Marketing pros will tell you that you need to impress a person at least seven times before they will even begin to pay attention to your product or message.  Think about it. Most brands are burned into our minds because they intentionally seek to impress us over and over and over. Why don’t we take this attitude in our churches?

While I believe the first impression is important (Nelson Searcy’s “Seven Minutes and Counting”), I don’t think it stops there. A lot of pastors and leaders I talk with spend most of their time making sure the first impression is successful, and that’s great! But, what about the other six impressions?  I love Nelson’s “seven minutes”, but I would like to broaden your vision and suggest that, really, you have 90 minutes to make “the seven impressions” on your guests. I call it The Seven Impressions Worship Experience.

Here they are (you can also download the PDF here*):

• People usually click before they call or visit -> EXPECTATION
  Does your web site offer a “brand promise?”  If people are not impressed with your web site, they won’t visit your church!
• The message begins in the parking lot. -> EXTERIOR
  Do you have clear directional and guest parking signs? Your values begin here, are you communicating them clearly?
• The Front Door. ->EXPRESSION
  Do you offer an energetic welcome, information and clear direction from people and signage?
• The Gathering Place. ->EXCITEMENT
  Is there an atmosphere of anticipation? Is something great about to happen?
• Staging. ->EXECUTION
  Stage presence = perceived leadership. Are you hitting on all cylinders? Worship, lights, sound, etc.
• The Message. ->EXCLAMATION
  Are you delivering on the “brand promise?” Can people take something useful away from your teaching?
• The Close. ->EXCHANGE
  Did you make an impression? If yes, then people will “exchange” their personal information for yours. Are you following up?

Please keep in mind this is only a very brief outline of what it takes to make the seven impressions count. When teaching these to leaders, I go into much greater detail and also give “real world” examples of how these work.  While I have made the download available, you might have more questions or want to know how to implement this plan.  Please visit my web site at www.paradigmcreative.net and contact me. I will be glad to help you.

Download The Seven Impressions Worship Experience* here.

*This material is copyrighted. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is prohibited. Use only with written permission.