Spring Cleaning Your Church Communications: 7 Things to Freshen Up This Week

Spring is a good time to clean out closets and wipe down baseboards. It’s also a great chance to review your church’s communications—those things you use to keep people in the loop, invite newcomers, and build up your church family.

Communication tools can get cluttered or outdated without us realizing it. What started as a quick email template two years ago might still be going out…even though the formatting is off and the sign-up link leads to last summer’s VBS form.

So, while you’re shaking out the welcome mats and planting flowers out front, take an hour or two to review these seven areas of church communication that could probably use some attention.

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7 Church Communication Areas to Spring Clean

‍1. Give your bulletin a refresh (or retire it altogether)

If your church still uses a printed bulletin, take a moment to give it a facelift. Does it look clean and readable? Are you using a fresh design each season, or is it been “stuck in winter” since December?

Even small things like updated fonts, a new header, or clearer sections can make a difference. If your crowd is already using phones during service to follow along with Scripture or take notes, maybe now’s the time to shift to a digital version altogether. Tools like Linktree, Canva, or even a simple page on your church website can house weekly information in a mobile-friendly way.

Remember to communicate the shift clearly and show people how to access the new version.

2. Review your email newsletter

Weekly email newsletters can be helpful… or ignored. You don’t need to overhaul it entirely, but give it a once-over with these questions in mind:

• Are you still using last year’s header graphic?
• Is the layout easy to scan on a phone?
• Are people reading it? (Check open and click rates if you can.)

Try trimming extra sections no one clicks on, updating links, and reordering things so the most important updates are near the top. If your emails feel cluttered or too long, test a shorter version for a few weeks and see how it goes.

3. Check your social media bios and profile info

Your church’s social media profiles are often the first place someone looks before visiting. It’s worth making sure:

• Your bio or description reflects your current service times, mission, or values.
• The link in your bio works (especially if you’ve switched platforms).
• Your pinned posts (if you use them) are still relevant.

While you're there, scroll back through your recent posts. Are they helpful, encouraging, and consistent? Or do you have three posts in one week and then nothing for a month?

You don’t need to post daily, but a steady rhythm builds trust. If you’re low on content ideas, consider posting one Scripture verse, one ministry highlight, and one reminder each week. Simple is fine.

4. Update your printed materials

If you offer a printed ministry catalog, seasonal calendar, or welcome brochure, grab a copy and take five minutes to flip through it.

Ask:

• Are the dates still current?
• Are staff names and contact info up-to-date?
• Is the language clear for someone who’s brand new?

You might catch something as simple as a typo or as big as a whole ministry that no longer exists. If it’s time to reprint something, this is a great excuse to freshen the design or reorganize the content to make it easier to read.

5. Look over your website (yes, again)

Your website appeared on the spring cleaning list, and it’s worth repeating here. It’s not just about design; it’s part of your communication strategy.

Make sure it reflects what’s happening in the life of your church. Upcoming events should be current, service times accurate, and contact info easy to find. Your homepage should clearly show who you are and what visitors can expect.

Even small updates—like replacing a Christmas banner with an Easter one—show that your church pays attention and cares.

6. Audit your announcement time

Okay, this isn’t a digital thing, but it is communication. It might be time to simplify if your Sunday morning announcements feel rushed, unclear, or too long.

Some ideas to clean it up:

• Limit to 2–3 key items max.
• Avoid “insider speak” that only long-time members would understand.
• Use slides or graphics that support—not compete with—what’s being said.

Announcements should help people take their next step, not just fill time before the sermon.

7. Make your main “next steps” crystal clear

This one’s often missed, but it’s big. If someone is new or ready to get involved, do they know what to do?

Look at every communication channel—your bulletin, website, lobby signage, welcome center—and ask: What’s the next step we’re pointing people to?

Whether it’s “Text WELCOME to this number,” “Come to Starting Point next Sunday,” or “Stop by the info desk to get connected,” the step should be obvious and consistent.

If five different messages are floating around, people get confused. Pick one or two and stick with them.

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Final Thoughts: Don’t Overhaul—Just Tidy What Matters

You don’t need to rebrand everything or build a new communication plan from scratch. But a little intentional review each spring can help your messages stay clear, current, and helpful. People are busy. They don’t need more information—they need the right information, at the right time, in the right place.

Start with what you already have. Fix what’s outdated. Clean up what’s confusing. And don’t be afraid to hit “delete” on something that’s no longer serving your church.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about clarity, connection, and caring enough to make the small changes that help people feel seen and supported.

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Bonus Tip: Keep an Annual or Seasonal Communication Review Schedule

Spring is a great time to refresh your communications—but why stop there? Build a habit of checking in on your church’s communication strategy throughout the year by setting a recurring review schedule.

This could be as simple as marking your calendar for a quarterly “Comms Check-In” or including communication updates in your annual ministry planning retreat. You might review:

• Email templates and newsletter metrics
• Website content and design
• Printed materials and welcome brochures
• Social media bios, link trees, and posting rhythm
• Key messaging for next steps and new visitors

A regular review ensures your materials stay current, consistent, and aligned with your church’s vision. It also gives you space to plan ahead—rather than scrambling last-minute before Easter or Christmas.

Helpful Idea: Create a simple Church Communication Calendar (Google Sheets or Trello works fine!) with reminders for seasonal updates, content deadlines, and platform audits. Over time, this kind of ongoing church communication planning helps your team stay proactive instead of reactive.

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