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The ChMeetings Branded App allows your church to offer members a more personalized experience while using your church app.
This guide walks you through the steps to successfully launch your ChMeetings Branded App to your church members.They ensure a smooth rollout and a welcoming experience for your community. You will be able to go through this guide as soon as your app is live in mobile app stores. Please see Get To Know The Branded ChMeetings App to learn more.
Step 1: Set Up Your Member Portal
Before introducing the app to your members, it’s essential to configure your Member Portal. This is where your community interacts with your church via the branded mobile app.
Configure Member Portal Settings
Go to: Member Portal > Settings, where you can configure your Member Portal.
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Allow Members to Register, so they can create their accounts via the app:
Enable Allow people with existing profiles to access the Member Portal.
Enable Allow new members to register.
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Optionally, enable Custom Registration (using profile fields): This option lets you collect member information starting from their registration, using People profile fields.
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Due to app store policies on collecting extensive information upon signup, there is no registration option in-app if you add profile fields to the member registration process.There are two ways to enable this option:
Send members the registration link or QR code, which you can get from under Member Portal > Settings..
Add the registration link as a Link Card, through the Member Portal Builder.
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Configure the Invitation Email from under Member Portal > Settings > Invitation Email:
Set up a personalized and welcoming invitation email.
Include important information, such as your church name, app benefits, and a call to action, to encourage people to register.
The email will automatically include the app download links, so ensure it's attractive and clear.
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Assign Default Member Permissions:
Ensure the Member role is well configured in Users & Roles > Roles & Permissions for correct permissions and access.
Customize the Member Portal with the Builder
To customize your member app, we recommend configuring it using the Builder, which lets you provide members with a variety of content types, in a friendly app interface. Here is an overview of this configuration process:
Go to: Member Portal > Builder.
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Configure your portal, and choose what content Guests and Members can access::
Design different layouts for guests and logged-in members. You can do so by simply setting the card visibility to Members, Guests, or Both.
Step 2: Invite Members to Join
Once your Member Portal is configured, you are ready to invite your members to join. The approach varies depending on whether you're migrating/importing members or starting from scratch.
If You have Migrated or Imported Members
Go to the People Page.
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Select all imported members, click More Actions, and then Invite to Member Portal.
This sends an email to selected members to invite them to register. The text of the email is the one configured under your Member Portal Settings.
Tip: Test the invite with a few admins first before inviting everyone.
If You are Starting Fresh (No Existing Members)
Go To: Member Portal > Mobile App.
Locate the QR Code and App Links, and share them with your community..
Optionally, Monitor Registrations: If you choose to automatically approve new member registrations, then your members will be able to access their accounts immediately. Otherwise, you must regularly check your Member Portal Settings > New Member Requests to approve registrations.
Step 3: Announce and Promote the App
Now you are ready to share your branded app with your wider community and start growing. Here are a few suggestions of channels you can use to promote your branded app:
QR codes added to printable like posters or handouts
Email newsletter
Website banners
Social media posts
Best Practices for a Successful Launch
Test everything: Run through the portal and app experience yourself first, before sharing your app with members.
Train staff and volunteers to support members during rollout.
Update regularly: Keep your portal and app content fresh with new content. Our Blog feature lets you do this easily, right from within your church app.
Encourage Feedback: Listen to member suggestions and address common concerns early.
Troubleshooting & Support
If members report issues:
Ensure they are using the correct app version (branded, not the general ChMeetings app).
Verify their invitation was not caught in spam. If they can’t locate it, just send them the registration link or QR code and they can go ahead and register right away.
You can always refer to the ChMeetings Help Center for further guidance, or Contact Us if you need further help.