Church Communications
Effective communication keeps your congregation informed and connected. SoapBox provides multiple channels to reach your members with the right message at the right time.Communication Channels
Professional email campaigns.
Push Notifications
Instant mobile alerts.
In-App Messages
Messages within SoapBox.
SMS
Text message alerts.
Email Communications
Creating an Email
1
New Email
Go to Admin > Communications > New Email.
2
Select Recipients
Choose audience:
- All members
- Specific group(s)
- Custom segment
- Individual(s)
3
Compose
Write your message using the editor.
4
Review
Preview on desktop and mobile.
5
Send or Schedule
Send immediately or schedule for later.
Email Editor
Rich email creation tools:- Drag-and-drop blocks
- Image insertion
- Button links
- Social icons
- Custom HTML (advanced)
Email Templates
Save time with templates:- Weekly announcements
- Event invitations
- New member welcome
- Volunteer requests
- Ministry updates
Personalization
Use merge tags for personal touch:{{first_name}}- Member’s first name{{campus_name}}- Their campus{{group_name}}- Their small group- Custom fields
Push Notifications
When to Use Push
Push notifications are best for:- Time-sensitive updates
- Event reminders
- Emergency alerts
- Breaking announcements
Creating Push Notifications
- Go to Communications > Push Notification
- Write your message (max 180 characters)
- Add optional link
- Select audience
- Send or schedule
Push Best Practices
| Good Use | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Service cancellation | General announcements |
| Event starting now | Weekly reminders |
| Emergency alerts | Marketing |
| Last-minute changes | Routine updates |
Announcements
Community Announcements
Post to the community feed:- Go to Communications > Announcement
- Write your message
- Add image (optional)
- Pin to top (optional)
- Publish
Announcement Features
- Pin important announcements
- Schedule for future
- Set expiration date
- Target by campus/group
Audience Targeting
Segment Types
| Segment | Description |
|---|---|
| All Members | Everyone in your church |
| By Campus | Specific location(s) |
| By Group | Small group members |
| By Role | Staff, volunteers, etc. |
| By Tag | Custom tags |
| By Activity | Active/inactive |
| Custom | Build your own criteria |
Building Custom Segments
Create targeted lists:- Go to Communications > Segments
- Click New Segment
- Add criteria:
- Member status
- Campus
- Groups
- Activity level
- Custom fields
- Save segment
- Use in communications
Saved Segments
Reuse frequently used audiences:- New members (last 30 days)
- Inactive members
- Volunteers
- Small group leaders
- Ministry teams
Scheduling
Schedule Communications
Send at optimal times:- Compose your message
- Click Schedule instead of Send
- Select date and time
- Choose timezone
- Confirm
Scheduling Tips
| Day | Best For |
|---|---|
| Tuesday-Thursday | General announcements |
| Friday | Weekend event reminders |
| Saturday | Sunday service updates |
| Sunday AM | Last-minute alerts |
Recurring Communications
Set up regular sends:- Weekly announcements (same time each week)
- Monthly newsletters
- Birthday messages (automated)
Communication Calendar
Calendar View
See all scheduled communications:- Emails
- Push notifications
- Announcements
- Across all campuses
Coordination
Avoid communication overload:- See what’s already scheduled
- Balance frequency
- Coordinate with other staff
- Prevent conflicting messages
Analytics
Email Analytics
Track email performance:- Open rate
- Click rate
- Bounce rate
- Unsubscribe rate
Notification Analytics
Understand push performance:- Delivery rate
- Open rate
- Click-through rate
- Best times to send
Reports
| Report | Shows |
|---|---|
| Delivery Report | Who received what |
| Engagement Report | Opens and clicks |
| Audience Report | Segment breakdown |
| Trend Report | Performance over time |
Communication Preferences
Member Control
Members can set preferences for:- Email frequency
- Push notification types
- Communication categories
- Quiet hours
Respecting Preferences
SoapBox automatically:- Honors unsubscribes
- Respects quiet hours
- Filters by preferences
- Maintains compliance
Unsubscribe Handling
When members unsubscribe:- Immediate removal from lists
- Required legal compliance
- Optional: Still receive critical alerts
- Easy re-subscribe process
Communication Best Practices
Less Is More
Less Is More
Don’t over-communicate. Every message should have clear value.
Right Channel, Right Message
Right Channel, Right Message
Use push for urgent, email for detailed, announcements for general.
Mobile First
Mobile First
Most members read on phones. Write short, scannable content.
Clear Call to Action
Clear Call to Action
Every communication should have one clear next step.
Test Before Sending
Test Before Sending
Send test emails to yourself first. Check links and formatting.
Track and Improve
Track and Improve
Review analytics and improve based on what works.