Are you asking the right questions?

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Much has changed for churches in the U.S. and around the world over the past few months. Whether you've paused in-person gatherings since the beginning of the pandemic or not, current events have likely caused you to adjust or rethink your strategies entirely.

If digital resources were already a part of your communication strategy, you've probably invested even more into this area of your ministry. However, for those churches that hadn't explored reaching their community through digital connection points, rushing to find the right solutions may be overwhelming. 

That’s why it's important that you ask the right questions when it comes to shopping for a digital engagement suite (custom mobile app, media delivery, online church giving, custom church website, communication tools, and more). To help you, our team of ministry experts reshaped common questions into better questions that you should be asking as you dive into the world of digital.

“What features do you offer?” vs. “Why are these features important?”

Features are important, knowing if the tool you are exploring offers the features and functionality to meet the needs of your ministry is one of the first things to identify in your search. However, simply comparing features from different providers without a full explanation can become problematic if specific features lack the functionality you’re searching for. It’s easy to check the box, but how well does that feature work?  

When it comes to custom mobile apps, two different providers may offer the same features, but do they work the same? 

For example, let’s say both offer push notifications. But, don’t forget the difference between features and functionality. When it comes to push notifications there can be some nuances in how robust the functionality is of this specific feature. 

For example, having the ability to only send notifications to all of your app users vs. being able to create groups and send specific push notifications to those within that group. This can create a more custom experience for your community. Whether you want to send a message to all the parents in your church sharing the Bible verse that was taught in Sunday school or you want to update the women in your community about a change to an upcoming women’s event—your users can select which group notifications they want to receive, so that they’re always receiving the most relevant information at the right time.

Church A uses a push notifications feature that only has the functionality to send to all their app users and they notice that everyone is disabling their notifications.  Church B, on the other hand, uses push notifications with group functionality and sees most of their users keeping their notifications on. Why is that? The main reason people often turn off notifications is because the messages are not relevant to them. Offering your users the ability to select which notifications they want to receive increases their overall engagement and keeps your content front and center. 

Understanding the strategy and intention behind each feature will better equip your ministry and team to use it properly and judge its effectiveness. 

“What’s in it for your church?” vs. “What’s in it for your community?”

Wait, why is this a bad question? You’re the one in charge of this. You’re the one who needs to execute it. Why wouldn’t you pick what’s best for you and your team?

When researching tools in the digital engagement space, it’s not only about creating the best experience and workflow for your team. Creating digital connection points is about delivering the best experience for your congregation and church community. To attract them, engage them with meaningful content, and allow them to stay connected beyond just the weekend. 

At Subsplash, we’re dedicated to helping you streamline your workflows and create effortless processes, but the ultimate reason you’re spending all of this effort to introduce digital tools into your engagement strategy is to provide a delightful and engaging online experience for your congregation and online visitors. 

“How much does it cost?” vs. “What value does it bring?”

While this is an important question to consider regarding the stewardship of your resources and budget, solely focusing on the cost misses the value the solution brings to your ministry. Cost becomes secondary if you can’t identify the quality, functionality, and impact of the tools you are exploring.

Value is far more important than cost because it speaks to what you actually get for the investment you’re making. As you explore various software solutions, your objective isn’t simply to spend a certain amount of money. Whether you’re working with $100 or $1,000, you’re really looking for specific results—more engagement, stronger community, better processes, and so on.

By thinking in terms of value, you can ensure that your investment is making an impact. That’s great stewardship!

One question that will really impact your decision is this—“Is your tech working for you, or are you working for your tech?” Good technology should make your life easier, streamline your processes, and increase effectiveness, and in the end save you time and money. It also helps you reach, equip, and engage your community on a deeper level. 

By asking the right questions, you will be a more empowered buyer with a focused direction on how to thrive in this space. 

If you’re already leveraging the Subsplash Platform and are looking for more strategies and opportunities to stay connected during this time, reach out to your Client Success Manager. 

If you’re ready to get started, or if you want to learn more, [.blog-contact-cta]let’s chat.[.blog-contact-cta]