Blog

November 08, 2018

November 2018 Newsletter

Check out SSL (HTTPS) for your website, the New Mobile Web Texting App, and more in our November Newsletter.

November 01, 2018

HTTPS Secure: Your OCS Website Has an SSL Certificate

You might have recently heard about the need for all websites to have the HTTPS in their address for security, or you may have seen in your Chrome browser URL Address Bar a "Not Secure" notice for unsecured websites. We're happy to let you know all OCS websites come with HTTPS, keeping you secure even if you don't handle sensitive data or monetary transactions through your website. You can find the option to enable SSL in the OCS Menu on the left, near the top labeled SSL Settings.

Why have this extra protection? Google sums it up best that HTTPS:

• protects the integrity of your website
• protects the privacy and security of your users
• is the future of the web

To understand more about each of those points, head over to the Google Developers article, "Why HTTPS Matters."

HTTPS means your site has an SSL Certificate, which usually must be purchased. We're able to provide you this service for no additional charge. And don't forget that, if you use the Membership Portal in our Membership Database, your members' login is also protected.

October 19, 2018

New App Keeps the Text Conversation Going

Our new Mobile Web Texting App connects our Membership Database, Group Texting, Keyword Texting, and Visitor Follow-Up tools with a new combined communication tool that will allow you to continue your church text conversations right from your phone. 

When you use the "Text From a Number" feature in those tools, any responses to your texts can now be forwarded to the cell phone number of your choice (currently you're notified via email). Those texts sent to you will include a link that will open our new web app and allows you to view the name and info of who sent the text (retrieved from your Membership Database or Visitor Follow-Up records), then respond and keep the conversation going. 

When someone texts one of your keywords, not only will they get the automated response you have defined in Keyword Texting, but you will be notified so you can choose to interact via text.

If you're using the Group Texting in the US using an email address, this will continue to be no cost. To use this new feature, sending from a phone number instead of an email address, a Plivo.com account is required at a cost of $0.80 per month for the number, and $0.005 per text. Example: 200 texts would cost the monthly 80 cents and $1.00 in texting charges to send.

You can view your text conversation histories in the new Mobile Web Texting App or in the Membership Database, continuing the connection of all of our Tools together together in one place. To get the new app, just look for the link when you log in to either Group Texting or Keyword Texting, and be sure to add it to your phone's homescreen.

September 21, 2018

Closed for Fall Break

It's time for our Fall Break, so we'll be closed Monday, September 24 through Friday, September 28. While we'll still be notified of server emergencies, any other questions will be answered when we reopen on Monday, October 1.

September 13, 2018

Testimonial: Inga Edwards

Today we offer a Testimonial review from one of our customers, Inga Edwards, Administrative Assistant at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Walden, New York.

"Our church was looking for both a web hosting service and a new membership database. I was tasked with finding an alternative that would provide us with both for a reasonable price, which was not an easy task! After much research, I came across Online Church Solutions. The array of features they were offering was almost unbelievable for the price. Not only were we able to almost seamlessly make the switch, but the personal support provided by Mark is second to none. But perhaps most importantly, it’s a solution that is constantly being developed and improved. New features are being added and user input is not only welcomed, but encouraged. What more could you ask for?"

August 31, 2018

Closed for Labor Day 2018

We will be closed on Monday, September 3 in honor of Labor Day.

August 23, 2018

Membership Portals SSL Upgrade

Every OCS account comes with a Membership Portal for the Membership Database, where your members can update family and individual info, family and individual photos, plus view church birthdays and anniversaries. Our system has included secure handling of that information, from our Managed Server with Proactive Monitoring to Mark's personal monitoring of the software side.

Now we have integrated additional security through SSL certificates for the Membership Portal URLs. This upgrade will give an extra layer of protection to sensitive information by using encryption, bringing more peace of mind to your church members. 

This upgrade to the Membership Portal is included automatically to all OCS churches with no increase in fees.

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