Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have started to shift more and more parts of their lives online. Some have moved back to in-person experiences, such as going into the office and attending church in person, but some haven’t. If you want your church to grow, you must accommodate both types of people. One way to do that is to provide in-person worship services and classes that you simultaneously live stream for your virtual audience. If you already have a church live stream, that’s great. However, there are ways to make it better for viewers so they keep coming back week after week.
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Make Your Live Stream Easy To Find
Providing a live stream is excellent. However, the live stream is pointless if viewers can’t easily find it. Various live-streaming platforms are available, from social media sites to specific platforms dedicated to streaming. Design a website that stands out from the crowd and make sure it provides a great user experience, including an easy link to your live stream. This way, regular attendees and guests can quickly peruse your website and find everything they need, including how to attend your services virtually.
Provide High-Quality Video
Can your church film video for a quick and easy live stream using a staff member’s phone? Yes. Can a phone-filmed live stream truly capture the experience for virtual attendees? No. If you want to make your live stream better for viewers and truly embrace your virtual audience, you need to film high-quality video that makes them feel like they’re in your sanctuary. Use dedicated videography equipment, not just whatever equipment you already have on hand. Add or change lighting and microphones so viewers can see and hear everything. Assign a person to watch over the live stream so someone can immediately address any problems that arise.
Interact with Your Virtual Audience
Perhaps your live stream is already easy to find, and you’re on the ball with providing high-quality video. You can still improve in your live stream endeavors, specifically with how you and the church at large interact with virtual parishioners. Many church leaders greet those attending the live stream at the beginning of the service and then act like they’re not there. While they’re not there in person, they are still participating in the service, and someone needs to interact with them. Interactive live streams drive engagement and can help your church thrive. Assign someone to post questions or polls in the live stream chat box or use reaction buttons on attendees’ comments. If possible, communicate questions and reactions to the church leaders at the service, so they can speak directly to the virtual attendees, responding to questions or thanking them for a positive response.
You can make your church live stream better for viewers if you focus on the audience experience, not just getting your church onto a screen. This will create a memorable virtual church experience, so viewers feel like they’re part of your congregation and will continue to attend services.