Effective Email Marketing for Churches - Tools, Tips and Samples

In This Article: 

Discover why it’s critical for churches to join the digital age by implementing an email marketing strategy that will meet the needs of church members. 

‍

Email marketing for churches is one of the most cost-effective, practical, and underutilized ways to engage church members. 

In a digital age, it only makes sense to utilize digital means to reach our congregations. Having an easy-to-navigate website, active social media, consistent email schedule, and even using a church text messaging platform can take your church from weekends-only to a thriving community of believers.   

Businesses have been on board with email marketing for years. Instead of promo codes and holiday says, what would it look like for your church to send weekly encouragement or discipleship resources via email? Most email marketing platforms offer discounts for nonprofits, so no matter the size of your church, there’s no reason to miss this critical opportunity. 

Taking your church online starts with an effective church management software to keep everything organized.

1. Send emails regularly

Sending regular emails is the most effective strategy for communicating with your congregation. That will look different for every church, so don’t be afraid to experiment with a little trial and error to figure out what works for your contacts.

• Send emails at different days and times to determine what’s best for your audience
• Utilize segmentation (tags) to email specific groups or ministries 
• Write simple, good content readers actually want or need 
• Try different subject lines to see which ones have the highest open rates

2. Don't forget to add images

People tend to skim emails for important information. Adding photos and graphics help break up the content and keeps reader engagement high. Not to mention people love seeing familiar faces land in their inboxes!

3. Don't forget to add your website or social media pages

A good email strategy will include a call to action in every email. To do this, you’ll need to be able to direct subscribers to your church website for more information. Plus, most email platforms allow you to install a plug-in on your website so people can subscribe to your email list to learn more about your church. 

Does your church have a Facebook page or Instagram account? Make sure to include links to your social media platforms. The more ways you can provide information to everyone in your community, the better. 

4. Mobile-friendly emails are the best

Gone are the days of people using computers to check their email. Statista reveals that by 2025, an estimated 376.4 billion emails will be sent and received daily, and we all know a growing number of opens happens on our phones.  

Design mobile-friendly emails for greater impact on platforms like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Breeze, and even Constant Contact. 

5. Announce church milestones and members stories

God is doing lots of incredible things in your congregation – make sure everyone knows!  

Whether your outreach team just partnered with a local non-profit or a recent visitor was impacted by the redemption of Christ and received salvation during a worship service… people want to know! Sharing milestones and member stories is a great way to build a faith community.

1. Mailchimp

Known for being user-friendly, Mailchimp allows you to email 500 contacts a month up to 1,000 emails for free. Upgraded packages range from $13 - 350, with add-on blocks for additional contacts available for a fee.  

Build customer journeys (drip campaigns) and enjoy personalized designs and segmentation on this easy-to-use platform. Mailchimp has built-in analytic tools, though the platform lacks some advanced capabilities that could limit your email strategy. Some say the mobile application is difficult to use.

2. ActiveCampaign

Start with a 14-day free trial of ActiveCampaign for 100 contacts and 100 emails. The Marketing Lite plan starts at just $29/month, but you’ll likely need to upgrade to a pricier plan for necessary features. ActiveCampaign offers hundreds of pre-built automations and a migration service to move your current contacts and templates over.

3. Breeze

Breeze is your one-stop shop if you’re looking for something that does more than just email marketing. For a flat rate of $72/month, Breeze allows you to: 

• Add as many people as you’d like 
• Use custom fields to help you keep track of member data like baptism dates or background checks 
• Email AND text both people and groups 
• Track giving and generate reports 
• Allow people to give online or via text 
• Event check-in 

Karen M. from Hillcrest Church said, “All of our database needs have been more than met [using Breeze], it’s easier to use… and the price is amazing - what a value this has been to our church.” 

Did we mention Breeze loves churches? Their values are rooted in supporting Bible-believing churches as they help people meet Jesus and experience his grace and forgiveness. Check out all the amazing Breeze features.

Email marketing is continuing to outshine social media when it comes to getting the attention of an audience. People only see about 2% of what’s posted on their Facebook page, but 99% of people open their email daily. (campaignmonitor.com, OptinMonster) 

Don’t let this be an excuse to skip this week’s Instagram post–a good marketing strategy will utilize email, social media, and church invitation texts. Beat the algorithms and get to the top of your everyone’s inbox by collecting email addresses any way you can: 

• Website 
• Handouts  
• Event forms (digital and print) 
• Online resources/lead magnets 
• Anywhere guests check in (think Children’s Church and the Men’s Retreat) 

Don’t bother buying email lists or sending unwanted emails to people who haven’t opted-in. A genuine list of contacts will increase email opens and lead to growth for your email list. 

Most email marketing platforms also allow you to track the results of emails and campaigns. Checking open rates, how many times a link was clicked, and even which users clicked the links will help you craft better messages for improved results.  

Note: Consider cleaning up your email list 1-2 times a year to remove anyone who isn’t opening emails. It might sting a little, but a shorter engaged list will lead to better open rates. 

There are endless options for the kinds of church emails you can send. Instead of getting overwhelmed, start simple. Eventually, you can utilize different features like segmentation and drip campaigns to communicate with church members.  

Here are a few examples of the types of emails you can send:

Newsletters for Events‍

Newsletter-style emails listing upcoming events or classes are a great way to communicate information without overwhelming people. Use a list format or simple layout with images and links to your website for more details. These are best once a week or a month. (Avoid subject lines using the word newsletter…  “What you need to know for May” will get more opens.)‍

Transactional Emails

When someone signs up for Summer Camp, send a confirmation email! Include links to more information, like a packing list, parent meeting dates, or direct them to social media for event updates. ‍

Relational Emails

Sending a weekly devotional, blog, or asking for prayer requests via email is a great way to connect with your congregation. You can even send a survey to members or visitors for feedback.

Targeted Emails

Take advantage of segmentation to send emails to specific groups of people like volunteers or parents of toddlers. For example, not everyone needs to know about choir practice on Thursday, but the choir does!

Church email marketing is a cost-effective and efficient way to communicate with your congregation about upcoming events and important information. No matter your strategy or the size of your church, there’s a platform for your church that will meet your needs.  

Why Should Churches Use Email Marketing?

Email marketing is a cheaper, easier, and better way to get visitors plugged in and keep church members involved. 

How often should you send a church email newsletter?

Church email newsletters should be sent weekly or monthly. Build campaigns and utilize segregation for specific group emails as you develop your email strategy. 

What to Look for in an Email Service Provider?

Look for an email marketing service provider that covers your church’s needs for a reasonable cost with no hidden fees. Make sure it offers analytics, segregation, and is easy to use.