Every weekend when people attend church services you have a small window of time to share information about upcoming events, opportunities to serve, and ways they can grow in their walk with Christ.
So, what happens after people leave your church gathering?
Are they aware of the things the church is doing and how they can be involved? If they did learn about these opportunities, do they remember?
One of the easiest and most cost effective ways to keep your church informed is through a weekly email. And because people can receive email at home on their computers or anywhere they are via their phones, it can be read whenever and wherever it is convenient for them. Here are…
7 Secrets to Keeping Your Church Informed with Email
1. Send an email every week
It doesn’t take long for people to feel disconnected. Sending a weekly email is a good way to keep them informed and in the loop.
2. Send the email the same day and time every week
People are creatures of habit. If you send your email the same day and time every week, they are more likely to develop the habit of reading your email each week.
3. Put a signup form on your website
Make it easy for people to sign up to receive your weekly email.
There’s nothing wrong with giving people the opportunity to sign up Sunday’s on a communication card. Or adding them to the list if they email the church office. But adding a signup form to your website is even easier (and it saves the church staff time.)
Additionally, only ask for essential information – name and email address.
4. Put archives of the email on the website
This allows people to read previously sent emails if they don’t receive it one week, accidentally delete it, or can’t access their email. This also makes it possible for you to send a link to last week’s email (rather than copy and paste the entire email) if anyone requests it.
5. Don’t throw up in your church emails
Gross analogy, I know, but don’t give into the temptation to include information about all 20 events that you think are important.
Additionally, you don’t need to include all the information about the items included in the email. Why? Continue reading #6…
6. Link to more information on your website
When describing an event or opportunity in your weekly email, your goal is to help the reader answer the question “Is this for me?” If it is, they can click to the website for more info. For example:
Women’s Retreat!
Get a break from the busyness of life, reconned with God and other women. Fri 3/3 to Sun 3/5. Click for more details and to sign up!
Notice how in this fictitious email excerpt, it doesn’t say where it will be, who will be speaking, how much it costs, what time it starts and ends, or any other details? Your readers will appreciate your brevity.
7. Include a story or humorous item
Although people like to learn more about what’s going on at the church, they like things that are light-hearted or hearing stories about how Christ and the church has changed others lives. Include something like the video below in each email and people will look forward to getting these emails every week.
And remember…
Don’t throw up in your church emails (by including too much info). – Mark Steinbrueck
Looking for an expert guide for your website and email?
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Comment and discuss
- Does your church send weekly emails? If not, why not?
Read other articles in our church outreach blog series
President at OurChurch.Com
Mark has served as the President of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, leading the Custom Website and Sales departments with dedication and expertise.
Over the years, he has managed hundreds of custom website, graphic design, and marketing projects for churches, non-profits, businesses, and schools.
Beyond his professional work, Mark is deeply committed to serving his community. He coordinates and packs over 700 meals each week for children through One Community Now’s Pack A Sack for Kids program, volunteers in the Children’s Ministry at Generations Christian Church, and participates in a weekly Bible study.
2 Comments
Good morning
I loved this suggestion. Question about #3: Isn’t that similar to inviting people to sign up for the newsletter? Because they aren’t doing that. What is the point? However, I am going to try this suggestion. But, I think my best option is to use a third party email system.
Hi Carolyn, yes. The more prominent the sign-up form asking people to subscribe to your newsletter, the more people will subscribe.
There are some good 3rd party email systems, but the downsides of using them are 1) you have another system to learn, 2) you have to try to figure out how to integrate their subscribe form and archives into your website, and 3) you’re dealing with another company’s support. On the other hand, if you use the newsletter feature built into our WP-EZ Website Builder, it’s already integrated with your website, and our support team is able to provide any help you might need.