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The Best Way to Get a Visitor's Contact Info...

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/27/13 10:27 pm**

What is the best way you have found to get a visitor's contact info?

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 5431 **1/28/13 1:28 am**

I wonder sometimes if it might not be better to make sure visitors have our contact information before they leave, rather than trying to get their info from the get-go.

Even though pastors assure visitors that we want their information for their benefit, I wonder in this consumer culture with so much distaste for "spam" and desire for "privacy" if it might not be best to put the ball in their court when it comes to followup and contact information?

Whenever I visit a church and I am handed a visitor's card and asked to fill it out and put it in the offering, an immediate resistance rises up within me. Sometimes I just want to attend the church, enjoy the service, and not show up on somebody's radar as a "suspect" (I'm using a sales prospecting term here).

What if instead of trying to get their information, we made sure we gave them ours, and encourage them to call, text, or email us if they would like to discuss spiritual things further?
_________________
Randy Johnson, Pastor
Ickesburg Church of God
85 Tuscarora Path
Ickesburg, Pennsylvania

Acts-dicted Posts: 9027 **1/28/13 7:06 am**

Acts-dicted Posts: 7821 **1/28/13 7:57 am**

Acts-dicted Posts: 7821 **1/28/13 8:07 am**

We use:

- a connection card that everyone fills out. If you'll email zech@life-pointe.com, he can send you the .pdf or .psd files for it.

- our hospitality team at a "NEED HELP" area. Guests that stop for direction and guests who are engaged by our hospitality team fill out a connection card and given a coffee mug with the church logo (stuffed with goodies and info)

- a red carpet in the lobby where we ask our 1st and 2nd time guests that would like to pastoral staff/leaders to stop in. We serve chocolates and beverages and collect info from anyone who didn't signup the other ways.

- Children's Church check-in. We capture all of the info there when they sign in the kids.

Acts-celerater Posts: 830 **1/28/13 9:42 am**

We use a process similar to what Travis does.

1. Connection Card in the worship guide. They're directed to this at the beginning of the service, during our announcement video & as the offering is received. They have plenty of time to fill out the card & they drop it in the offering bag.

2. Kid's Check in.

3. To the point that was brought up regarding "spam", that's not a reason to not collect info. What we do is give people a "Hassle Free Guarantee". We say something to the effect of: "This card is a safe card. We are not going to do anything with your information that will be off-putting. We won't call you or come by your house uninvited. All we will do is send you 1 note in the mail."
_________________
Kevin Lloyd
Executive Pastor
Stevens Creek Church
www.kevinlloydlive.com
www.twitter.com/kevinlloyd

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **1/28/13 9:54 am**

Our church has a tab on the bulletin that can be filled out and dropped in the offering.

As has already been mentioned, if I visit a church, I like the option of being anonymous. Introverts need hospitality, too, without feeling like they are being exposed.
Once I was in a grocery chain that I don't normally shop at. I noticed they had a good sale on some frozen veggies. But that required a customer rewards card. I thought I would fill out one which, given the circumstances, would probably only be used once or twice.
I filled out the form thinking, "There is just no privacy anymore." Then, aha, there was a space for a phone number with a notation that the phone number was optional. So I left off my phone number. The clerk processing my info asked for my number. I showed the clerk that I didn't HAVE to put the phone number down. The clerk turned over my application to a manager. The manager started trying to explain the advantages of having my phone number -- if I forgot to physically bring the card, they could connect the card number with my phone number, blah, blah, blah. I pointed out that the application said I didn't have to put my phone number down. He started to protest, but his good customer service training kicked in, and he gave me my rewards card (and a suspicious look). I walked throughout the store feeling pretty certain I was being followed by the security cameras.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/28/13 10:59 am**

Thanks everyone for the input so far. As an introvert myself, I am quite sensitive to the issue of privacy. As a pastor I do not wish to be perceived as a pushy salesman type of guy, and I absolutely understand a newcomer not wanting to feel as if she's going to be subject to aggressive sales tactics.

On the other hand I also have seen all to often what not getting a visitor's address accomplishes. One often never sees them again, and unless on the off chance they happened to give in the offering using a check, the church has no way to even follow up with a thank you card. And thus my question here.

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **1/28/13 11:02 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 13654 **1/28/13 11:05 am**

Have a church facebook page

Acts Mod Posts: 25305 **1/28/13 2:54 pm**

On your visitor card, ask them if they have a facebook, you'd like to be their friend.
_________________
Doctor of Bovinamodulation

Re: Have a church facebook page

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **1/28/13 3:58 pm**

Quiet Wyatt...a follow-up question

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **1/29/13 8:27 am**

Quiet Wyatt,

While I think it is good to send a visitor letter (and have often practiced this), to this day I wonder just how much effect it really has.

Yes, it might make the person feel good. It might even cause them to come again. But I wonder if there are any stats that let us know that X percentage of those who are sent visitor letter return and remain? (The key word being "remain.")

To ME--and my view may be very limited--it seems that if the church service ministers, the people are friendly, etc., the person will come back regardless of whether there is a visitor letter. And if the church didn't "click," then they likely will not be back otherwise.

I am just wondering (sincerely) if our efforts are better served in another sort of endeavor? Thoughts?