Creating a mobile app for your church is a big deal—one that you should think through carefully by weighing all the options. But where do you start? Bluebridge founders and experts Santiago Jaramillo and Adam Weber explore the pros and not-so-nice cons of each option, including: How much church apps cost What quality level you can expect How much work is involved on your part How long it’s going to take From freelance developers to do-it-yourself websites, we’ll give you the “dirt” on what you can expect.

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Church Apps:
What to Know Before You Buy
Santiago Jaramillo Adam Weber

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A. The Mobile Landscape
B. Websites and Apps
C. Building a Mobile App
A. Your Options
B. Questions to Ask
D. We’re Here to Help
E. Q&A
AGENDA

3. SMARTPHONES > BABIES

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Mobile Today
P.C.’s
Tablets
Smartphones
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
200m
0m
400m
600m
800m
1b
1.2b
1.4b
Connected Device Sales Over Time

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60%
of all web traffic comes
from mobile & tablets
2015

7. Role of Mobile Sites

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What events are
coming up?
Role of a Responsive Site
Visitor Engagement
1
2
3
What should
newcomers expect?
What do you believe?

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89%
of time on mobile is
spent in apps.
Smart Insights, 2015
Mobile Today

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Native apps
are faster and more
intuitive than sites.
EASE OF USE
Apps link directly
to features and tools
that are used most.
DEEP CALLS-TO-ACTION
Apps do in one tap
what mobile
sites do in 20+.
QUICK ACCESS
Apps encourage
commitment and
repeated use.
ON THE HOME SCREEN
Push notifications
provide instant, actionable
communication.
DIRECT COMMUNICATION
85% of users
prefer apps to
mobile sites.
CONSUMERS ARE THERE
Why Apps?

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How do I
engage during
the service?
What resources are
available for me
to grow?
How can I share
with others?
How can I get involved
during the week?
Role of a Mobile App
Congregation Engagement

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Mobile Sites & Mobile Apps
What’s the Difference?
Mobile Sites
• Used primarily for initial
research & information
• Discovery, research, and
first impressions
• Comprehensive content &
database
• Account for 14% of all
smartphone usage
Mobile Apps
• Used primarily for
repeated engagement
• Opens instant
communication channel
• Offline access
• Accounts for 89% of all
smartphone usage

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Why Apps for Repeated Engagement?
Case Study: Facebook

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Most Engaged
Least Engaged
Website Visit
Social Media
Email Marketing
Mobile App
SEO, Paid Search, Content Blogging
Church
Church Marketing Funnel

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Building a Mobile App

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Your Options
Freelancer Dev Firm Platform DIY

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Freelance Developer
Anyone you privately hire to build
your app from start to finish
Pros: You manage the project
Cons: One-time project, no ongoing
services/enhancements

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Development Firm
An agency that specializes in custom
digital projects
Pros: High quality work,
knowledgeable
Cons: Extreme costs ($100K - $1M), no
ongoing support/enhancement

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Mobile App Platform
Easy-to-use app building platform
with regular enhancements
Pros: Ease of use, ongoing support/
enhancements, affordable
Cons: Sometimes specialized,
industry-specific

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Do-It-Yourself
Typically a web-based application that
allows you to build an app on
your own
Pros: Easy to use, fast, low cost
Cons: Shallow functionality,
limited support

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Dare to Compare
App Type
Your Hands-On
Involvement
Quality Feature Set Price Timeline Support
Freelance
Developer
Medium Low-Medium Custom $$$ Months-Years No
Development
Firm
Low High Custom $$$$ Months-Years No
Mobile App
Platform
Medium High Limited $$ Weeks-Months Yes
DIY High Low-Medium Limited $ Days Maybe

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1. What is your implementation like?
2. What unique features enhance congregation engagement?
3. Do you have ongoing maintenance and optimization?
4. How robust are your push notifications?
5. What services do you offer?
6. What providers do you integrate with?
What to Ask a Provider

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Dedicated
implementation help
Implementation, Strategy, & Services
Community
and training
Thought
leadership
Strategy

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Mobile Giving
Features
Media Fill-in-the-
Blank
Active Calendar One-Touch
Social Share
Multi-Campus

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- OS updates
- Screen sizes
- UI/UX updates
- Do the apps look
outdated?
Ongoing Maintenance & Optimization

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Scheduling
Personalization
Action-based
Inbox
Push Messaging

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Your CMS
Integrations
ChMS Mobile giving

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We’re here to help.
Schedule a mobile strategy session today!
gobluebridge.com (800) APP - 3014