In the modern church, effective communication is key to building and maintaining a strong, engaged community. At Gloo, we understand this need and have developed a suite of powerful texting features designed to help church leaders connect with their congregations in meaningful ways. Here are five features our users say they can't live without:
1. Memos
Memos are a revolutionary way to send long-form messages directly to your congregation's phones. They enable you to format detailed messages into micro-blogs, making it easier for your audience to digest important information. Here’s why Memos are invaluable:
Rich Text Formatting: With bullet points, links, and image previews, you can create visually appealing and structured messages.
Insert Images: Easily add images to promote events, sermon series, and devotionals.
Shareable Links: Automatically generate a link to share to your church as a Broadcast.
Live Edits: Make quick updates to text, links, or images even after the Memo has been sent.
Track Number of Reads: Monitor the effectiveness of your communication by tracking how many people read your Memo.
No Character Limit: Say everything you need to say, in a clearly formatted and easy-to-read format.
By using Memos, you can ensure your congregation stays informed and engaged with the church's activities and messages.
2. Prayer Request Inbox
Prayer is the backbone of the church community, and our Prayer Request Inbox feature enhances how you handle prayer requests. Here's how it works:
QR Code Sharing: During services, share a QR code that congregants can scan to text in their prayer requests.
Prayer Inbox: Requests are sent to a centralized inbox where the prayer team leader can assign them to volunteers.
Timely Responses: Volunteers pray for the requests and notify the requesters that their prayers have been lifted.
This feature not only encourages more prayer requests but also allows the prayer team to respond promptly, fostering a deeper sense of care and connection within the congregation.
3. Groups
Segmenting your audience using Gloo's Groups feature can significantly enhance engagement. Here's why creating groups is smart:
Targeted Communication: By creating separate groups, you can tailor your messages to specific needs, leading to higher engagement.
Time Savings: Segmenting your audience saves you time, allowing you to focus more on connecting with your people, crafting sermons, and leading your church.
Free and Premium Options: Create up to three groups for free, or upgrade to a premium Gloo+ subscription for unlimited groups.
Groups enable you to communicate more effectively, ensuring that each message resonates with the intended audience.
4. Workflows
Workflows allow you to automate personalized pathways for your contacts. Here’s how they work:
Keyword Triggers: Each Workflow is triggered by a specific keyword.
Automated Actions: Design Workflows to send texts, add or remove people from groups, send email notifications, and more.
Subscription Options: Create up to three Workflows for free, or upgrade for more.
Workflows streamline communication and ensure that each contact receives relevant and timely information, enhancing their overall experience with your church.
5. Explorers
Exclusive to Gloo+, our premium subscription, the Explorers feature connects you with people in your community who are curious about faith:
Digital Outreach Campaigns: Connect to people in your community who are curious and want someone to talk to about faith, who come from digital outreach campaigns that Gloo and our partners run.
Community Expansion: Expand your church community by connecting with these individuals directly in your Gloo account, building trust and rapport through text, and invite them to coffee or your church!
Monthly Connections: Gain 5-8 new connections each month.
By engaging with Explorers, you can be there for people who are seeking connection and community, helping to grow and strengthen your church.
Take Advantage of Invaluable Features
These five features—Memos, Prayer Request Inbox, Groups, Workflows, and Explorers—are essential tools that Gloo users rely on to enhance their communication and outreach efforts. Whether you're a seasoned user or new to our platform, these features can help you build a more connected and engaged church community. Sign up for your free Gloo account, or, if you’re ready to get even more features, join Gloo+ today.