A Church Event Promo Social Kit: The 5 Posts That Fill Rooms

One post won't fill your event.

The algorithm means any single post reaches only a small percentage of your followers—often just 1-5%. And even among those who see it, most scroll past.

A strategic sequence of 5 posts—each with a different job—reaches more people and gives multiple chances to engage.

This isn't spamming. It's smart promotion.

The 5-Post Sequence

Post 1: The Announcement (3-4 weeks out)

Job: Awareness. Get it on their radar.

This is the first time most people are hearing about the event. You're planting a seed, not closing a sale.

What to include:

• Event name
• Date and time
• What it is (one sentence)
• Eye-catching graphic

Caption:

Women's Retreat — April 12-14

A weekend of rest, connection, and renewal at Camp Pine Lake.

Save the date. Details coming soon.

Format:

Single image or short video. Visual should be clear even without reading the caption.

Post 2: The Story (2-3 weeks out)

Job: Emotional connection. Show why this matters.

Now that people know the event exists, give them a reason to care.

Options:

• Testimonial from someone who attended last time
• Quote from a leader about why this event matters
• Short video: pastor or leader sharing the vision
• Photos from a previous event with reflection

Caption example:

"Last year's retreat was the first time I felt like I could breathe in months."

That's what we're going for again. A weekend to reset.

Registration is open. Link in bio.

Why it works:

Facts inform. Stories move. This post creates desire.

Post 3: The Details (1-2 weeks out)

Job: Answer questions. Remove barriers.

By now, people are considering it. But they have practical questions. Answer them before they ask.

What to include:

• Location (with address if off-site)
• Cost and what's included
• Childcare availability
• What to bring
• How to register

Format:

Carousel or infographic works well. Multiple slides for multiple details.

Caption:

Here's everything you need to know about the Women's Retreat:

📍 Camp Pine Lake (45 min north)

💵 $150 (lodging + meals included)

👶 Childcare not provided—this is your getaway

🎒 Bring: comfy clothes, toiletries, Bible

Register by March 29. Link in bio.

Why it works:

This catches the procrastinators who saw the earlier posts but weren't ready. Now the logistics are clear.

Post 4: The Social Proof (1 week out)

Job: Create FOMO. Show momentum.

Humans are herd creatures. We want to do what others are doing.

Options:

• "45 women are already signed up!"
• "Spots are filling—only 10 left."
• Screenshot of registration confirmations (no names)
• Posts from people saying they're going

Format:

Countdown graphic, Story highlight, or simple post.

Caption:

45 women are already in. A few spots left.

Tag a friend who should join you. Link in bio.

Bonus:

Create an Instagram Story with the "I'm going!" sticker. Share responses to build momentum.

Why it works:

FOMO is real. Seeing others commit helps fence-sitters decide.

Post 5: The Last Call (day before or day of)

Job: Final push. Urgency.

This is for the people who've been meaning to sign up and haven't.

Format:

Story or quick post. Nothing elaborate.

Caption:

Tomorrow we leave for Camp Pine Lake.

Last chance to join us.

[Link]

Why it works:

Urgency. Short and sweet. No long explanation—they've heard it all by now.

The Sequence at a Glance

Five posts. Five weeks. One filled event.

What About Bigger Events?

For major events (Easter, Christmas, VBS), extend the sequence:

• Add behind-the-scenes posts (rehearsals, decorations)
• Add a "share this" post (invite cards, digital graphics)
• Add a personal invite video from the pastor

For a 6-week push, you might have 7-8 posts. But the core structure is the same: awareness → emotion → details → proof → urgency.

Cross-Platform Considerations

Instagram:

• Feed posts for polished content
• Stories for casual updates, countdowns, polls
• Reels for video clips

Facebook:

• Create a Facebook Event (seriously—it's free and built for this)
• Post to the event wall 1-2x per week
• Share to your page and relevant groups

Both:

• Repurpose the same content across platforms
• Adjust format slightly (Instagram is more visual; Facebook tolerates more text)

Common Mistakes

"We posted about it"—once. That's not a promotion, it's a mention.

If all five posts say the exact same thing, it gets tuned out. Each post needs a distinct job.

The visual should make sense in 2 seconds. Save details for the caption.

Every post should tell people what to do next: save the date, register, tag a friend.

One week of promotion isn't enough for most events. Give yourself 3-4 weeks minimum.

The DIY Event Promo Kit

For each event, prepare:

1. Announcement graphic — Event name, date, tagline
2. Story/testimonial content — Quote, video clip, or reflection
3. Details graphic or carousel — FAQ style
4. Social proof content — Registration count, testimonials
5. Last call graphic — Simple, urgent

Create these in Canva or your design tool of choice. Template them so future events are faster to produce.

Tracking What Works

After the event:

• How many registrations before each post?
• Which post drove the most traffic to the registration page?
• Did social proof or urgency perform best?

Adjust for next time. Over time, you'll learn what your audience responds to.