One downside of creating your own church directory or using do-it-yourself church directory software is having to take your own photos of church members. None of us want to end up with a directory filled with “mug shots” that embarrass or infuriate members. After all, who of us is pleased with the photo on our driver’s license? If members don’t like their photos, they’ll resist your church directory no matter how useful it is. Getting good quality and updated photos for your church directory can seem like a daunting and (possibly) expensive project. Thankfully, most of us carry a camera with u ..read more

With all the communications and media options available these days, maybe you’re wondering why your church should consider having a church directory. Your congregation might be leaving behind the format of print publications, trying to save time and money. Or maybe you’re worried that a church directory just becomes obsolete too quickly.  The good news is that a church membership directory is more valuable than ever these days. Thanks to technological advancements, an online church directory is not only possible but also affordable and easy to maintain.  Having an up-to-date, passwor ..read more

Creating a comprehensive church directory is a project that comes with great responsibility and a desire for precision. With online membership directory programs, you can take advantage of professionally designed church directory templates to compile a directory that is as informative as it is aesthetically pleasing.  What is a Church Directory Template?  A church photo directory template serves as the foundational framework for your directory’s appearance. It’s the blueprint that integrates each church member’s information into a cohesive whole. Directory templates are crafted to ac ..read more

This month’s release is all about bringing a more secure directory to you (and your members). Read about the changes below … RELEASED: Increased PDF Security We’ve recently made an update to the Share PDF feature to increase the security of the PDF of your directory. This increased security makes it harder for others to find and view your directory, plus it allows you to turn off sharing at any moment. As part of this increased security, if you generated a PDF link before February 2023, you will want to be sure you are using the latest links to ensure no interruption to your members. To learn ..read more

Be on guard for scammers who request access to membership directories so they can harvest the Personal Identifiable Information (PII) to spam or scam church members. These individuals claim to be church members and request access to the directory via email or an online website form. Once given directory access, they can then send spam messages to members via email or text. At Instant Church Directory, we want to provide insights and best practices on how to keep your church directory safe from scammers. Just like your church building, your directory should have doors with locks and keys, and y ..read more

When creating your next church photo directory, a question you may have is should your church continue with a traditional printed photo directory or make the switch to an online church directory program. Here are some basic pros and cons along with other benefits of each to help you decide which is right for you and your church or organization. + Pros of a Traditional Printed Directory Your printed directory becomes a great keepsake, as well as a reference tool. You may think a printed directory is a thing of the past, but there is something special about holding a printed directory in your ha ..read more

Let’s say a staff person in the church office has been tasked with producing your church’s version of your directory. Five minutes ago, she popped her head into the office and said, “Pastor, don’t forget that we need a welcome note from you for the directory … like yesterday, please!”   Fine. You’ve got this. So, you can think, make notes, do some online research, and consult some colleagues. Maybe in two or three days, you can give the admin person what she needs.  Or, you can read on for some easy tips to make the writing easy and painless.  First Tip: The Photo You have ..read more

Want to customize your church directory to better reflect your church? Then this update is for you! Check out these exciting customization features in preview now and coming soon. IN PREVIEW: Custom Labels for Family (Administrator View and Online Member Website Only) Live in preview: Administrators will be able to change the “Families” tab to any description you choose! For example, to change the “Families” tab to read “Households,” go to My Account >> Customization Settings and insert the singular and plural versions that best fit your directory. After making those changes, you’ll see ..read more

Let the phone do the work! This is the first thing a professional photographer said when we asked about using smartphones to take church directory photos. Phones can do a lot of the work for you without the expense of a separate camera, especially if you follow a few key tips outlined below. You’ll quickly find that the camera won’t be a barrier to getting your church photos. That will still be getting your members all together and holding still for a photo!  Cell phone cameras indeed offer several advantages for capturing church directory photos of congregants. The primary benefit is acc ..read more

In today’s world, protecting personal information is a big deal. More and more people are aware of how important it is to keep their personal information safe, and they expect organizations to do the same. Churches are no exception. As a community, the church is a place where people come together to worship, learn and grow. Part of this community includes maintaining a church directory that contains personal information about its members. It’s important for churches to have a privacy policy that explains how the church will collect, use and protect the personal information of its members. Admi ..read more