What is a Communication Schedule?
A communication schedule is the planned timeline of communications for a campaign—what goes out, on which channels, and when.
In Communicate, the campaign page section labeled Communication Schedule is that plan for one campaign. The org-wide Calendar shows communications across campaigns. Don’t confuse this with Channel Schedules (Plus)—repeating slots on a channel row. Full campaign guide: Campaigns.
Plan: Scheduling on Essentials and Plus. Template apply and Alt/Ctrl-drag duplicate on the schedule are Plus. Multi-campus Global Schedule / campus tabs need Plus + multi-campus on.
Roles: Create/move/edit need communication (and campaign) edit permission—Owners, Admins, Managers, Editors. Delete is Owners/Admins/Managers (not Editors). Viewers can view. Global campaigns may be read-only in a campus workspace. See User Permissions and Roles.
Why Does Communication Schedule Matter for Church Communications?
A clear schedule helps you:
- Build anticipation across weeks
- Avoid stacking too many sends
- Keep channel coverage intentional
- Give the team one place to execute the campaign
How Does Communication Schedule Work in Communicate?
On the campaign page (Communication Schedule)
- Drag channel icons into date cells within the campaign range; click items to edit
- View: Other campaigns (gray out-of-campaign icons) and Event dates (from Event Details)
- Template (Plus) → pick Smart/Legacy → Template Preview → Apply
- Option/Alt or Ctrl+drag to duplicate (Plus)
- Select for bulk delete/status (and multi-campus copy into a campus schedule when allowed)
- Global multi-campus campaigns may use Global Schedule vs campus schedule tabs; campus-owned campaigns use one strip
On the Calendar
- Same communications appear by channel across all campaigns (plus standalones)
- Filter, move, and (on Plus) duplicate; Channel Preferences / Schedules apply here too
When Should You Use a Communication Schedule?
Use the campaign Communication Schedule whenever you’re planning a campaign’s sends in one place—events, series, launches. Use the Calendar when balancing several campaigns at once.
Related Terms
- Campaign · Campaign Brief · Communication
- Channel · Calendar · Template
- Channel Schedules — different feature (Plus)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How far in advance should I schedule?
A: Often 2–8 weeks before a major event; weekly items can sit further out. Campaign start/end dates bound linked communications.
Q: How many communications per campaign?
A: Enough to cover the story without overload—sometimes a handful, sometimes more over several weeks.
Q: Same day on every channel?
A: Optional. Same-day can reinforce; spreading days can keep pace. Preferences help avoid blocked days.
Q: Can I change the schedule later?
A: Yes—move, edit, duplicate (Plus), or delete (if your role allows) as plans change.
Q: Too busy or too empty?
A: Check the campaign schedule and the org Calendar; spread pile-ups or fill intentional gaps.
Q: Can templates build a schedule?
A: On Plus, use Template → Template Preview → Apply, then adjust. Essentials schedules items manually (or upgrades for templates).