PLAN A VISIT

BLUEPRINT
TURN YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS
INTO FIRST TIME GUESTS
 The website, many people
say, is the front door of your
church. If that’s the case,
then the new Plan A Visit
feature from Text In Church
is the shiny door knob that
lets everybody in.

PLAN A VISIT BLUEPRINT

 Projects for Improvement

If you’re going to try a new restaurant, what do you do first?

Check out the website.

If you’re going to visit an amusement park or a new exhibit,

what do you do first?

Check out the website.

If you want to stay at a hotel near the conference you’re

attending, how will you decide?

Check out the websites.

So, if someone is considering, even having the tiniest thought

about checking out your church, what are they going to do?

CHECK. OUT. YOUR. WEBSITE.

Like it or not, there are very few people anymore who will
show up at your church without looking at your website first.
So, if you know people are “visiting” your site, why not do
everything you can to interact with them?

PLAN A VISIT BLUEPRINT

THE 3 REASONS
YOUR CHURCH
NEEDS PLAN A
VISIT ON YOUR
WEBSITE
MORE GUESTS WILL SHOW
UP ON SUNDAY

YOUR TEAM CAN PREPARE

TO CONNECT WITH THEM

YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED...

EVEN IF THEY DON'T COME ON
SUNDAY
 1 . MORE GUESTS WILL SHOW UP ON SUNDAY

THE 3 REASONS YOUR CHURCH NEEDS PLAN A VISIT ON YOUR WEBSITE

 2 . YOUR TEAM CAN PREPARE TO
CONNECT WITH THEM
You know the age-old problem we’ve been working to
avoid for… forever? You know, when an individual or a
family tries your church for the first time but doesn’t
really connect with anyone, doesn’t fill out your
connection card, and comes and goes, never to be
seen again?

Well, what if you knew ahead of time that they were

coming? What if you could be ready with a couple
from your church who will invite them to sit with them?
Or with a gift with their name on it? Or with a pastor
ready to shake their hand and personally invite them
to come back the next week?

Plan A Visit has the power to make these things

happen.

Now, you know their name. You know if they’re bringing

kids. You’re ready to greet them, to welcome them for
the very first time, to find them someone to sit with. So
much of those little details make such a huge impact
on a person’s first experience at a church. And now
you have a tool to give you all the information you
need.

THE 3 REASONS YOUR CHURCH NEEDS PLAN A VISIT ON YOUR WEBSITE

3 . YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED...
EVEN IF THEY DON'T COME ON SUNDAY
Send your Plan A Visit registrants follow-up and no-show messages, and get
more opportunities to connect with them.

Maybe some of you are thinking, “Okay, they’ll fill out the SMART connect card
online, but what if they don’t show up?". That’s fine. They’ve given you their
information. They’ve taken that first step to say, “I’m here, and I’m thinking about
it". Now you can text them asking if they can come next Sunday. You can just
thank them for filling out the form and make sure they have contact information
if they ever need anything. You could email them a link to the sermon.

We have lots of those messages done for you, loaded into an automated
workflow in the Text In Church system. Connection. That’s the power of Plan A
Visit that will give you a second chance at getting them to visit your church.

THE 3 REASONS YOUR CHURCH NEEDS PLAN A VISIT ON YOUR WEBSITE

FREE FOR
14 DAYS
Our proven Plan A Visit system
helps you convert your website
traffic into regular attendees.
Automatically send the perfect
emails and text messages to your
first time guests to make them
feel important and well cared for.

START MY FREE TRIAL

FOR TICKETS:

+1 660 220 9099

[email protected]
 THE 7 COMPONENTS YOUR
PLAN A VISIT FEATURE
NEEDS TO HAVE
HERE'S A QUICK SNAPSHOT... WE'LL DIVE IN DEEPER IN
THE FOLLOWING PAGES!

1. Multiple Access Points

2. Custom Church Branding

3. Interactive Questions

4. Childcare Sign Up

5. Automatic Follow-Up Text and Email Messaging

6. Staff Notifications

7. No-show Follow-Up Messaging

 1
MULTIPLE
ACCESS
POINTS
Some people will go to your website and be
LANDING PAGE
ready to fill out your Plan A Visit feature right Access Point #1
away. Others, however, will want to browse for a
while and see if your church would feel
comfortable to them. Having access points at
different places on your website helps people
make the jump to filling it out.

Here are five access points you can utilize at

different places on your website. Depending on CHAT BUBBLE
Access Point #2
what your next step is, you can select which fits
your context best.

Landing Page: Open the Smart Connect Card

Directly - Link to your Smart Connect Card
directly from a social ad, website link, or
anywhere you choose.
BUTTON
Access Point #3
Chat Bubble: Add a Floating Button - This
floating bubble widget is in the bottom right of
your website, and invites them to engage with
you.

Button: Launch Smart Connect Card from Your

Button - Create a custom link to trigger the
STICKY BANNER
smart connect card overlay by updating your Access Point #4
button link to be #ticpopup.

Sticky Banner: Add a Sticky Banner - Enabling

this will display a header bar at the top or
bottom of your website prompting visitors to
complete your Smart Connect Card.

Pop Up: Add an Exit Intent Popup - When a POP UP

visitor starts to move away from your page, this Access Point #5

popup will open.

THE 7 COMPONENTS YOUR PLAN A VISIT FEATURE NEEDS TO HAVE

 CUSTOM CHURCH
BRANDING

2
Logo Colors
The SMART Connect Card builder within You can also edit the colors to match
Text In Church allows you to customize your church's color scheme. The SMART
the card to match your church. You can Connect Card looks like a natural
start by uploading your logo. This extension of your website; a virtual
creates consistency and familiarity as handshake, if you will. So, the more you
people navigate your website and your can customize it to reflect your church's
physical building. look and feel, the better!

THE 7 COMPONENTS YOUR PLAN A VISIT FEATURE NEEDS TO HAVE

 INTERACTIVE
QUESTIONS

With SMART Connect

Cards, you can now
embed an interactive
card on your website.
The questions are asked
one at a time, building
on the last one to be
more personalized. For
example, the first
question asks for the
person’s name. Then,
their name is used to
ask the second question.

This approach is more

3
personalized and is
proven to increase the
likelihood that the card
gets filled out. Generic
forms with all of the
questions listed out are
completed LESS OFTEN
than cards like ours that
prompt people for a
response one question
at a time.

DID YOU KNOW? When Vendio, a website building tool, compared an on-page form
versus a multi-step form, they saw a 214% increase in people filling out the form!

THE 7 COMPONENTS YOUR PLAN A VISIT FEATURE NEEDS TO HAVE

 CHILD CARE SIGN UP

4
"You don’t have people standing in your atrium,
with the deer in the headlights look on their
face because they can’t find the childcare."

THE 7 COMPONENTS YOUR PLAN A VISIT FEATURE NEEDS TO HAVE

SEE IT IN ACTION
HEAD OVER TO OUR DEMO SITE:
https://demo.textinchurch.com

TAKE ME TO YOUR DEMO SITE

AUTOMATIC
FOLLOW-UP TEXT
AND EMAIL
MESSAGING

"In 3 weeks we have had 16 people

go through our Plan A Visit process
with the Smart Connect Card.
Before the card, we struggled
getting people to fill out a form but

5
this one is working and we
are super excited about it!!"

- Ryan Keller
Church On A Mission

WHY YOU CAN'T LEAVE THIS

FEATURE OUT:
This is one of the most important elements of your
Plan A Visit tool. Connecting with your potential first
time guests and getting them all the information they
need takes time if you want to do it effectively. That's
why getting a tool that does it for you will make sure
no one slips through the cracks. We're talking follow-
up text and email messages leading up to your
Sunday service! This leaves those website visitors
feeling loved and reached out to as they prepare to
come to your church.

THE 7 COMPONENTS YOUR PLAN A VISIT FEATURE NEEDS TO HAVE

 6
STAFF NOTIFICATIONS

Staff notifications are a gift to church leaders everywhere!

We can all relate to a time when something on our mental
to-do list didn't happen. This takes that human error out of
the equation. No more remembering to check for new
entries, no more "I'll make a note so I don't forget".

It's crucial to choose a platform where these notification

messages can happen automatically. Someone fills out the
card on your website, triggering the workflow to send a
message to a staff member.

With Text In Church, we make that happen and even

include the phone script or email template needed for the
staff or volunteer to complete the task.

THE 7 COMPONENTS YOUR PLAN A VISIT FEATURE NEEDS TO HAVE

 NO SHOW
FOLLOW-UP
MESSAGING
Plan A Visit is an incredibly powerful tool.
Unfortunately, people will fill out your Plan A
Visit form and still not show up. As we
alluded to in the "3 Reasons You Need a
Plan A Visit Feature On Your Website", the
no show follow-up messaging is what
allows you to stay connected with them.

With Text In Church, your staff will get a

7
notification reminding them to add your no
shows from that week to receive these
meaningful messages. Those individuals
had plans to come but didn't follow
through. And if you track this in your church
management system, like Planning Center
or CCB, you can simply sync these lists with
our 2-way integration.

THE 7 COMPONENTS YOUR PLAN A VISIT FEATURE NEEDS TO HAVE

Thousands of Churches

This system has helped bring people in the door, get

them back each week and keep them informed of future
events coming up. It's a great program that has helped
our church reach our community. -Chris Rathbone

Our guests are texting instead of filling out a

communication card, and I’m able to makes sure
people aren’t slipping through the cracks. The
automated work flows are so great too - set it and
forget it.I highly recommend TIC. If we can sque eze it
in the budget I promise you can too. Follow up IS KEY
to keeping guests and making them feel NOTICED and
important. Get this tool that makes YOUR job that much
easier
-Ashley Cruz

Great product. Makes it much easier to follow-up with

guests. We are seeing about an 80% return rate of
guests since using Text In Church, which is considerably
higher than prior to using the product. -Russ Atter
 THE 6 KEY PLAN A VISIT
MESSAGES THAT ENGAGE
YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS
 #1 IMMEDIATE TEXT
"Thank you so much, {FIRST_NAME}! I am excited to see you at
Hebrews Church this weekend! I’ll be sending you an email with a
few details, but if you have questions, I’m here to help :) -Ali"

The key to this first text is brevity and excitement! You want people to know they
filled out this online card and it didn't get lost in some digital abyss. Someone is
on the other side and so excited to see them.

It's also a great way to give them a heads up for more information to come.
Whether you're going to send them an email or give them a call, you can let
them know about it.

THE 6 KEY PLAN A VISIT MESSAGES THAT ENGAGE YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS
 #2 IMMEDIATE EMAIL

Hey there, {First Name}!

My name is Ali and I am the Connections Pastor at Hebrews

Church. I am so excited that you are going to visit Hebrews
Church on Sunday! While I don’t know what is bringing you to
our church and what your experience with church has been, I
know you will feel embraced and encouraged here!

We do have designated guest parking at the front, west side of

the parking lot; please use these; they are for YOU :)

When you come in the main entrance, you will run right into
our Welcome Center. Stop by! I’d love to meet you and give
you a small gift!

Here are some quick details on what to expect for Sunday…

Location: 1234 S. 5th Street

Service Times: 9:00 and 10:30am
Nursery: 0-3yr olds during both services (safe, loving, quality
care!)
Sunday School: 4-8yr olds (fun games, learning and
activities!)
What Should I Wear? Casual. Most people wear jeans.

Do you have any other questions?

Looking forward to meeting you!
Ali

THE 6 KEY PLAN A VISIT MESSAGES THAT ENGAGE YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS
 #3 EMAIL REMINDER
Hi Ali,

___ has filled out the Plan A Visit feature on your website. Please give them a call and
introduce yourself, thank them for planning a visit, and see if they have any questions.
Use the script below as a guide, and check the notes for details on their visit.

Here is their information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Phone Number:
Notes:

Phone script: Hi {First Name}, my name is ______. I just wanted to call and introduce
myself. I saw you filled out the form on our website and I am so excited you’re going to
visit Hebrews Church! Is there anything you want to talk through before you come or
any questions I can answer? Okay well I really hope I get the chance to meet you in
person on Sunday. Take Care!

Thanks for all you do!

~Hebrews Church Team

The ability to automatically send these reminders to staff or a volunteer is so

important to ensure that guests feel thought of. It also takes the pressure off of
you or the staff/volunteer to remember to make this phone call.

Even if they don't answer the phone, it is a thoughtful and personal gesture to
take the time to call them. If there's no answer, leave a polite voicemail with a
name and number to call back if they want. More than anything, they will
appreciate you thinking of them.

THE 6 KEY PLAN A VISIT MESSAGES THAT ENGAGE YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS
FREE FOR
14 DAYS
Our proven Plan A Visit system
helps you convert your website
traffic into regular attendees.
Automatically send the perfect
emails and text messages to your
first time guests to make them
feel important and well cared for.

START MY FREE TRIAL

FOR TICKETS:

+1 660 220 9099

[email protected]
 #4 TEXT INVITE

“Hey {FIRST_NAME}, it’s Ali with Hebrews Church! We’re

so looking forward to meeting you tomorrow; I’ll be at
the Welcome Center in between services, so please
stop by and say hello!”

THE 6 KEY PLAN A VISIT MESSAGES THAT ENGAGE YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS
 #5 TEXT INVITE

Send at 8am
“Good morning! Don’t forget there is designated parking for you
and a gift at the welcome center. See ya at 9!”

THE 6 KEY PLAN A VISIT MESSAGES THAT ENGAGE YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS
 #6 EMAIL REMINDER
Message sent to staff a day after the service:

Hi Ali,

{FIRST_NAME} filled out the Plan A Visit form for this

past Sunday. Please check in with the staff and see if
anyone connected with them or if they were a no
show. If they were a no show, please add them to the
no show group.

Here is their information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Phone Number:
Notes:

Sending this reminder email creates accountability so

these guests aren't overlooked or forgotten. Putting
them into a follow-up sequence based on whether or
not they showed up allows you to continue to
personalize your messaging... which is so powerful!

Being able to automate these reminder messages by

using Text In Church takes human error out of tasks
like these and fills in the cracks that so many guests
have fallen through!

THE 6 KEY PLAN A VISIT MESSAGES THAT ENGAGE YOUR WEBSITE VISITORS
Thousands of Churches
THE 3 MESSAGES
THAT KEEP
YOU CONNECTED
WITH YOUR
"NO SHOWS"
 #1 EMAIL
Hi {FIRST_NAME},

We know life is crazy busy and jumping in to a new

church can feel scary. If there is anything we can do to
alleviate any fear or hurdles to checking out Hebrews
Church, please let us know. We’d love the opportunity
to meet you and encourage you as you seek out a
church home.

Keep in touch!
Pastor Ali

THE 3 MESSAGES THAT KEEP YOU CONNECTED WITH YOUR "NO SHOWS"
#2 REMINDER EMAIL
Hi Ali,

{FIRST_NAME} was a no show after filling out the Plan A Visit feature on our website.
Please see if you can find them on FB and friend them. Then, send a brief message...

Here is their information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Phone Number:
Notes:

Script: Sorry I missed you on Sunday at Hebrews Church. Will you be there this
Sunday? I’d love to meet you!

THE 3 MESSAGES THAT KEEP YOU CONNECTED WITH YOUR "NO SHOWS"
 #3 TEXT

Saturday at 9:37am
Hey {FIRST_NAME}! I’d love the chance to meet you tomorrow!
Service is at 10:30 and the coffee will be hot! :) ~Ali

THE 3 MESSAGES THAT KEEP YOU CONNECTED WITH YOUR "NO SHOWS"
 LIVE DEMO
Monday through Thursday at 12pm CST
We help answer your questions, show you best
strategies and set you up for success.

SCHEDULE MY LIVE DEMO

BONUS VIDEO SCRIPTS
 WEBSITE Add a 45 second welcome and
VIDEO SCRIPT invite video to your Plan A Visit
Landing page, asking them to click
the Plan My Visit button below.

Hi there, I’m Pastor Ali. Thanks for visiting Hebrews Church Online! We
are so glad you’re checking us out and we hope we’ll get the chance to
meet you in person!

Hebrews Church is all about loving God and loving others. We gather
on Sunday mornings; our traditional service is at 9:00am, and our
contemporary service starts at 11:00am.

We know it can feel scary coming to a new church for the first time,
and we want you to feel comfortable from the moment you pull into
the parking lot. That's why we would love for you to click on the "Plan
My Visit" icon below. This will allow us to send you some helpful
information on where to park, and what to expect when you walk
through the door. And if you have kids, this will help checking them in
to our amazing children's ministry go as smooth as possible.... It's a
great way for us to connect with you. See you Sunday!
 EMAIL VIDEO
SCRIPT Send this 90 second welcome video
in an email telling them what to
expect on Sunday when they visit

Thank you SO much for planning your visit at Hebrews Church this Sunday!! We are so
excited to meet you and want your experience to be great!! Here’s a couple of things we
get asked about a lot that might be helpful!

There is parking reserved for you at the north side of the parking lot. The spots are
marked with “guest parking” signs, which means they’re for you! So don’t be afraid to
use them!
If you’re bringing kids under the age of 10, we would love for them to join us in Children’s
Church! The kids play games, sing songs, and listen to a Bible story. It’s a lot of fun!!
Go through the main doors and you will walk right into the kids check in station. The
volunteers there will be ready to give a quick tour and help get your kids excited about
staying while you enjoy the service.
Our services usually last around an hour. I know sometimes trying a new church can
feel weird or intimidating, so let me try to relieve as much of that as I can. Hebrews
Church is a mid sized church; we average about 300 people on a Sunday morning.
Most people dress pretty casual; lots of people wear jeans, but some do dress up a bit
more with slacks or a dress, so wear whatever makes you most comfortable! The
service usually starts with some singing. People at our church worship in a lot of
different ways, so if you see people dancing or waving their arms or even sitting with
their eyes closed, they are just connecting with God in the way that is most comfortable
to them; feel free to do the same! After worship, we do some announcements, pastor
Brad talks for about 20 minutes, we sing a couple more songs, and then we are done!
Don't forget to stop by the Welcome Center and grab your welcome gift before or after
the service.

If you have any questions before Sunday, just reply to this email! We can't wait to have
you join us!