Below are some ideas we may discuss during an av consulting session for churches affected by COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in our lives, how we do things, and our businesses. From restrictions on how we are able to meet, to changes in our normal cash flow.

And local Atlanta churches aren’t excused from the impacts of the pandemic by any means. As unemployment rates skyrocketed during the pandemic, churches in Georgia took a financial hit.

But the need to share their message and pay staff doesn’t stop because in-person services do.

Is your local church is feeling the effects of the pandemic but is still live streaming? Is your audience between 100 and 1 million viewers? Here are some alternative income generating avenues to consider:

Keep your congregation up to date with what is happening in the local community.

News is always important. But during our current climate, people are keeping up with local news more than ever.

Did you know you can provide current news to your audience during your stream?

For example, if your prayer group is designed around current topics, you could have them fed right to your audience.

Consider Allowing advertisers to also reach your audience for a fee.

Advertising during church? It might sound far-fetched. But keep in mind a virtual setting still differs from a traditional church setting. Users are very used to advertisements during virtual events.

Advertisers will pay you to allow them to briefly promote their product during your programming. And the more viewers you have, the more you can charge to secure ad space.

You could also limit your advertising to only things pertaining to your congregation.

Offer alternative methods for giving.

If we are unable to meet in person, passing around an offering bucket is out of the question.

Some of your congregation might still be mailing in checks. But there could be members of your church who would be more likely to give if offered an alternative method.

There are several ways to offer tithing from a debit card or bank account to a church account. Tools include Venmo, PayPal, Cash App and more.

Tip: Because you are live streaming, you could even do a demonstration of how to give using your selected method.

Consider sponsorships for your programming.

If advertising seems a little too heavy-handed for your audience, sponsorship is a great alternative. Someone would sponsor your programming by paying you an allotted amount of money, and in return, you will let your audience know they are a sponsor.

For example, you might have been to a local baseball game and seen banners hanging around the outfield with business names. The funds from those businesses – or sponsors – are what made the game possible. And in return, those businesses are getting their names shown to all attendees.

Is your audio visual system equipped to handle these additions?

As audio visual support specialists, it is our job to ensure your AV equipment is suitable for your location, needs and budget.

Our goal is to produce the best results for your project. Give us a call today so we can learn how to better serve you.