity (in how to sign-up, too complicated, etc.)
- Sign up during the Sunday service.
- Offer sign-ups on your website.
- Sign up at the groups table in the lobby.
Mistake #2: Too Many Steps
Fill Factor #2: Teaching on the Power of Groups
Fill Factor #3: Testimonies, Videos, and Dramas
Fill Factor #4: Small Groups Info Table
Fill Factor #5: Targeting Specific Group Types
Fill Factor #6: Church-wide Campaign (all groups and Sunday teaching match up)
Fill Factore #7: Newsletters and Mailings
The Printed Newsletter
- Delivered where you send it.
- It has some staying power.
- Multiple people in one household read the same printed material.
- You can often tell a longer story in a printed newsletter than in an e-newsletter.
The E-Newsletter
- They cost almost nothing to send.
- You can include a direct link to your groups sign-up page.
- They can be easily forwarded to friends and colleagues who may be interested in groups.
- They require less advanced planning than a traditional newsletter.
Fill Factor #8: Selling the Previously Sold (getting people who are already involved back in a group next semester)
Fill Factor #9: Promoting Groups to Newcomers
- Pull a list of all your first- and second-time guests from the previous four months.
- Prayer over the list. Thank God that He has entrusted you with these newcomers.
- Prepare a targeted mailing or email, inviting everyone on this list to join a group this semester.
Fill Factor #10: Creating Urgency
- Set a clear deadline for sign-ups.
- Each week, announce how many groups have filled up.
- Tell people how many sign-ups there are.
Fill Factor #11: No Sign-Up Left Behind (follow up with people who sign up)
Topics: Community, Community Groups, Leadership, LifeConnection |