So, you’ve got an awesome new mobile giving platform. 😀
Your church is now up to speed with e-giving, allowing your members to use a mobile giving app, text-to-give, and online giving. If you’re using a comprehensive suite of digital giving tools — like Tithe.ly — it’s all presented in a super convenient and easy to use system for both the giver and receiver.
But why isn’t anyone using it?
The Hardest Part
If you think finding the right mobile giving platform or setting it up is the difficult part of the process of onboarding a mobile giving solution for your church, ministry, or no profit organization, I am afraid you’ve made a mistake.
Launching a new mobile giving platform is the trickiest part of the process.
Thankfully, while it can be very difficult, it also provides the greatest of rewards. After all, you’ve invested time and energy in researching and setting it up, so being able to see your mobile giving platform put to use is very rewarding. Not only that, the point of a mobile giving solution is to use it.
Launch It (Softly)
Let’s be clear, this is when the fun begins.
Your mobile and online giving is completely setup, tested, and ready to be used. All the technical mumbo-jumbo is complete. Now it’s time to officially launch your mobile giving portal.
While it may be super tempting dive in head first and have a massive push to get things started, you need to dip your toe in the pool. Imagine this for a moment:
You are in front of the church showing everyone all the different ways you can give. There are bulletin announcements, banners on the website, and all the slides are cued up in the overhead projection system. You may even a set of volunteers in the back, ready to ask questions after the service. Everything is going great. And then it doesn’t work.
That is a lot of momentum you have built-up that can never be fully restored.
Instead, consider a soft launch. Handpick a select few people from around the church or organization to jump on and use the service. Follow up, ask questions, collect data, and make the necessary changes based on their feedback. Make sure you cover all the angles. If you’re using a service like Tithe.ly, you’ll want to make sure you’re testing:
- The mobile app,
- text-to-give,
- online giving,
- and more?
This will not only ensure that everything is working, but it also gives you a chance to move any obstacles or refine any systems. After all, the fundamental point of doing this is to make giving easier.
Strategy
There is a myriad of strategies that can be used when rolling-out your church giving platform:
- Printing out flyers,
- providing online instructions,
- making volunteers available to lend a hand,
- making announcements,
- hanging up signs,
But we could go on-and-on with all the different ways to launch mobile giving at your church.
And while all those ideas and strategies are important, you ultimately have to go with what you know to work best for your church. Every church is different, but you still need to outline your strategy and execute it well for a successful launch.
And while all those ideas and strategies are important, you ultimately have to go with what you know to work best for your church. Every church is different, but you still need to outline your strategy and execute it well for a successful launch.
Conclusion
Choosing the right mobile giving app, getting it wired up, testing it, and ultimately having a successful launch is really just the beginning. Education and promotion will be your friend to the end, as the adoption process is going to take time. Older generations will need convincing and education, while those who are younger will need to be informed that the option exists.
Every church and ministry have their own obstacles and need their own strategy for launch, but no matter what those variables are, building in a soft launch is one of the most overlooked, yet most important, elements in launching your mobile giving app.
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