Mobile Technologies in Your Ministry

Mobile Technologies and Your Ministry

Joe LuedtkeVice President, Liturgical Publications

[email protected]@cathtechtalk

Why is a Church Bulletin Company

talking about technology?

The Next Generation of Parishioners Are Growing Up Online

But they may not be using computers!

One-third of all US teens with cell phones text over one hundred messages a day. (Source: Pew Research Center)

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“Teens, Cell Phones, and Texting” Pew Research Center.

Teens and Cell Phone Use• Calling is still a central function, but primarily with parents.• Girls text more than boys (80 text messages / day versus 30).• For parents, Cell Phones are an area of conflict and

regulation. • Schools typically treat cell phones as a disruptive force. Only

12% of students say they can use their cell phone anytime.• Cell phones bridge the digital divide for those without

computers or high-speed Internet.• And for those post-teens (18-29)…

– 19% have donated via text message– If they use their phone to reach the Internet, more than half use it daily.

“Teens, Cell Phones, and Texting” Pew Research Center.

But Its Not Just Teens

Microsoft Tag

And Mobile is Still Growing

Microsoft Tag

And Growing!

Microsoft Tag

Microsoft Tag

Microsoft Tag

Microsoft Tag

Remember when a phone was used to call someone?

You Need to Understand that Mobile is Different

• Its always with us and available• Its not just an input device. Push technology is

increasingly common• Its location aware

– Google now estimates that 20% of its searches are for things nearby

– Facebook Mobile, Twitter Mobile, and Foursquare let you make connections with both people and things nearby

– Restaurants and businesses are jumping on this bandwagon by offering specials. What should we offer?

Our Challenge and Opportunity

Now that the Church is online and on email, we need to go mobile.

Technologies to Help Us On Our Way

Websites and Mobile Websites

• All smartphones have an Internet Browsers. Sites that appear on your smart phone are Mobile Compatible– Flash components won’t work on the

iPhone– Frames cause problems on most phones– Its easy to test, but try multiple phones

• Mobile Aware or Mobile Sites are templated systems that are specifically designed to be optimized for the mobile platform

Websites and Their Mobile Template

LPi’s Online Donation Tool, WeShare, in a traditional browser

Websites and Their Mobile Template

LPi’s Online Donation Tool, WeShare, on a mobile phone

QR Codes• Two-dimensional bar

code• Able to store more

information than a traditional bar code

• Scanned using the camera on your smart phone.

• Build yours at goqr.me

QR Codes in Retail

QR Code Uses• QR codes are meant to enhance existing content. Some

good examples of use are:– At a fund raising event to record visits or event signups.– Transmit contact information for staff right to your phone.– Directing the user to this week’s sermon, supporting information, or

even a little fun quiz.– Surveys or voting on important issues.– Links to your online giving provider.

• A needs improvement example of use,– Putting a QR code in your bulletin that has current content that links

to just your home page of your website with only outdated content.

Texting• Texting is still primarily 1:1. It should be used as an

engagement tool.– Phone trees now can be replaced by texting chains.– Links to Facebook or Twitter can easily be included.

• Broadcast or group texting is starting to emerge.– ParishSoft’s

NotifyNow– Txtsignal.com– Twilio.com

Foursquare, Google+ and FB Mobile

• Foursquare – Keep up with friends and discover what’s nearby.– Is primary a location based service– Integrates well with Facebook and Twitter– Do you check in at church? You should– Restaurants and retail stores offer ‘Specials’. What should we offer?

• Facebook and Google+– Primarily a social network– Location services secondary

• There probably is over 500,000 and counting on iTunes

• Mobile users now spend more time in their Apps than online.

• These Apps embed themselves into your phone but also your lives.– If only it would be that easy, http://catholictechtalk.com/mobile-apps

• Apps are an application that is designed for your smartphone. – Want to build your own, remember you get what you pay for– Its common for App Developers to retain ownership of the code, but

the content needs to remain yours

The Wrap Up• We’re entering a post-website world• The Internet used to be informational, now is becoming

relational• Content used to be king, but its really becoming all about

the conversation• The generation of parishioners is growing up online, but

on their phone

Thank You!

Joe LuedtkeVice President, Liturgical Publications

[email protected]@cathtechtalk