Here's Your Sign

Want to make a not-so-good impression? Let your first-time (or returning) guests get lost in or around your campus. Like this poor soul in the YouTube video ... and this is a REAL church and there were NO signs hidden or PhotoShopped out or anything - and yes, the one sign on the Main Floor was totally blank. 

When it comes to helping your visitors and guests feel welcome, making sure they don't get lost is a pretty good first step. Most churches have three signage issues they need to address.

The Message Board Sign

If you're one of those churches that has made an investment in a message board sign please remember the key word in this sentence ... investment. Your message board is a marketing investment, so kindly use it as such. Although lots of people read your sign as they pass by, the proven reality is this: Virtually no one visits a church based on clever aphorisms. Yes, there have been studies that have proven this, but common sense should be enough. Take note at what successful businesses put on their signs (key word = successful). They advertise what they're offering. In other words, your message sign should let potential guests know what's coming up that might interest them.

Finally, don't use coded language. Lam 4:4 means nothing to an unchurched person. Neither does UMW, CWF, BSF, or DOC/UMC/PCUSA/ELCA/SBC/AOG. If you're going to advertise your sermon title or series, keep it guest-focused.

Exterior Signs

Don't let your guests get lost. If you have multiple parking lots, let them know. If you have guest parking (you DO have premium guest parking, right?), make sure it's well marked.

Once your guests get parked, make sure they can find what they're looking for. Contrary to popular opinion, almost none of your guests care where your Church Office is. But they do want to know where the Worship Center is and if they have children, they may want to know where the childcare center is (especially if it's not convenient to the Worship Center.

Interior Signs

Do you know what the three most important rooms are in your church? The Big Three in order of guest importance are:

1. Restrooms
2. Worship Center
3. Nursery/Childcare

Don't let your guests get lost like the poor gal in the video above (BTW, that was an actual church and the lack of signs was real ... we didn't stage anything). There are two rules of thumb for interior signage.

1. No matter where you are in a church building, a guest should be able to see signs pointing them the Big Three. This is especially true in every hallway and in every large room (fellowship hall, lobby, etc.).
2. Signs should be perpendicular to the walls. It's fine to put a label on a door, but it can't take the place of the perpendicular sign.