Is texting reserved solely for the generation of "LOL"? It is no secret that churches all around the world are embracing text messaging as a way to stay in touch with their members and followers on a more regular and efficient basis.
To put it another way, mobile text messaging (or "short messaging service" for "short message service") is an extremely new kind of communication. Texting is a "new media veteran" in comparison to other mobile phone features and functionalities like mobile applications or near-field communication (NFC) chips. Text messaging, unlike most of the newer tools, is widely available: even so-called basic phones can send and receive text messages (smartphone not required). Cellular operators have recently included text-messaging options as standard in phone contracts with cellular operators.
For a youngster who sends hundreds of texts each day, having unlimited text messaging is a godsend (and for his or her parents who are footing the bill). What is the significance of this for your church? Take a look at these numbers:
Despite the fact that there are over 5 billion mobile phones in the world, nearly 85 percent of Americans own one.
More than seven trillion text messages were sent in 2011, and that number is expected to climb in the future as more carriers offer unlimited texting options.
It is vital to note that nearly all texts are read within an hour, but just 20% of emails are read within that time frame.
To be sure, text messaging is a basic and low-maintenance marketing strategy. For instance, FluidMin's crossMRKT tool (crossMRKT was a previous version of PastorsLine) lets an organisation compose and schedule many text messages in advance.
In other churches, text-messaging efforts have yielded favourable outcomes in the following five ways:
- Transmit timely or important alerts. Sending urgent news, such as a weather-related event cancellation or a pleasant reminder to your SMS subscribers, is easy after members or visitors sign up for your text-messaging campaign (see how it works here). The Third Reformed Church in Iowa, for example, uses texting to communicate with participants of its high school ministry programme.
- to compile a list of people's names and addresses. Customers who sign up for your SMS database can also be prompted for their email address, which will be added to your database.
- To promote and manage events. Texting is a better option than Twitter for providing real-time updates during events since it is more reliable and more widely available. FluidMin's crossMRKT application (crossMRKT was an earlier version of PastorsLine) is used by Wave Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia to promote their yearly conferences and keep registrants updated before, during, and after the event.
- to hold "town halls" and polls in real time. During some services, members can text the preacher with questions, and the speaker will respond to them after the sermon. Bible study groups at other churches, such as FluidMin client Metropolitan Church in Maryland, use polls to get feedback from their members and then discuss the results.
- promote or link to other media efforts. Is your Facebook Page or a Google+ Hangout a wonderful place to have a great discussion? Is there a specific sermon you want to promote on your website? If you send a link to your subscribers by text message, you're more likely to get them to click on it.
It's inexpensive and simple to send out a large number of texts in bulk with a church text messaging system. Your church may use it in a variety of effective ways to further its goal.
More than 10,000 people attend Wave Church in Virginia Beach, and the church wants to boost the number of small group participants. A total of over 140 small groups are available, including gender-specific gatherings for men, women, and young people, as well as topic-specific discussions. Each small group had a unique keyword code and a mobile form for users to enter their contact information, making it easier for people to interact with the groups.
Is your church utilising text messaging? What's the reason, or what's the point?
Panda has introduced the next ridiculous social feature that other social media apps such as Snapchat and Instagram will be eyeing like hungry little birds.
This unique start up has always been credited to bring silly out of the box features, but now, they have introduced the augmented reality feature through speech recognition.
Although Video calling was better than Snapchat and Instagram for him, it had no creative extension to it.
One couldn’t add real time filters and stickers onto it.
You text with your friends, your parents, your brother, your sister, your boss, your co-workers, your Uber driver, your prospects/customers, and yes, now your CRM.
We also know, CRM Sales reps generally dislike processes, updating systems, and anything that gets in their way of working on a deal.
We get it has done:
