Email Marketing Providers / Survey Providers

http://www.mailchimp.com
FREE for under 500 members on a list
$30/unlimited everything

https://www.surveygizmo.com/new-account/?page=mailchimp&ap=25168
Mailing List & Survey solution integrated -- 50% non-profit discount.

http://www.myemma.com/pricing.php
$249/setup + $X/month for email

Network For Good (powered by Emma)
Constant Contact
Vertical Response

A book I constantly use -- STICK, new book SWITCH

http://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-Survive-Others/dp/1400064287/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268093813&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Change-Things-When-Hard/dp/0385528752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268093831&sr=8-1

Oakland Business Development Corp

OBDC is an option for financing under certain programs they have -- we might qualify for financing especially for service oriented efforts like a daycare, after school, summer camps, food program/cafe, etc.

http://www.obdc.com

Researching streaming media options...

http://www.wowzamedia.com/h264.html

http://www.wowzamedia.com/ec2.html <- Amazon Cloud Version

http://www.fastvdo.com/SmartCast/?gclid=CJGnvvjqm6ACFSZHagodURKdmw <- SmartCast Hardware

Socialwok

Socialwok

Another great integration with Google Apps. Really helps close those gaps in communication. Trying to see where this fits in or possibly overlaps with project management and/or process management apps.

Project Management | Task Management | Google Apps | Social Productivity | Manymoon

Silver bullet for simple Project Management & Gmail, Google Apps integration.

This really looks like it could be a FANTASTIC addition to the tool kit to help better manager projects and tasks that really don't fit into the ERP / ChMS tool but we really need to track/manage and integrate with calendaring and email.

Single Sign-on for Online ChMS & outside tools

One of the things I'm looking for is knowing where a vendor stands on supporting Open ID or Google sign-in so that users redirected from our online site would not have to sign in with a different system, user id/pw if at all possible.

Note back from Monvee:

"Yes.  Monvee has already begun the integration process with ACS and F1.  Launch for each of those will take place this summer or early fall."

Church Marketing 101 Book

The Book || The official website of Richard Reising

This "must read" (we're not just saying that--look at what others are saying below) is a handbook to building a contageous church. Whether you are a marketing guru or novice, you will find it inspiring, encouraging, and hopeful. It’s everything you’ve been secretly thinking about church since you’ve been at church, but it’s also the solutions that churches are needing. In this book, Richard breaks down marketing principles and brand strategy by offering fresh insight into what both creates and hinders church growth. Built on a strong biblical foundation, he reveals how small changes can have a big impact on growth. Strategic marketing can set your church apart, creating the momentum to change the life of your church and your community for eternity. Bottom line: it’s worth the read.  

Church Software, Web Based | Church Community Builder, CCB

Church Software, Web Based | Church Community Builder, CCB

Another option for a web based community with ChMS like functions. They are trying to be more friendly/open to Twitter, etc. Some of the twitter post out functionality could be made by using the "email to post" option direct w/twitter but also with other providers that repost to multiple sources simultaneously and they too accept items via "email to post" then syndicate across multiple sites.

Once again, Church Community Builder has gone and created new, innovative technology tools that integrate their web-based church management software with the ever-changing outside world of communications technology.

Today, I helped them announce a new feature that combines text messaging with Twitter. Who would have thought? This is a great idea -I’m not sure that anyone else out there is doing this. Here are the basics:

CCB Twext™ Offers the Following Benefits:

Group Texting: In addition to email and mail merge, every Group Leader has the option to communicate with their Group participants via Text Messaging.

Twitter™ Integration: If a group within the church has its own Twitter account, the Group Leader can add that account to their CCB Group. When utilized, a Text Message sent to the group will also immediately post as a Tweet on the group Twitter™ feed. This further extends the reach of the Text Message to those who may not receive text messages but are a member of the Twitter group.

Member Controlled: Group members have full control over their ability to receive text messages. They must proactively edit their CCB profile before receiving them. This ensures people don’t end up paying for text messages they do not wish to receive.

PhoneTree, Phone Tree, Message Services, Phone Messaging, Voice Messaging, Appointment Reminder, Emergency Notification, Text-To-Speech, Church Communication, Lab Test Results, Phone, Call, Communication by PhoneTree

PhoneTree, Phone Tree, Message Services, Phone Messaging, Voice Messaging,
Appointment Reminder, Emergency Notification, Text-To-Speech, Church Communication,
Lab Test Results, Phone, Call, Communication by PhoneTree

Another outbound voicemail option w/texing too.

Alternative solution for online donor management

http://www.donortools.com/

If we went with a ChMS / CRM without good donor tools and reporting or bad online donation/giving -- an external site that just does this very well might be an option.

More resources for Church Marketing

Three more sites to check out on Church Marketing

• ChurchCrunch.com
• ChurchMarketingSucks.com
• AnthonyCoppedge.com 

Monvee took the webinar

Their system continues to look intriguing and possibly a good match with re-engaging the 45 and less or non-regular attendees to compliment Alternative Worship.  It is very Web 3.0 which is good for us techies but they are addressing how to be friendly to those less computer savvy.  Pricing right now is somewhat affordable over all especially since they are waiving a lot of the fees they will charge in the future, in exchange for participating in the beta.  Beta pricing is based on % of annual budget, # of average monthly adult attendees, % of those we plan to include & reach -- formula sounds difficult but it is not.

Will continue to research and see where it takes me.  They stress "disciples need to be handcrafted, they can't be mass produced."

I'm communicating with Jamie George @ Monvee who is Episcopalian herself and trying to build up a ministry to the unchurched / youth / Gen X.  So there is a good level of understanding of cultural/church issues vs. only evangelic mega-church or new seed churches.  Which has been an issue for some of the other tools and ChMS's I've looked at.

http://monvee.com/

Testing out Podbean

Hosting and RSS feeding the audio sermons is going to be a task where we need to try and simplify what we are doing while watching that we don't spend money unnecessarily. So looking both into plug-in options for WordPress and outside services like Podbean that allow hosting (& free hosting) of files with RSS feeds, etc already pre-set for us.

http://staugepiscopal.podbean.com/

WordPress › Inline mp3 player plugin

WordPress › Inline mp3 player: WordPress Plugins

Inline mp3 player replacing any link directly to a mp3 file, such as 'http://yoursite.com/musicfile.mp3' into a special link. Clicking it will turn the link into a small media player with a dhtml slider interface. It works simple, click the link the music starts playing. Drag the tab to browse throught the music. Click the link again to stop. This player uses Javascript Soundkit and the slider of Scriptaculous.

Church Specific Surveys

http://www.uscongregations.org/

Has US averages and denominational averages.  There is a cost but it is actually pretty minimal compared to the information gleaned. 

St. John's Oakland took the survey back in April 2009:

http://www.stjohnsoakland.org/sites/default/files/CongLifeSurvey4_09.pdf

Critically Important Site to Read - Mystery Worshiper

Ship-of-Fools.com and their Mystery Worshiper survey is fantastic tool to read what others are doing well and where improvements can be made.  To give long time attendees of a church some insight to someone who is church shopping and what types of things worked or didn't work for them at a church.

Here are the review questions / categories they use:

Descriptive:

The church: Denomination:  The building:  The church:  The neighborhood:  The cast:  The date & time: Review: What was the name of the service? How full was the building? Did anyone welcome you personally? Was your pew comfortable? How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere? What were the exact opening words of the service? What books did the congregation use during the service? What musical instruments were played? Did anything distract you? Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what? Exactly how long was the sermon? On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher? In a nutshell, what was the sermon about? Which part of the service was like being in heaven? And which part was like being in... er... the other place? What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost? How would you describe the after-service coffee? How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)? Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian? What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?

Good site that has Church/WP ideas/info including cheap themes

http://livingos.com/wp/

http://themes.livingos.com/

Top 10 WP Church themes - http://livingos.com/2008/04/29/10-best-church-wordpress-themes/

WordPress › Twitter Tools � WordPress Plugins

WordPress › Twitter Tools � WordPress Plugins

Again the goal of the functionality here is minimal -- auto feed out new news content to twitter when WP St. A's site has a new item and start a #hash tag so others can follow/comment separately on twitter.

Facebook Developers | Facebook Connect

Facebook Developers | Facebook Connect: "F"

Good data points on response rates for Facebook Apps/External site integration i.e.

Engagement

Social Comments

Add social comments to every piece of content.

1-2 hours

+15-20% comments +15-20% registered users