How to Add and Manage Scheduled Announcements in SteepleMate

The Announcements feature in SteepleMate allows church administrators to create, schedule, and display content like announcements, upcoming events, or inspirational quotes. These announcements can be displayed across digital billboards, kiosks, or the church's mobile app. Follow this step-by-step guide to add and manage scheduled announcements.

Step 1: Manage Announcements

Before scheduling announcements, you need to upload them into the system. Here's how:

1. Navigate to Manage Announcements

   • From the left navigation menu, click on Media, then click Manage Announcements.

2. Create Announcement Categories (Optional)

   • If you'd like to organize announcements into categories, click Create New Category.
   • A pop-up will appear where you can name the category. Once done, click Save.

3. Upload an Announcement Image

   • Select the category you would like the announcement to be uploaded to (if applicable).
   • Click Browse to select your image from your computer.
   • Optionally, add a Name for your uploaded image.
   • If you're using a SteepleMate billboard, you can set the image as the background for a countdown timer by clicking Use For Countdown Timer Background.
   • Once you've selected the image, click Upload to save it.

4. View Uploaded Announcements

   • After uploading, your image will appear in the Existing Announcements section.
   • You will also see how many displays the announcement is actively visible on.
   • Announcement images with a red border indicate they are not visible due to date constraints, while images with a green border show that the announcement is currently being displayed.

5. Delete an Announcement

   • If you need to remove an announcement, simply click Delete.

Step 2: Schedule Announcements

Once your announcements are uploaded, you can schedule when and where they will be displayed.

1. Navigate to Schedule Announcements

   • From the left navigation menu, click on Media, then click Schedule Announcements.

2. Create a New Schedule

   • Click New Schedule to create a new announcement schedule.
   • Enter a Name for the schedule.
   • Specify the Start and End times and dates.
   • Choose which days of the week you want the schedule to be active.
   • Click Save to confirm your new schedule.

Step 3: Assign Announcements to a Schedule

After creating a schedule, you can assign announcements to it.

1. View and Edit Schedules

   • Click the > icon next to a schedule to view more details. This will display all the announcements currently assigned to that schedule, as well as where they are set to display.

2. Assign an Announcement to the Schedule

   • Click the + icon to assign an announcement to the schedule.
   • Select one of your uploaded announcements, or click Show Stock Images to choose from pre-made artwork.
   • Next, choose where the announcement will be displayed (e.g., a kiosk, digital billboard, or mobile app).
   • In this example, we will assign the announcement to display on the on-site kiosk in the foyer. You can also assign it to the Web Kiosk or Mobile App.

3. Confirm Announcement Display Locations

   • Click Continue to confirm your selections.
   • You’ll now see a summary of which announcements are scheduled and where they are being displayed.

4. Edit or Delete Announcements from the Schedule

   • To edit a schedule, click Edit.
   • To remove an announcement from the schedule, locate it in the list and click Delete.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to effectively manage and schedule announcements in SteepleMate, ensuring your church’s communications are timely and visible across multiple platforms.