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7 tips for creating a print handout that works
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityThe church loves print materials! Historically, church communication revolved around the bulletin. When announcements were made, often a bulletin was referred to. Why? Because it was the only way for families to be reminded of ministry activity. But problems come with print materials. Today, most people prefer to go to the internet and discover the information rather than find where they put the handout. But the problem with websites? Older demographics resist them. So, let’s discuss ways to create effective print handouts.
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4 tips to simplify planning for Christmas
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityYou see it year after year: More people filling in your pews for the Christmas service. Some are coming to make their obligatory annual church appearance, while others are faithful members who are eager to participate in the traditions of a Christmas Eve service. Though having more people fill the sanctuary is a good thing; seeing a noticeable decline in attendance after the holiday can be discouraging. However, this attendance spike at Christmas is an opportunity to turn your unchurched guests into active church members. One way to do this is by planning a memorable Christmas service that motivates and inspires.
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10 do’s and don’ts for church communicators’ sanity
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunitySummer's winding down and the fall is taking over discussions. In this short lull before the chaos of programs starting back up, it's a good time to decide you'll do certain things and put others on a don't list. The church communicator juggles a ton of responsibilities, and our personalities are different from others we work with. That means we can go crazy if we aren’t careful! Here are do's and don'ts to remain sane in our crazy communication world.
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Every church needs this type of calendar
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityWhen our kids got busy in sports, school, church, and with friends, events would regularly pop up at the last minute. The confusion of having necessary and optional meetings, coupled with our already busy lives, drove us to developing a family calendar that everyone shared on computers and phones. This very simple addition calmed our family’s chaos and created a simple go-to area for planning — plus it gave us the ability to say no to something because of conflicts on the calendar. Your church needs this, too. It's the building block of a communication strategy.
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Preparing for back-to-school and other fall events
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityAs the days of summer set in, you’re probably already thinking about the transition into the busy season ahead. Your summer calendars are most likely getting a nice break from constant activity, but now is the time to get your fall event schedules in order. Here’s how to prepare for back-to-school and other fall events.
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6 steps to great church video
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityPeople love video. If your church communication does not contain video, you need to start considering how to add it to your mix. But it’s a difficult thing to do! Many churches now have a few people who understand light, and edit and produce videos. However, great videos always start with a great story that needs to be discovered or written. Start small and work toward more complex videos as required! For a great, basic video that tells a compelling story, here are six steps.
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What to look for in church management software
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityLeveraging church management software (ChMS) is how many churches keep up with first-time guests, members, volunteers, and all the data associated with ministry follow-up. In fact, a ChMS tool — which automates daily operations to assist in membership, donations, event planning, marketing processes, etc. — streamlines the back-office side of things so church leaders can support ministry with an efficient and useful tool. There are, however, a lot of ChMS options to choose from. To help you decide, here are three tips on what to look for in church management software.
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7 building blocks for church social media success
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityIt’s difficult to believe we've had social media for almost two decades. We once wondered if it would have staying power — and now we question if we use it too much! It’s become the "normal" way we keep in touch and the best way to build a following outside of our physical world. You do want to stay in touch with your congregation, don’t you? They're on social media platforms. Your posts can help extend ministry-reach throughout the week (not just on Sunday). But I hope your church is also trying to build a relevant and needed brand following, too! Here are seven building blocks for social media success.
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How to get started with digital giving
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityWith fewer people using checks for purchases (or even carrying a checkbook with them), it’s time to consider providing additional giving options. By creating a digital giving platform where your members can donate online through their phone or on a kiosk, you may actually see an increase in donations. If technology is where people are hanging out anyway, why not meet them there? Here’s an introduction on how to get started with digital giving.
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How to transition from a print hub to a digital hub
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityThe church has notoriously created a bulletin (or worship guide) that is the collection of anything important to the congregation. It may have the order of service, scripture that will be discussed in service, obituaries, offering totals, upcoming events, flyers, stories, sermon notes and many other things. All is well, except most people don’t read it. Every church needs to consider switching from a print hub to a digital hub where all communication revolves around the website. Here are the seven steps to make the switch.
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