Comments on: The Perfect Church Email Solution? http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/ youth ministry, reimagined Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:26:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steven Aves http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10272 Steven Aves Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:53:53 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10272 Ah, I was afraid of that. I've been looking at some of those Email newsletter services too. The "easy to create your own" pitches are becoming as much of a joke as "easy to follow" instructions for putting together your child's new toy. You know, the ones written in Korean, translated into Portuguese, then into English . Steve Ah, I was afraid of that. I’ve been looking at some of those Email newsletter services too. The “easy to create your own” pitches are becoming as much of a joke as “easy to follow” instructions for putting together your child’s new toy. You know, the ones written in Korean, translated into Portuguese, then into English .
Steve

]]> By: Matt http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10271 Matt Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:13:52 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10271 It's mainly because most of the HTML newsletters aren't as straightforward as they claim to be. I know that a few people who would need access to this function would be frustrated by it. I think I've found a solution and will likely write about it next week. I'm glad my wordpress series was helpful. Thanks for going through my site to sign up. It’s mainly because most of the HTML newsletters aren’t as straightforward as they claim to be. I know that a few people who would need access to this function would be frustrated by it. I think I’ve found a solution and will likely write about it next week.

I’m glad my wordpress series was helpful. Thanks for going through my site to sign up.

]]> By: Steven Aves http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10270 Steven Aves Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:15:38 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10270 What's the problem for other people to "log in?" If it's a function of where to go and the login information then get Roboform (I can't work without it) at roboform.com. It's free for less than 10 web site logins. BTW, I neglected to thank you for your postings about BlueHost and Wordpress. I used your tutorials and signed up for BlueHost for my business. I did use the link to Bluehost from this site so I hope you got credit. Steve What’s the problem for other people to “log in?” If it’s a function of where to go and the login information then get Roboform (I can’t work without it) at roboform.com. It’s free for less than 10 web site logins.

BTW, I neglected to thank you for your postings about BlueHost and WordPress. I used your tutorials and signed up for BlueHost for my business. I did use the link to Bluehost from this site so I hope you got credit.

Steve

]]> By: Andy Sahl http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10269 Andy Sahl Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:00:30 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10269 I set up an email in constant contact and then just copy the format week after week. It's pretty simple, but I guess the term "tech savvy" is relative. Our church began using my constant contact account, so I added features and started billing a line item not in the youth budget (both agreed to by church administrator) FTW!! I'm no Disciple of constant contact, it just works, nothing special though. I set up an email in constant contact and then just copy the format week after week. It’s pretty simple, but I guess the term “tech savvy” is relative. Our church began using my constant contact account, so I added features and started billing a line item not in the youth budget (both agreed to by church administrator) FTW!!

I’m no Disciple of constant contact, it just works, nothing special though.

]]> By: Matt http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10268 Matt Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:27:37 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10268 Thanks for the reply Amanda. I've thought about the RSS-to-email function and may end up going that route. Thanks for the reply Amanda. I’ve thought about the RSS-to-email function and may end up going that route.

]]> By: Amanda http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10267 Amanda Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:45:25 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10267 Hi Matt, Amanda from MailChimp here. We actually do allow users the ability to email content directly to MailChimp. Here's some additional info from our blog: http://eepurl.com/xel Unfortunately though, we can't allow you to send an email straight to your list due to security concerns. Basically, it's dangerous if someone gets hold of your list's unique address. We know you could probably do a good job keeping it all private, but we've got 170k users. We just can't allow this type of vulnerability on such a large scale. However, it is possible to do what you want using MailChimp with a few modifications. Many blogs have an email-to-post option. You could email posts to your blog this way, then use our rss-to-email tool to send out to the appropriate list. The updates would go out on the following day of course, but so long as the updates are not super urgent, it's a nice free way to get it done. Not only that, but really powerful, because you can then use your mobile device to upload lots of frequent updates with photos, etc. (more about RSS-to-email here: http://eepurl.com/dUAb) Of course, you might not like all these posts going to your church's *official* blog. So one solution is to setup another more private blog where the updates go. Tumblr and Posterous are both free, hosted blog platforms that support email-to-blog posting. Hi Matt, Amanda from MailChimp here.

We actually do allow users the ability to email content directly to MailChimp. Here’s some additional info from our blog: http://eepurl.com/xel

Unfortunately though, we can’t allow you to send an email straight to your list due to security concerns. Basically, it’s dangerous if someone gets hold of your list’s unique address. We know you could probably do a good job keeping it all private, but we’ve got 170k users. We just can’t allow this type of vulnerability on such a large scale.

However, it is possible to do what you want using MailChimp with a few modifications.

Many blogs have an email-to-post option. You could email posts to your blog this way, then use our rss-to-email tool to send out to the appropriate list. The updates would go out on the following day of course, but so long as the updates are not super urgent, it’s a nice free way to get it done. Not only that, but really powerful, because you can then use your mobile device to upload lots of frequent updates with photos, etc. (more about RSS-to-email here: http://eepurl.com/dUAb)

Of course, you might not like all these posts going to your church’s *official* blog. So one solution is to setup another more private blog where the updates go. Tumblr and Posterous are both free, hosted blog platforms that support email-to-blog posting.

]]> By: gavin richardson http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10266 gavin richardson Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:54:39 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10266 i was going to say Google groups can do the whole distribution of information with a simple email address. has some more capabilities to add to that, it can be a pretty cool web tool. i have our youth in a web datebase on http://www.youthtracker.net (300 a year) and i can pick out what leaders can log in to email or txt to what members/groups/event lists that i want. its pretty elaborate that way, but its not html so you wouldn't feel compelled to make it all pretty. i use http://myemma.com for our newsletter emails, but use the youthtracker for smaller distributions or singular announcements. i was going to say Google groups can do the whole distribution of information with a simple email address. has some more capabilities to add to that, it can be a pretty cool web tool.

i have our youth in a web datebase on http://www.youthtracker.net (300 a year) and i can pick out what leaders can log in to email or txt to what members/groups/event lists that i want. its pretty elaborate that way, but its not html so you wouldn’t feel compelled to make it all pretty.

i use http://myemma.com for our newsletter emails, but use the youthtracker for smaller distributions or singular announcements.

]]> By: Lars Rood http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10265 Lars Rood Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:43:56 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10265 Constant Contact is the best site. I don't use it right now because my church is in the dark ages but I have used it and found it's the best. Constant Contact is the best site. I don’t use it right now because my church is in the dark ages but I have used it and found it’s the best.

]]> By: Earl Janssen http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10264 Earl Janssen Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:59:58 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10264 Being part of the ELCA gives you a great price break on Constant Contact. Being part of the ELCA gives you a great price break on Constant Contact.

]]> By: Matt http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10263 Matt Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:15:51 +0000 http://mattcleaver.com/2009/09/29/the-perfect-church-email-solution/#comment-10263 Haha, I was just waiting for you to say something about the amazingness of MailChimp. With a double opt-in feature and unsubscribe links in the footer of every email, I don't know why we'd be breaking any spam laws (which I admittedly haven't studied). By the way, thanks for taking the time for reading my lil' old blog in the midst of crazy season for you. Haha, I was just waiting for you to say something about the amazingness of MailChimp.

With a double opt-in feature and unsubscribe links in the footer of every email, I don’t know why we’d be breaking any spam laws (which I admittedly haven’t studied).

By the way, thanks for taking the time for reading my lil’ old blog in the midst of crazy season for you.

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