UU Growth Lab Members - Our newest on-demand training "2 Key Videos for Membership Growth" has been added to our member area along with strategy takeaway notes, training transcript, and audio MP3 of the training.
This training explains the content strategy for two videos I recommend you add to your congregation's website as soon as possible:
1. First Time Visitor Page Video
2. Meet the Minister Videos
These vidoes support your online visitors as they engage in self-guided exploration, research your congregation, and assess whether they are going to visit or not. Read more about there videos and why they matter below.
Want to help more web visitors decide to visit your congregation? Download the training strategy notes, print them, and discuss at your next related membership, hospitality, finance, or other growth related meeting.
Watch, Listen, Read
The following content and resources are available for this training. All are available via this training's page in our member area here.
- Watch the Training (Video) with captions and playback control - speed me up, slow me down - and search within the video.
- Strategy Takeaway Notes (PDF)
- Training Full Transcript (PDF)
- Audio MP3 File
The replay of our 7/15/25 live session via Zoom is also available in our member area. Before recording our monthly on-demand training, I offer it via Zoom. Questions, feedback, and my resulting insights from the live session are then incorporated into our on-demand member training.
Two Key Videos for Membership Growth
In this training and associated resources, I share what to include in the following videos and why I think they are mission critical.
First Time Visitor Page Video
This serves as your online greeter, meeting people in that crucial moment when they're researching whether your community might be right for them. Today, most people do extensive online research before visiting any congregation, and without human relational presence on your website, you're essentially asking them to make a leap based on text and photos alone. This video transforms anonymous website browsing into a warm, personal encounter that addresses the psychological questions every newcomer is asking: "Am I safe here? Will I belong? What should I expect?" By offering empathy, clarity, and a guided next step, this simple video can be the difference between someone clicking away uncertain and someone saying, "Yes, I can see myself here" turning online curiosity into an in-person visits that grows your congregation.
Meet the Minister Video: This video removes one of the biggest barriers to congregational connection by transforming your minister from an abstract intimidating or uncertain strange "clergy figure" into a relatable human being. For many people exploring congregations - especially those who are unchurched, have religious baggage, or simply don't know what to expect from a UU minister - not knowing who your spiritual leader is creates an invisible wall that prevents them from taking the step to visit. This video replicates the experience of having coffee one-on-one with your minister, allowing every curious person to hear their story, understand their journey, and get a sense of what they love about your congregation. I've been married to a UU minister since 2004. I can say with certainty that this is one of the most important pieces of content your congregation can make today.
Mission Critical
Without this content on your website, people are exploring on their own without your full presence, guidance, and support. Using video we can have your leaders online, on-demand, and available to welcome, greet and support every single person who lands on your website as they discern if your congregation is right for them.
If you think of the online exploration and research process as being like an online visit, imagine the impact of having a human being (on video) to greet people, guide them as they plan their first visit, and offered a chance to get to know your minister (also via video).
We can help more people move from "I'm not sure so I'm going to skip it" to "YES!" and signing up for the next step you recommend.
Members: You will need to be logged in to my training site to access member area links.
Want to join us? If you are not a member of the UU Growth Lab, I invite you to learn more at https://www.uugrowthlab.com.
Every month I share a new on-demand training related to growing Unitarian Universalist congregations.
When you join, you get instant access to our member area including all previous trainings, associated print resources, audio MP3 files of trainings, live session replays, and early access to claim live session seats.
If you have questions, you may contact me here. ~ Peter Bowden
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