Uncertainty, not interest
When an online viewer hasn’t visited yet, it’s easy to assume they’re just not interested. Often they are. They just don’t know what will happen when they walk in:
- Where do I park?
- What should I wear?
- Will anyone talk to me, or will everyone stare?
- Do I need to know the songs?
- What about my kids? Is it safe?
- Will I feel out of place?
Each unanswered question makes the visit feel riskier. Each answered one helps someone picture themselves in the room before they get there. That’s ministry work, even when it looks like a web page.
What to put on the page
Write it to one person: someone nervous, coming alone, who has only seen your church through a screen.
The basics
- Service times and roughly how long the service lasts.
- Address with a map link, where to park, and which door to use. Add a photo of the entrance.
- Accessibility: accessible parking, step-free entry, hearing assistance, and seating.
What it’s like
- What people usually wear. “Most people wear jeans; some dress up. Come as you are” is perfect.
- What happens during the service, in plain words: music, prayer, a message, how long each part takes.
- That nobody will single them out. Say it directly if guests are never asked to stand or introduce themselves.
Kids
- What’s available for each age group, and whether kids can stay with parents instead.
- How check-in works and how children are kept safe. Parents want to know this before they arrive. (See QR check-in setup.)
A real person
- The name and photo of someone who’ll greet them, ideally someone they might already know from the online chat.
- One simple, optional way to say “I’m coming this Sunday,” so someone can watch for them.
Add a 90-second video
The most effective part of a what-to-expect page is often a short video of the pastor speaking directly to a first-time guest:
- Open warmly (10 seconds): “If you’ve been watching online and thinking about visiting, this is for you.”
- Walk through arrival (40 seconds): show the parking lot, the entrance, the lobby, and the kids’ check-in, while describing what happens.
- Describe the service (25 seconds): how long it is, what it feels like, and that they don’t need to know anything in advance.
- Close with an invitation (15 seconds): “When you come, look for [name] at the door. We’d love to meet you.”
A phone, good light, and clear audio are enough. Warmth matters more than polish. Re-record it whenever times, rooms, or staff change.
Link it everywhere
The page only works if curious viewers find it. Link it from:
- The end of your live stream and the end-of-service slide
- YouTube end screens and sermon descriptions (see the platform guide)
- Sermon clip captions and your Instagram bio
- Your private community’s welcome channel
- Your website’s main menu, not buried three clicks deep
Add it to your touchpoint map with an owner who checks it every quarter.
Make the first visit match the page
The page makes a promise. Sunday has to keep it. If it says “look for Sarah at the door,” Sarah needs to be at the door. If it says check-in takes a minute, it should.
With WorshipMetrics People, first-time guests who check in with a QR code land in your directory without a volunteer typing anything, and they’re recognized automatically the next time they come. Pair that with a personal follow-up (see from anonymous to known) so the welcome doesn’t end at the door.
Before your biggest Sundays
Christmas Eve and Easter bring many first-time visitors, including people who’ve only ever watched online. Update the page and video a few weeks before, and include special service times. For the booth side of the same night, see Christmas Eve readiness.
Related questions
- What should a church 'what to expect' page include?
- Service times and length, address and parking, where to enter, what people usually wear, what the service is like, what happens with kids (including check-in and safety), accessibility details, and who will greet them. Add a short welcome video from the pastor and one simple way to let you know they're coming.
- Do we really need a video on the what to expect page?
- It helps a lot. A 90-second video of the pastor speaking directly to a first-time guest, ideally showing the entrance, the lobby, and the room, lets people picture themselves there before they arrive. A phone and good light are enough.
- Where should we link the what to expect page?
- Everywhere a curious viewer might be: the end of your live stream, YouTube end screens and descriptions, sermon clip captions, your Instagram bio, your private community's welcome channel, and your website's main menu.
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