Free Communication Tool for Churches: Band.us
One of the common issues I’ve noticed among Church Administrators is communication with staff, volunteers, and members of their congregation.
It seems that everyone prefers to communicate in a different way: by phone, by text, by email through iMessage, by Facebook Messenger (or other social media with DMs), or through any number of other communication platforms.
To make matters more complicated, some never use a computer, while others don’t have a smartphone.
I’ve just stumbled across an app that addresses all of those problems, and allows all of it’s users to connect in a way that works best for them. Okay, except for making phone calls for you — you’ll still have to do that separately!
What is Band.us?
Band.us is a platform designed for groups, and is primarily marketed towards sports teams and music/performance groups. It’s features fit perfectly with church ministry needs too.
Band.us is an app for iOS and Android, it can be used through a browser on your laptop or computer, and it allows people to subscribe to posts by email or text (or both!).
Visually, it looks alot like a Facebook Group, with group posts (including polls, surveys, livestreaming and more), a group events calendar, albums, and even private and public (within the group) chat sections.
Your “Band”, which is what they call a group, can be completely invitation-only, and unsearchable, or you can have it listed publicly if you choose.
There are settings to allow for younger users (including a way to enable a parent to log in and “supervise” their activity in the app).
Band is perfect for messaging people with their preferred method, all at once.
What I absolutely love is that every time you post something, you’re given the opportunity to “Send an Alert” — send the update to those who have subscribed to receive texts or emails. Emails are sent when you’re on desktop, and texts are sent when you’re using the app on your phone.
Either way, this is a HUGE advantage, in that it saves copying & pasting the same message into several different message delivery systems.
Other Useful Band Features for Churches
EVENTS for SCHEDULING
Band also allows you to add events (single or recurring) to a group calendar. You can upload files to events, invite specific people, and require RSVPs.
If I wasn’t already using ChurchTrac.com to schedule our ministry teams, this would be a great solution for scheduling volunteers!
POLLS for PLANNING
You can easily eliminate that 20 message threaded email chain that you started to choose a date for your next meeting by using a Poll Post in Band. Your group members can simply select one or more dates that work best for them! This would be super helpful for choosing an event theme, program curriculum, or the best location for a party.
PRIVATE & PUBLIC CHATROOMS
Posts are great for group updates, announcements, events, and so on, but sometimes you need a different format for conversations with a segment of the group, or even one-on-one.
Maybe a sub-committee needs to plan the agenda for the upcoming meeting, or your group members would like to send private prayer requests.
Using the Chat function is a great way to allow for all of those side conversations to happen, without diluting the group-wide posts.
SHARED ALBUMS
Have you ever gotten various photo collections by email, Messenger, text and on usb … all for the same event?
I have.
What I would have given to have a central album that everyone can upload to!
Band.us provides exactly that. Users can’t upload by text or email – they will have to use their phone or computer. But this is still a great feature to have for sharing photos of the Youth Camping Trip, or the latest Craft Sale or Easter event!
And here’s an added bonus: the settings allow you to decide whether you’d like people to be able to download photos from your group or not!
Band.us is free.
For such a comprehensive app, it’s amazing that it’s provided for free! And while I’ve seen reviews that talk about the ads in the app, I have yet to see one!
I’d love to hear your favourite ways of communicating with your staff, volunteers and congregation.
Have you found a one-size-fits-all solution? Share it in the comments section!
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