More people come to church on Easter Sunday than on any other day – in normal times. COVID-19 has upended church attendance and their budgets. With limited to no attendance allowed for Easter Sunday Services in 2021, it is more important than ever that churches engage with their congregations and give them options to easily make an offering. Here we discuss how one tweak to your direct mail communications can easily integrate online giving.
Is your church planning to send out a postcard reminder about Easter Sunday Services, a newsletter or other communication? Carve out a corner of the mailing to focus on offerings. COVID has forced churches to embrace online giving and it has become the main way donors are giving during the pandemic. Many churches today are using text-to-give for their online giving option but using a QR Code can be even more effective. Why?
- Scanning a QR Code is interactive and immediate
- No typing required
- No text code or number to remember
- No apps needed – most smartphones can read a QR with the camera
The good news is that it is not hard to integrate a QR Code into your direct mail. If you are comfortable with technology, you can generate your own QR Code. If not, CheqrPay offers a turnkey service that gives you the QR Code, processes transactions and deposits the funds directly to your bank account. Let’s walk through the process of getting and using a QR Code. And if you read to the end of the article, we will include bonus information about how you can get a discount on postage by including a QR Code on your mailing!
Where Do I Get the QR Code?
There are many QR Code generators to choose from. A simple google search for “Free QR Code Generator” will give you plenty of options. But take care when simply generating a QR Code that links to your giving page. There are a few factors you should take into consideration before using a QR Code for giving.
Mobile Friendly Donation Page Is Key
Anyone scanning the QR Code will likely do so with a mobile device. Therefore, you must be sure your donation page is designed for mobile. If a donor scans your code and finds that the donation page is difficult to use, they will most likely abandon the transaction.
No Long Donation Forms
If a donor scans your code and is directed to an extremely long form, the chances of abandonment are high. In today’s digital world, consumers value quick and easy transactions, preferably in just a few clicks. If they feel the process is going to take too long to complete, they may not even start.
Mobile Wallets
Along the same lines as above, if a donor must go to their actual wallet, pull out their credit card and input the information, they may be discouraged. Again, think simple, quick, and easy. Most users of mobile devices today are familiar with mobile wallets and have at least one configured on their device. Take advantage of this to make the giving process seamless.
Offer Multiple Payment Options
For online giving, credit cards are the most popular option. But for any organization interested in engaging with GenX and Millennials, offering a way to give directly from a bank account is key. If possible, offer a way to give with either credit cards or bank account. If you are interested in increasing the number of monthly donors, make sure there is an option to give monthly too!
TurnKey Option - CheqrPay
If you are not sure about generating your own QR Code and ensuring it works efficiently, CheqrPay offers a turnkey solution.
CheqrPay is an online fundraising platform designed specifically for charitable and faith-based organizations. In addition to traditional online fundraising pages, we also give you a QR Code for every campaign. When scanned, the QR Code leads to a branded, mobile optimized, mobile wallet equipped payment page. Donors have the option of giving with credit card or logging directly into their bank to make an online transfer. Monthly and one-time giving options are included. There is no need to download an app or create an account for donors to use this service. To see it in action, click here to watch a video of CheqrPay in use. To learn more about CheqrPay for churches, visit our main website.
