Though email has been the go-to way of communication for most organizations that want to keep in touch with their people, text is proving to be superior. Some of the reasons for that are that 99% of text messages are eventually opened, 90% are opened within the first 3 minutes, 45% of text messages will receive a response, and 90% of mobile phone users prefer text to calls.
And that’s not enough. Lots of additional stats show text would be the best way to communicate with your church members. So, how can you best use your church’s text messaging to increase visitors? Here are a couple of great tips:
1. Help Guests Plan Their First Visit
If guests like your church and want to visit, try to make it easier for them. Your website should have a service that allows new members to click a button to reserve a seat, after which they should get a message to welcome them.
As one of the best church text messaging services, Text In Church allows you to send them a message in return, with all the information they need, such as the service time and other important details.
After this first message, you can follow up with a reminder text that also welcomes them to your church. Since first impressions are important, make sure you have something like personalized gift bags for your guests so they feel even better about attending.
2. Communicate With Ease
When sending text messages to your congregation, try as much as possible to be clear and concise. Brief texts that use the right phrases to communicate important information that will get potential members interested in your church should do the trick.
Where necessary, make sure to add links to the texts so that persons who want to know more can do so without going through an unnecessarily complicated process.
3. Build a Subscriber List
It’s a good idea to encourage potential members of your congregation to opt in to start receiving text messages from your church. The best ways to do so include promoting your church’s text messaging during services, through social media, or on your website.
Offering incentives such as exclusive updates will also go a long way towards encouraging more people to sign up.
4. Segment Your Audience
While messages are vital to keeping your congregation informed, they won’t be relevant in the same way to all members of the church. Segmenting your audience based on factors like demographics, past attendance, and interests will help you communicate more effectively and remain relevant to your audience.
You will be able to send more targeted and personalized messages that will keep the members looking out for the next text.
5. Encourage Two-Way Communication
Some organizations don’t support replies from the recipient of the message, and that’s a good thing when you don’t want users spamming your service. Churches, however, are different, thus it would be a good idea to support replies such as prayer requests and questions from your members.
What’s more, texts are a good way for churches to get feedback from the congregation on important matters such as an upcoming project. Having a two-way communication system in your church encourages the formation of a stronger bond with your church members.
6. Text Members Between Worship Days
Avoid texting your congregation only during worship days, since that makes it easier for them to drift away quite easily. The better thing to do would be to keep them engaged by sending them texts periodically during the week.
Such texts can be devotional or inspirational messages with helpful information that will guide the members on a personal journey in their faith. However, give members the option to opt out if they feel like the messages are too many or the information they are getting isn’t what they are looking for.
Increase Your Audience With Text in Church
If you aren’t already using a text messaging service, you are missing out on engaging new members and old members effectively. Text in Church is a great messaging solution that will help you communicate more effectively and keep your members engaged beyond Sunday mornings.
Check out their website to learn more or get started on a journey of tightening the bond you have with your church members today.
