Email Templates: Introducing your Community to Altar Live

Excited to share Altar Live with your community, but don’t know where to start?  Ready to invite members, but want to make sure they have the tools they need?  We’ve got you covered.  Here are 3 email ideas you can use to introduce Altar Live to your community (and some bonus tips for writing your own).

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Template 1 -Short & Sweet

This template is great for a quick, info-packed invite to Altar Live.

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Hello [Church Name] church family!

This week, we’re trying something new.  In addition to our regular live stream, we’ll be streaming on Altar Live.  Altar Live is a place where we can virtually gather, participate, and talk to each other during (and even after) the service.  

Sounds good? Now that we’ve got your interest, here’s how you can join us this week - 

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On a computer

• On Sunday, go to [yourcommunity].altarlive.com
• Click on the service that says Join Now
• Click log in
• Choose your log-in method - we suggest using either Facebook or Google, but you can also use email to sign in

On a mobile device

• On the app store, download Altar Live
• Choose your log-in method
• On Sunday, go to [yourcommunity].altarlive.com
• Click on the service that says Join Now

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And that’s it! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask - you can email us at [your email]. We’ll see you there!

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Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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Template 2 - Launch Countdown

Here’s a series of emails designed to not only introduce Altar Live to your community but build excitement! 

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Email 1 

Hello [Church Name] family,

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We have exciting news! Something big is on the horizon that's going to transform the way we worship online together.

In addition to our regular live stream, we’ll be using Altar Live - an online church platform designed specifically to bring our community together for worship, fellowship, and prayer - no matter where we are.

Our first service using Altar Live will be [Date], but in case you can’t wait until then to check it out, here’s a 3 min video introducing Altar Live.

Here’s why we think you'll love it:

• Watch church with other people! You and a group of up to 3 other people can “sit” together, view the livestream together, see each other, and talk among yourselves. If you prefer to watch on your own, that’s fine too!  You can still access the general chat, or directly message other users.
• Mix and mingle with others in the lobby. After service, find friends (or soon-to-be-friends), pick a table, and have a casual conversation over video conference. Switching tables is as easy as a tap or a click.
• Find a prayer partner. One of the key foundations of our community is the ability to pray with and for each other in a personal way. We’ll have people ready to pray with you at specific prayer tables in the lobby.
• Welcome newcomers. We think this platform will make it easier to invite a friend or family member to “come to church with you” in an accessible and non-threatening way where you can be part of the experience with them. We will also have a virtual Welcome Table in the lobby where newcomers can ask questions and learn about next steps. 

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We’re super excited to get to worship with you in this unique way - if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at [your email].

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Sincerely,

[Admin's Name]

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Email 2

Hello [Church Name] Family,

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[Church Name]’s first service with Altar Live is almost here!  We hope you’re excited for it as much as we are - and if so, we’ve got a special treat for you… pre-registration is open!

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Signing up with Altar Live is simple and easy, but if you’d like to log-in ahead of time, you can use our self registration link at [self registration link].  We recommend using your Gmail or Facebook account to sign up, but you can also use an email address and password.

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And, if you really can’t wait, here’s a video about how to use Altar Live.  We’ll also be hosting a training session on [date] - you’re more than welcome to join, just email us for the details.

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If you have any questions, please feel free to ask - we’re excited to share this platform with you.  Hope to see you soon!

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Sincerely,

[Admin's Name]

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Email 3

Hello [Church Name] Family,

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The day is finally here! In addition to our regular stream, we’ll be going live on Altar Live.  Altar Live is a place where we can virtually gather, participate, and talk to each other during (and even after) the service.  

Here’s how you can join us this week - 

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On a computer

• On Sunday, go to [yourcommunity].altarlive.com
• Click on the service that says Join Now
• Click log in
• Choose your log-in method - we suggest using either Facebook or Google, but you can also use email to sign in

On a mobile device

• On the app store, download Altar Live
• Choose your log-in method
• On Sunday, go to yourcommunity.altarlive.com
• Click on the service that says Join Now

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If you’d like to join us on Altar Live but aren’t quite ready to fully jump in yet, no worries!  You can still join us at [yourcommunity].altarlive.com as an anonymous user, and sign in when you’re ready to use all the cool features Altar has to offer (such as chat, watch parties, and more).

We’re so excited to see you there - if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

Sincerely,

[Admin's Name]

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Template 3 - Conference Invite

If you host an event that requires pre-registration, you can send out a pre-registration link (more info at the end of this article) to let members sign up ahead of time.

Hello [Attendee Name]!

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Thanks for registering for [Conference Name]!  This year, we’ll be using a virtual conferencing platform to create an even more interactive and engaging experience.  From video lobbies to watch parties, we’re sure this platform will enhance your [Conference Name] experience.

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Please create your account using this invite link [your community’s self-registration link] by [date].

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Creating an account will allow us to make sure you have access to all the right events.  It’ll also allow you to:

• Chat with other participants and speakers
• Join watch parties during streams and in lobbies
• Participate in round-table discussions

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We’re excited to welcome you to [Conference Name] - if you have any questions, feel free to reach out at [your contact email].

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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(Bonus) Tips and Tricks for writing email Invites

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1. Frame the email in the form of an invite.  This one might seem obvious, but new changes can be hard to adapt to.  Invite, instead of telling, your community into the transition.
2. Include your contact information. Change can be scary, and it’s comforting to know there’s someone you can reach out to if you need help
3. Send the right link at the right time.  There’s three types of links on Altar Live - each one serves a different purpose.  Event/Meeting links are connected to a specific event or meeting (or series).  Self-Registration links can be found by clicking on your community icon in the dashboard.  They allow users to create an account and join your community before even joining an event or meeting.  Landing Page links will take users to your custom landing page, where they can view and join upcoming events and meetings.  You can find your community’s landing page link under Settings > Appearance.

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Want more ideas for inviting your community to Altar Live? Check out Shep Naz’s creative solution!

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