adding church members to sms list?

I'm pretty sure that will depend on your platform! The platform I have allows for uploading csv files and, if I remember correctly, Trumpia offered that ability as well. What service are you using to send your messages?
b

I am just getting started. What platform do you use?

I use txt180 but I wouldn't recommend going with any platform based solely on the ability to upload. From what I recall there is a good majority of platforms that will allow uploading of some sort, so I recommend as always to do your research and make sure the platform you select will allow you to flourish.
Goodluck,
b

Intrgued as to why target churches for SMS campaigns? Do churches have decent budgets that they'd want to have this service? Do they attract an audience who are likely to own mobiles/want texts (in the UK, religion is a lot less popular than the states, mainly elder people go to church)? Do you not feel some kind of ethical issues making money from the church?

I work at a church part-time and we pay for many services; I'm not sure why anyone would have an ethical issue selling services to a church or non-profit. Some companies do offer a discounted rate. That's assuming your services are honest, of course.

At least 90% of our member have cell phones if not more.

We also have a very active youth and children's ministry so it's not only the elderly who attend.

However, I will say we would never use their cell phone numbers to send them text messages unless they signed up saying they were willing to get them.

Yeah I guess if a church had faulty plumbing, or damaged roof tiles then labourers in those professions would not expect just to do it for free.

I don't think this would work quite as well over here in the UK though. It might not be the same EVERYWHERE, but I can safely say that in my town alone, 80% of people do not go to church. And I wouldn't be suprised if it was a higher. Of course people are always gonna be going to church and there will be a constant stream of young people attending. But it's certainly not enough to have dedicated religious radio stations and as such, churches over here would probably not really go for this.

I may however throw it out there to some, just to see.

If 80% of people in your town don't go to church, that leaves 20% that do. If 80% of people ate at home every night would that mean working with restaurants isn't a viable business plan?

Not saying you should go sell your churches on SMS marketing, just pointing out that simply because EVERYONE doesn't do something doesn't mean there isn't a niche market there that you can work with.

Side note: I'd be surprised if 20% of people in the US went to church regularly either(Christmas and Easter doesn't count as "regularly").

Good food for thought. I agree with BKH, it isn't exploiting the church if you honestly offer a genuine service that will benefit the churches member awareness and turnout then more power to you.

I wouldn't recommend uploading peoples cell numbers without getting their permission, they need to optin or its considered spam and I am sure there would be some data protection issues if the churches past on peoples personal information to a third party (you) for marketing purposes. The best businesses and places to target are those with products or services they sell, many churches these days have a facebook page to connect with the people that attend, there isn't really anything churches sell that could really pay for what you would charge to manage their sms campaigns and over here in the UK they are only open Sundays. You would also need sufficient numbers of people attending a church to be able to monetize it for a church or they could use a mobile if they have less than 50 people in attendence at anytime. Go after places already spending money advertising, it will save you a lot of time in the long run. If you do get a church on board, let us know though, be interesting.

I sell sms text to churches all the time, there is nothing wrong with this. I was talking to a pastor yesterday and he said his focus is to market his message the 21st century way.

Matter of fact, when I was focused on only selling a sms text service to them, he wanted alot more. He wanted to email to a cold list, he wanted a moblie app for the church. He wanted a different website. And then he explained how important marketing is for the church.

Some of our most active clients are Churches... Its a great market! I would advise against uploading a list of numbers from people that have not opted in... This would be spamming and you don't want to get a church in trouble for something like that.

i agree with chris churches are great target point and you will not miss it

hey guys, since my religion does not require going to church, can someone please tell me who is the BEST person in the church to talk to about marketing? I am planning to do walk ins in the next two days and I would really appreciate if someone gave me this information.

Thanks

Depends on the size of the church. Most large churches will have an administrator or someone in charge of marketing. Many churches have a "communications committee" who make advertising decisions.

The senior pastors rarely want to mess with these kind of issues except to make a final yes or no. They probably won't want to deal with the details...unless it's a very small church where the pastor has to do everything.

Rose (preacher's kid and church bookkeeper)