Engaging Your Community with Electronic Communication

Engaging Your Community with Electronic Communication

Today’s Agenda

I. Welcome and introductions

II. Stewardship is not a dirty word

III. Attracting new members

IV. Break

V. Engaging your current members

VI. Results of having an engaged church

Bulletin Improvements?

Stewardship is not a dirty word

What if your members were…• 13 times more likely to have invited someone to attend

mass at your church in the past month?• Were 3 times as satisfied with their lives?• Spent more than 2 hours per week serving and helping

others in their community?• Tripled their giving to their church?• The key…

ENGAGEMENT

How to grow an engaged church?• Attract New Members

– You don’t get a second chance at a first impression– Building and grounds– Welcoming environment– Website

• Engaging Current Members– How easy is it for a new member to know what service

opportunities are needed?– Who do they contact?– Who can answer their questions?

Attracting New Members

Building a GREAT Church website

Website Axiom• In Real Estate its “location, location, location”• On the Internet, we had one axiom, but may be

developing a second:

It’s all about conversation!

Why You Need a Good Website

• The next generation of parishioners are growing up online. Simple. End of Discussion.

• Internet searches are far more common than Yellow Pages searches.

• Your website is your online marketing tool.• If you don’t do it, others will try: masstimes.org,

parishesonline.com, SeekAndFind.com, TheCatholicDirectory.com

Creating a Good Website

• Pick a Content Management System (CMS) that is simple to use.

• Put someone in charge of it. You have a bulletin editor, do you have a website editor?

• Keep the content fresh• Start small…just a few pages and then grow from there

Why You Need a GREAT Website

• The Internet is moving from a marketing and informational tool to an Engagement tool.

• Not only is the next generation of parishioners growing up online, they’re more comfortable engaging there too!

• Your website is your online marketing tool but can also be a parishioner engagement tool. Our goal is to drive engagement online and into Mass.

Creating a GREAT Website• Start with…

– Your Parish Mission and Vision…these will guide you – A theme…does your church already have a logo? Taglines?

Color standards? Standard fonts?

• Hire a professional or a volunteer, but make sure they’re up to the task– Unfortunately, well intentioned volunteers are the number one

cause of outdated and abandoned websites

• Design first, then build and then test…they’re all equally important

• Don’t forget to launch…have a goal and stick to it

Things on a Church’s Home Page

What not to do• Attempt more than you can handle…start with a plan or

start small• Blogging, Facebook, Twitter? Yes, but only if you’re

committed• Pictures of people? Yes, absolutely,

but only with their permission• Flash? Use it sparingly. Remember

it doesn’t work on some mobile devices• No Pop-ups and no special effects• Music, Hit Counters and Busy Backgrounds

Need a new website? WeConnect

Let’s take a break

Engaging New Members

Social Media and the Church

What is the oldest social network?

What is the oldest social network?

Religion

What is a Social Network?

Social Networking is not new, but digital social networking is changing the

way we communicate.

“The new technologies are not only changing the way we communicate, but communication itself, so much so that it could be said that we are living through a period of vast cultural transformation. This means of spreading information and knowledge is giving birth to a new way of learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowship.”

Message Of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVIFor the 45th World Day of CommunicationsJune 5, 2011

The Internet is Now Leading the Way

The Next Generation of Parishioners is Growing Up Online

Adapting and embracing this change is the challenge the church is facing.

The church must adapt to the new communication styles or be left behind.

How does the church take advantage of the new digital communication tools?

The Challenge is Engagement(not technology)

1. Plan to meet your parishioners where they are already gathering: online.

2. Find the right people who know the technology and can earn your trust.

3. In the end, it will save you time and free up staff for more meaningful ministry.

.

Invite membersto join

(give them the key)

They receive access to your “lobby” and general membership group.

Mom’s Group(anyone can

join)

FestivalPlanning

Group(ask to join)

FinanceGroup

(by invitationOnly)

Let’s take a look at WeGather

Online Donations

Benefits of an Online Donation System

• LPi’s online donation solution• Members set up their own accounts, online• Weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly or one-time

donations• Donations deposited in your account twice per week• Set up multiple funds:

– General– Building– Special Events

Let’s take a look at WeShare

WeShare Fees & Costs• No start up fee • Month-to-month agreement• Monthly Fee $29/mo**• LPi’s transaction fee = 1.5% + $.75

– Credit card pass through fee = 2.25%

• Incidental and rare fees– NSF = $4– Stop Payment = $4– Chargeback = $5

Parishioner Activation Program• Custom Posters • Custom Flyers• Custom Post Cards• Brochures for New Parishioner Handbooks• Bulletin and Pulpit Announcements• Bulletin Advertisements (for LPi print customers only)• Engagement Manager

– Training & Set Up– Best Practices and Ideas– Assistance with custom materials

Thank you!

Mike StoneInternet Product Manager MStone@4LPi.com

Debbie FarinaRegional Marketing Representative DFarina@4LPi.com