Odd as it may sound, one of the scariest places to go is church. When a visitor—especially one that hasn’t been in a church for years—takes that first step inside a church building, they often are filled with numerous anxieties and questions.
What door should I go in? Am I dressed appropriately? Will people be nice to me? Will they be “too nice” and try to push me into something I’m not ready for? What are the escape routes in case my experience goes horribly wrong?
These are just some of the questions many visitors have when they come to your church.
But Google has offered a way to calm many of those fears and provide a safe and easy way for people to get the answers. Last month, Google unveiled a new feature to Google Maps—interior photos for local businesses. It’s the perfect way to give a virtual tour to people wanting to check out your church or organization.
To get started, you’ll first need to make sure your church or organization is already listed on Google Maps and associated with a user account. Then you need to get hooked up with a certified Google photographer. Fortunately, doing so is relatively easy. You can find a photographer in your area and they will work with you to set up a time and negotiate a fee.
Think of it as part of your outreach/evangelism budget. Then leave the rest up to Google! It’s an easy way to get yourself out there in just one more way.
And if you’ve already participated in this new feature or have used a certified Google photographer in the past for other services, let us know about it!
