Our 5 favorite features in eCatholic Connect

January 30, 2024 by

 Katie Clark

Take a tour of all the beautiful and easy-to-use features in eCatholic Connect.

The latest addition to eCatholic’s digital product suite is almost here! eCatholic Connect is currently in beta, which means we’re still preparing for the “official” launch to the public. However, that’s not stopping us from sharing our five favorite Connect features that you can  use once you sign up. 
 

Join our beta waitlist!

Here’s what customers love about using Connect (so far!)
 

1

Building unlimited groups

Even though our Catholic communities across the nation share a beautiful faith with many overlapping or similar ministries, we’re not all the same. Connect allows you to create and manage an unlimited number of groups to streamline and simplify your staff and volunteer communications. 

So go ahead - let your administration dreams run wild. You’ll never be charged extra for the number of groups you create within your Connect account.

See the Connect module for eCatholic websites

Don’t stop there! Thanks to Connect’s full integration with your eCatholic-powered website, you’ll be having fun and feeling “groupy”!

Learn more about this integration and how it helps you streamline new member sign-ups to your main contact list and all of your individual groups.

 

2

Creating beautiful emails

When you’re writing an email, sometimes, all you need are the basic tools. But you probably wouldn’t say no to a few extra touches that make those tools slick and shiny. It’s one thing to write an email…but a completely separate thing to enjoy writing your email.

You can utilize eCatholic Connect to craft emails in the same way you would in Gmail or Outlook. We built it with text tools you can recognize, so the learning curve is almost non-existent. Choose from a list of web-safe fonts and colors, attach files, and even include an eye-catching HTML button to grab your reader’s attention and encourage those beloved clicks! 

Send unlimited emails when you use Connect

You probably thought building unlimited groups was awesome…but what about sending unlimited emails? We built Connect with big (and small) organizations in mind because no matter your size, you should never be penalized or restricted from communicating more frequently with your members.

Interested in using Connect for your diocese? Give us a shout - we’d love to discuss your specific needs! 

 

3

Scheduling Communications

Working for the Church sometimes means showing up on nights and weekends. And while we all strive to joyfully attend to after-hours needs (emphasis on the “strive”), technology can provide helpful solutions for keeping office hours during just office hours.

Every email and text message you send from your Connect account has the ability to be scheduled and sent at a future time and date of your choosing. Plus, you can always cancel or modify your “send time” just in case anything changes. 

 

4

Inviting members to update their preferences

Communicating with members should not always be viewed as a one-way street. In fact, big tech companies are constantly updating their tools to match new and rapidly changing privacy laws that protect your members' opt-in choices for receiving messages. From the beginning, Connect was built so you can offer your members a seat at the table.

Upon adding a member to your master list or any other group, your member will complete a one-click opt-in to receive your messages. After that, members are then invited to create their own account where they can manage and update their communication preferences. (Members can still receive your messages without creating an account). 

This opt-in workflow protects your sending reputation as well as your members' privacy. It's collaboration at its best to help keep your members happy and your messages delivering!

Already using a different tool to communicate with your members? No sweat, you can easily import a list of members from your existing communication tool. When you do an import, these members bypass the opt-in requirement (since they've already consented to communication from your organization) and can start receiving your messages immediately!
 

Did you know - Connect is accessible on any mobile device!

eCatholic Connect is fully optimized for you and your members to use on any smartphone or tablet. You can add a member after Mass, send a last-minute event update or reschedule your email; Your members can read the latest correspondence, log in to their user account, and update their info, all from their phone.

Whatever you need, Connect is available at your desk or on the go, at work, or at home!

 

5

Sending SMS/text messages (coming soon!)

In a world where the mobile phone is always accessible and never out of reach, the ability to send text messages can take your communication strategy to the next level. 

Connect includes a single toggle that automatically formats your email message into a text message. There’s no re-building your message or complicated formatting because Connect automatically builds the text for you; all you have to do is click “send.” :) Plus, because Connect prioritizes your members’ choices; only those who have chosen to receive SMS messages will be texted, which means happier members and less inbox overload.

Don’t think the features are over just yet! This list is just the beginning, and we’ve got so much more planned for Connect in 2024 and beyond. Remember, Connect is still in beta, but if you’re excited about these tools, remember to sign up for our beta waitlist. Once you’re there, you’ll be the first to know when Connect is officially launched. You can also let us know if you’d be interested in gaining early access to explore Connect on your own and help us test it out.

Not done learning about Connect? Check out this blog post as we dive into what makes our communications tool perfect for your Catholic organization.