Take a minute to imagine this scenario: you walk into a church for the first time already a little nervous about not knowing anyone, and the nice door greeter says that to get to the worship center you need to walk down the main hall, take your second right, first left, go around the curved wall, past the new bathrooms, and to the right. You smile, thank him, and start slowly trying to follow these confusing directions. However, as soon as you take that second right, you forget the next step, look around hopefully for a sign, and discover there’s not one. It’s at this moment that you realize that church signage matters.
Church signage is about so much more than labels, markers, and directions. It’s about security, comfort, and confidence for your guests. While this sounds great in theory, how do you go about creating a great signage system for your church? Where does branding fit in? What have other churches done? What’s the process?
We’ve put together this step-by-step guide to making church signage decisions so you can be confident that your church signage will help guests and members navigate your building without getting lost.
Step 1: Walk Through Your Church Building
The first step in creating effective church signage is to walk through your church building with fresh eyes. This can be done with just your signage team, but it’s even better if you bring in a guest who’s never been in your building or hire an outside consultant.
As you walk through your church building, carry a map of your building with you and mark every intersection and significant location. Consider entering through each door so you don’t miss any pathway guests may take when entering your building. This map will serve as your shopping list when it comes to picking out your church signs.
Step 2: Set a Budget
Next, it’s time to talk numbers. Now that you’ve walked around your building and seen the extent of signage you’ll need, you’ll be able to approach the budget realistically. Keep in mind that custom signage is going to be much more expensive than basic orders. There are also many signage supplier options. These can range from local businesses to larger corporations, so do your homework and compare your choices.
Step 3: Prioritize Branding
When it comes to church signage, branding should be a priority. Your signage will be seen by everyone who enters your building and it can help to set the tone and even contribute to the culture of your church. Everything from the font to the colors and the medium (wood, metal, plastic, etc.) impacts visual appeal. Take a good look at your logo, colors, and overall branding, and make sure that your signage fits.
If you’re looking for inspiration from other churches, this Pinterest board is a great place to start, and here are a few examples of different indoor signage styles.
Step 4: Plan to Highlight Important Areas
While it’s important that guests can find every location in your church, some areas are higher priority than others. For example, guests should easily be able to find and identify your welcome centers. Consider adding a sign that is attention-grabbing to these spots. It’s also important that your main areas of worship, bathrooms, and elevators are marked clearly too.
For more on welcome centers and guest follow-up, check out this ultimate church visitor follow-up strategy.
Step 5: Choose Your Signage
This next step is the fun part! Get together with your signage team and work to pick out (or customize) your signs and get them ordered. Remember, when selecting signage there are multiple options, so make sure to choose what is best for your church. You can choose from hanging signs, standing signs, wall mounts, and more. It’s also important to decide if you need any temporary signs along with your permanent signs.
Don’t forget to consider your exterior signage. Visitors will need to be able to identify outside locations and entrances.
Step 6: Install Your Signs
Whether you choose to install all of your church signage yourself, or hire a company to do it, be strategic with the timing and placement. The best time to start installing church signage is Monday morning so you can be sure everything is in place and ready for Sunday. Partial or incomplete signage can be confusing. Also, be sure to install signs securely so they won’t fall or potentially damage property or people.
Step 7: Celebrate!
Lastly, take some time to admire your hard work and celebrate your accomplishments! Planning and establishing church signage is no small feat, and it’s important to celebrate the big things. Grab your team and go out for lunch or host a small party somewhere on the premises. If you’ve done your job, everyone will show up to the right place.
Next Steps
Once you’ve installed great signage around your campus, you might think about your worship graphics and worship media. Enhance your ministry with amazing visuals that from our church graphics bundle. You’ll get the best in church PowerPoints, bulletins, flyers, newsletters, stunning worship graphics, loops and mini-movies. All church graphics are available in 4K (UHD), SD and Photoshop, downloadable in a variety of formats. Try it for free!