It’s no secret, we’re big believers in church mobile giving at Tithe.ly, but not everyone is as convinced as we are. So, we thought we’d share some facts along with a few practical tips for getting your church to try what we think is a game changer.
Today, 68.4 percent of the U.S. population uses a smartphone. To put it in perspective, just five years back, in 2012, only 40 percent of the U.S. population had a smartphone.
By 2021, it’s predicted that nearly 80% of the entire population in the United States will be using a smartphone.
That’s crazy growth.
What’s even more amazing is Americans check their cell phones or mobile devices over 9 billion times per day with 50% checking their phones in the middle of the night.
What?!
Here are a few interesting tidbits to add some color.
- 43 percent of people check their phones within five minutes of waking up.
- 35 percent check their phone right before their head hits the pillow.
- 50 percent of people check their phone in the middle of the night!!! Seriously?! (emphasis mine)
- And to top it off, American’s check their phone on average 47 times per day.
The use of smartphones has invaded nearly every part of our lives and made a significant impact on how people bank, shop, commute, interact socially, and even how we give to our local church.
As a church leader, this is a big trend you need to be aware of.
Now, the sky isn’t necessarily falling, but if your church doesn’t offer a mobile giving solution or if the members of your church do not use mobile giving, then you are missing out on a huge opportunity.
To help you along the way, here are four tips on getting your church to try mobile giving.
#1. Explain mobile giving
Many people will be familiar with mobile banking and shopping. Some might even know about mobile giving, but not everyone will be on the same level.
Take the time to explain why you’ve decided to introduce a new option for giving and how mobile giving works. Doing this helps build trust and confidence all while overcome objections and uncertainty.
Simply taking the time to properly and thoroughly inform your congregation will go a long way in leading them to embrace mobile giving.
#2. Promote mobile giving
You don’t have to make consistent “hard sales” encouraging people to sign up, but you do need to create awareness on a regular basis by including mobile giving as an option to consider during your church’s offering.
Beyond the offering moment, make sure you also include a mention about this new way to give in your church’s bulletin, regular email newsletters, and on the website (you would be surprised at how many churches forget this).
The idea here, is to remind your congregation of all the ways they can give. Doing this ensures that people know that the options exists and how to use it when they’re ready to begin using mobile giving for the first time. It also help to keep in on people’s mind so that when they’re traveling, sick, or otherwise not able to attend service they’ll be able to give!
#3. Demonstrate mobile giving
There’s nothing like a good ol show-n-tell. Take a few moments during your church’s offering or announcements to demonstrate the ease of mobile giving. Preparation is critical on this one. Be sure you’ve practiced the process of giving on a mobile device and rehearsed the flow ahead of time. Practicing will ensure you convey the message clearly and don’t run into any unforeseen complications.
Also, consider having someone who does not currently use mobile giving to join you. You can walk him or her through the process during this time. Just make sure not to announce his or her banking information with everyone in attendance!
#4. Take a mobile giving ONLY offering
To help more people adopt mobile giving, consider coordinating a one-time or short-term giving campaign exclusively through mobile giving.
Your goal with the “mobile giving only campaign strategy” is to encourage people to sign up and give for the first time. For this to work, it’s important that the barrier to entry is low. Consider focusing on small gifts of $5 – $25 dollars so that people will feel more inclined to participate and give.
Once you’ve gotten people to give for the first time via mobile, the likelihood of them making it a regular occurrence is much higher!
Conclusion
What would you add to this based on your experience? What have you seen work really well? How have you encouraged your church to use mobile giving? Share what you have learned in the comments!
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