Connect Cards and QR Codes

I’ll tell you a little secret: being proactive is the sauce in support raising. Being proactive to me means putting the ball in your court. Always. A few tools I’d like to highlight in the world of proactive support raising are connect cards and QR codes. Both are geared toward giving individuals an immediate ability to respond as well as capture vital contact information to continue engagement and foster relationships.

Think about it – have you ever given someone a prayer card PRAYING that they will remember you AND remember to give? Have you ever spoken at a church, small group, or event and been caught in conversation with a chatty individual – leaving you with a great conversation but not a lot of personal connections with others from the congregation leading to support? Have you ever wanted more engagement and haven’t known how to go about it? Or have you wanted to expand your network and not known how?

Connect cards and QR codes can be part of the answer. Below I will explain both, give you ideas on how to utilize them, and provide you with a few examples.

CONNECT CARDS

Connect Cards are a lovely way to capture contact information from individuals interested in following along with your ministry whether that’s in prayer support, financial support, or getting your communication pieces (newsletter, social media, etc.). Think of them as individual index cards that are on your display table after a church service, or even on the chairs of an event you are speaking at. These printed cards give you the ability to follow up with interested people after a service or event is over, and can be an effective tool in facilitating more face-to-face appointments and building relationships with the body of Christ. Connect cards can serve as a way to “keep the ball in your court” by grabbing interested people’s contact information instead of just giving them a prayer card and hoping they remember to contact you. It’s better than a newsletter sign up sheet because it doesn’t create a bottle neck effect, and can be a bit more customizable. It’s also helpful that it’s printed, in that sometimes you loose people who won’t scan a QR code for whatever reason. I personally like to offer digital and printed opportunities to respond.

Now, I know this super duper fancy example I made on Canva in 10 minutes is tempting you to go off immediately and make your own. BUT…don’t. Yet. Keep reading. I want to explain something important first: keep in mind that connect cards are only appropriate in certain circumstances.

“Connect cards are only meant for events, services, and small groups where you have gotten permission to connect personally with individuals about giving.”

Connect cards should only be used when they fall in accordance with a pastor / leader’s protocol on giving. Do not make the mistake of assuming that these cards can be placed on chairs of a congregation without communication prior. Connect cards are only meant for events, services, and small groups where you have gotten permission to connect personally with individuals about giving (or if you are hosting a fundraising event that you are hosting on your own).

Why is this so important? A lot of churches do their missions / ministry giving by collecting offerings and disbursing where the church leadership collectively decides. That means if you were to come into that congregation and ask all the people inside to give to you personally, it may mess up what the pastor, board, and leadership of the congregation has decided to give to. You DO NOT want to be that person.

If you do use connect cards, try to explain them from the platform in which you are speaking from – letting everyone know how to fill them out and what they are for. The whole point is to contact the individual who filled it out afterward personally. I would shoot for contacting them within 24 hours of getting the card back, usually with a quick text message telling them how you are responding to them. If they checked they are interested in getting your newsletter, respond by telling them where to expect it and when. If they checked they are interested in giving, provide immediate information such as your giving link and ask if they may be available for a face to face (if appropriate) or would like any additional information.

QR CODES

QR Codes can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some that I have witnessed:

• On a printed piece on a display table (see below) with multiple scans for various information
• On a Powerpoint Slide behind a speaker that links to a fill out form (Google forms are great for this!) for a newsletter or more information.
• Printed on connect cards themselves so that if the individual wants to sign up electronically that is also an option. Or perhaps with additional information.
• QR Codes on print pieces that lead to the worker’s ministry page or link tree.
• So many others!

QR Codes can have many purposes, but my main thought in mentioning them is to get you thinking about ways in which you can provide a way to immediately respond to you and your ministry. Think proactively. Think of ways to maximize on every opportunity you are given, and how to foster relationship with the church and individuals you come in contact with. Whether the QR code sends them to your giving link, or additional information on a ministry page, or some where else, I suggest making it easy for them to navigate once they land and the least amount of work possible to lead them there (think fewer clicks).

Below are just a couple of examples of QR codes from workers. I hope this post gets your wheels turning on ways in which to facilitate pathways for the body of Christ to be involved and moving forward in the great commission (that’s what it’s all about!).