Digital Transformation: 7 Steps to Build a Digital-ready Church
2021 is going to be the year we see more and more churches transitioning to online giving and online platforms to grow their church. If the thought of technology seems overwhelming, we are here to help break it down for you in practical, doable steps.
Here are seven things the DonorWerx team suggests you do to foster success and build a digital-ready culture within the church.
1. Make Sure Your Church Is Searchable
If people cannot attend your church in person, you need to be able to be found online. The search results will vary according to how much time you have invested into making sure people can find your church and your outreach methods on the web. For starters, optimize your church’s Google My Business profile and keep it up to date. When setting up your church website, do some research for the best SEO practices, keywords, and search terms to include.
2. Define Your Church Brand
You must clarify your message and your mission. Define what makes your church unique. Why should people choose to attend your church when there are so many possibilities for worship? Ensure that you are doing everything you can to serve your potential audience. If there is a type of person you want to communicate with or a definite market you want to serve, make sure your church can cater to their needs. Define your brand by staying true to your mission and values.
3. Have a Central Digital Base Where Potential Donors Can Find You
Your central digital base can be a website or an online newsletter. Depending on your budget and how much time you can devote to your website, consider different options to showcase your church and help people get to know you better. Remember that the internet can be as personal or as public as you wish. If your web hosting and website building skills are in the beginning stages, you can always start with a free WordPress website and upgrade from there.
4. Invest in a Good Website
Maybe you feel it is time to create a web page or a landing page where people can find your contact details and get in touch for donations. They will come back to your name and your logo, so this will set the tone for your brand online and your digital image. Don’t rush this part, but consider the image you want to create for your logo and website name. When creating your webpage, make sure that your name and logo are accessible and appealing.
5. Build Your Social Media Community
The team at DonorWerx recommends that you build a social media account focused on connecting with people on a personal level. Your church will stand out from dozens of churches online when your audience sees you are relatable and plan to engage with them regularly. You may start out with only one social media website and then expand to other social media pages.
At this stage, hire partners you can work with to manage your social media pages and handle all communications that come through your online presence. Remember that having too many accounts can overwhelm you, so build your social media community one step at a time. You can always learn as you go.
6. Start a Pastor Blog
A pastor’s blog is a great way to have a more diverse audience and to reach people who would not come to your church otherwise. You can choose to have your own blog, or you can guest blog on other churches’ websites. This can help to expand your readership and give a more personal way of sharing your values and spiritual guidance to potential church members.
A blog differs from a regular church service because you can insert more of your personal ideas, give your member some tips, and share regular life snippets with your readers. It is a way to grow your audience without being too intrusive because people can choose if they want to read your blog. Again, stay true to the mission of your church and always guide them in wisdom and faith.
7. Offer Digital Giving Options
If this is your first time venturing into the world of digital giving, don’t feel daunted. There are tools to help you transition well into digital giving options. For starters, set up a PayPal donate button on your website, include text-to-donate options, and make sure people know there is a possibility of giving from the comfort of their home or with a simple app on their smartphone.
Always make sure that you’re choosing a fully integrated, feature-rich donation software. This gives your church room to grow. Choose partners who understand the mission of your church and can be on call in case you run into any technical problems and need them to manage your digital giving tools or make quick fixes. Contact us at DonorWerx to find out how you can set up your church for digital giving success today!
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” – Malachi 3:10
