What is a Communication?
A communication refers to an individual message or piece of content that is scheduled as part of a campaign. Communications are the specific emails, social media posts, text messages, pre-service slides, or other types of outreach that are used to convey the campaign's message to the intended audience.
Each communication is associated with a particular channel and can be scheduled on specific dates within the campaign's timeline. Communications can be customized with copy, images, and other content to ensure they effectively deliver the campaign's message. In the Communicate App, communications are the building blocks that make up your campaign strategy.
Why Do Communications Matter for Church Communications?
Communications are the actual messages your church sends to your congregation and community. While campaigns provide the strategic framework, communications are the tactical execution—the individual touchpoints that build awareness, provide information, and encourage action.
Effective communications are essential because they:
- Deliver your message directly to your audience
- Build anticipation for events and programs
- Provide necessary information (dates, times, locations)
- Reinforce your campaign's central message through repetition
- Reach people through their preferred communication channels
Without well-planned communications, even the best campaign strategy will fall short. Each communication is an opportunity to connect with your audience and move them toward engagement.
How Do Communications Work in Communicate?
In the Communicate App, communications can be created and scheduled in two primary ways:
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Via the Calendar: Click the "+" button in any calendar cell to schedule a communication directly for a specific date and channel.
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Inside the Campaign Page: Use the Communications Schedule section for drag-and-drop scheduling within the campaign.
Each communication includes:
- Date: When the communication will be sent or displayed
- Channel: The medium through which it will be delivered (Email, Instagram, etc.)
- Campaign: The campaign it belongs to (or it can be standalone)
- Content: Copy, images, and other media specific to that communication
- Status: Draft or Active
Communications can be moved, duplicated, edited, or deleted as needed. They inherit the color of their associated campaign, making it easy to visually identify related communications in calendar views.
When Should You Use Communications?
Use communications whenever you need to send a message to your audience. Communications should be:
- Scheduled strategically: Planned in advance as part of your campaign timeline
- Channel-appropriate: Tailored to the specific platform or medium
- Timed effectively: Sent at optimal times for maximum engagement
- Coordinated: Part of a larger campaign strategy rather than isolated messages
Every email blast, social media post, text message, announcement slide, or other outreach should be created as a communication within the app to ensure proper tracking, scheduling, and organization.
Related Terms
- Campaign - The framework that organizes related communications
- Channel - The medium through which communications are delivered
- Copy - The text content of a communication
- Calendar - The view where communications are scheduled and managed
- Template - Predefined schedules that create multiple communications at once
- Draft Status - A status marking communications as not yet ready
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a communication exist without a campaign?
A: Yes, communications can be created as standalone items not linked to any campaign. However, organizing communications within campaigns provides better structure and context.
Q: Can I move a communication to a different date?
A: Yes, you can drag and drop communications to new dates within the calendar. However, communications cannot be moved outside their campaign's date range.
Q: How do I duplicate a communication?
A: Hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) while dragging a communication, then drop it on a new date or channel. This creates a copy that retains all content but can be edited independently.
Q: What's the difference between draft and active communications?
A: Draft communications are hidden from the main calendar view and appear grayed out. Active communications are visible in full color and included in scheduling views. Drafts allow you to prepare communications without making them visible to your team.
Q: Can I change a communication's channel after creating it?
A: Yes, you can drag a communication into a different channel column in the calendar, or edit the channel assignment in the communication's details modal.
Q: What happens when I delete a communication?
A: Deleting a communication removes it and any custom content associated with it (such as unique copy or images not part of the campaign's general content). Only content originally added to the campaign remains available for future use.