HOW TO WRITE BETTER CHURCH EMAIL NEWSLETTERS (7 Rules)

[@prochurchtools]

It's the final video in our series on church communications policy! Today, we're tackling EMAIL. Explore the other three videos in this series here: kzbin.info/aero/PLJflgShWpbGzBmamDWF3btjNqcwplS7OC

[@calebhoffmann5545]

I am on a Brady binge watch! I’ve been a big part of our churches media team and all of these videos have been amazing!

[@prochurchtools]

Appreciate the kind words, Caleb. 🙏

[@chriselewis]

Thank you for helping churches put emphasis on what actually matters. It's so easy to fall into the "billboard temptation" when you feel like you're losing momentum, but putting the focus back on helping your people is always more effective.

[@prochurchtools]

Great point!

[@MRS_TheHills]

Such practical and incredible advice to implement - I love it. I found this truly inspiring! Thank you so much. God bless you!

[@randywesterberg2488]

Thanks for all the great content! I can't wait to implement this in our church!

[@DewsburyElimChurch]

We're doing our first A/B test right now after watching this last week. B group is getting a plain text, informal email with a link to my "Thought for the Week" on the church blog rather than in the main body of the email. That B email also includes a p.s. asking for stories of how people are showing love to others (that was the topic of the thought for the week). I haven't looked at the numbers yet, but I've already had one email reply with a story of someone reaching out to their neighbours in lockdown so I'm calling the test a success already!

[@prochurchtools]

👏👏👏

[@maureenbrown7501]

Awesome, Brady! I'm looking forward to making some changes...we've been working on a new Website and it's almost ready to launch! Having a central hub will take sooooo much pressure off the the weekly update! This entire series has been great.

[@coffindave]

Interesting and true. I broke just about all traditional rules when creating the stewardship program for my church. I am experiencing a higher return rate via email and a fillable PDF than by tradition in person distribution or mail.

[@tomgncc]

This is good soild helpful content

[@PerksOnMission]

Excellent stuff. Thank you!

[@prochurchtools]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@VincitDesignCo]

Hm. As an Email Marketer for both private and agency level clients, I agree with every point except the second one about design. I think there is an effective way to utilize minimalism of the Church brand style guides to create that consistency you mention in the video. If we care about the information we are using to inform and inspire, we need to make sure that it is presented in an effective, but beautiful way. There can definitely be beauty in simplicity, and even in just plain text. There doesn't need to be animated gifs or mess like that, but good use of color, a smaller version of the church logo as well as a stellar style signature, in my opinion, would resonate well since it is a newsletter, not just a personal email. Let's discuss, lol.

[@prochurchtools]

Swag Talks Design Granted, every audience is unique. So this could be the case for a church - but on a broad scale, the data would suggest plain text is more effective.

[@VincitDesignCo]

@@prochurchtools Agreed. I believe case by case is the way to approach this.

[@FirstUMCOnline]

Brady seems a bit ............. grumpy in this video!! Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mwgrl5]

Brady, do you recommend an email campaign tool? I thought I saw one in a video of yours, but now I can't find it.

[@krisscherer7159]

Thanks for sharing your expertise, as always! I'm soaking it all in!!! P.S. (See what I did there?) Where's Alex? Did I miss something? Is he off making coffee?? :-)

[@prochurchtools]

Kris Scherer Nope! He’s still full-time at Pro Church Tools. We’re both in a van driving through the Rockies on a Nucleus Media trip as I type this. But it made more sense for KZbin to be just me - with the podcast as both of us.

[@sharkofthecovenant]

Can Nucleus people+messages do A/B testing?

[@NorthMetroChurch]

QUESTION -- What would you say for the FROM when sending? Should it match the email signature?

[@prochurchtools]

That's what I talk about at 2:44!

[@LeoVogt777]

In your example of a good email would it a good idea to have people reply all with their stories or would that be asking too much?

[@revceverson]

how do you feel about a header on the church email? LIke our church logo?

[@prochurchtools]

Not a fan!

[@MyTCBC]

So, in our email newsletter, we have weekly birthdays, anniversaries, a missionary to pray for, and weekly connection points. How would you suggest I communicate all of that other than a weekly email? Should I be sending out multiple emails a week-one with the weekly info in it, and then another with more unique information?

[@MyTCBC]

also, I understand the irony of commenting on here from the church account... it's just what I was logged into!

[@prochurchtools]

I think if it were me, I'd create a page on my website where that information gets updated weekly - so for the people that want that info, they always know where to find it. I probably wouldn't send it out every week in an email.

[@MyTCBC]

@@prochurchtools Oh man.... I just might have to try that!

[@NoCamoJon]

How do you give recipients an option to unsubscribe if emails are sent from an individual, like the pastor? Do you have to use a mass email service for this technique?

[@prochurchtools]

That's right. An email marketing service like ConvertKit is definitely the preferred option here - compared to just sending mass emails from your own Gmail for example.

[@replacedbyrobots]

In Julie's example, I see she signed it as herself, not a pastor like you recommend. I'm assuming she used her name as the from name as well. How did that aspect specifically work for her? I'd love to send emails with my pastor's name, but practically I don't think I'd be able to keep a consistent email schedule and get his approvals in time. It also feels a little weird to put my name on things.

[@prochurchtools]

She signed it with her title at the church. So her title is 'Director of Communication' which is why she used that.

[@amandakan4279]

I am the student ministry director and I have been asked to write the monthly newsletters. Our newsletter is really the opposite of this. Do you just use your website to inform members of events?

[@prochurchtools]

Make sure to watch each of the other three videos in this series. The full picture of how this can all work together becomes clear when you see how each puzzle piece fits.

[@wavylay]

👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽🔥