More themes get Sections Layouts + new automatic payment emails
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August 12, 2019
Aug 12, 2019 byeCatholic Release Notes provides a brief look at what we’re accomplishing for you through our product releases, upgrades, and internal workings. Our goal is to help you stay in-the-know while we strive to keep improving. Enjoy our August 2019 edition of Release Notes!
What we're excited about: New automatic email notifications
Let’s face it, communication is essential yet time-consuming. Therefore, eCatholic Payments increased its automated email notifications so donors stay informed, and you stay on top of your donations and payments.
New automatic email notifications will be sent in the following situations:
- Expiring credit card - Recurring gift donors will receive a notification at the beginning of the month that their account credit card is set to expire. The email will include a link to an account login page for easily updating payment information. Those without an account will be provided a temporary link to make their changes.
- Transactions declined - Whether a payment method is locked or has expired, donors making one-time or recurring gifts will be notified if a transaction is ever declined.
- Approved voids and refunds - When contacted, account admins can void or refund gifts when a donor makes an error while submitting. Donors will then be notified when the void and refund transactions are approved.
- Unprocessed voids or refunds - This email only notifies account admins when a refund or void did not process. Admins can then run the transaction again or personally reach out to a donor for more information.
In addition, donors and admins will continue to receive the existing rundown of email notifications for eCatholic Payments.
Reminder: Check your Payments Admin Settings
With these new updates, it's a good time to check your Payments Admin Settings and make sure the right people are getting notified about the right things.
- Review your list of account admins with access to payments data
- Verify admin email addresses
- Update alert email addresses for your payment and donation forms
eCatholic Product Update: Section Layouts available in more themes!
Many have started using the new Sections Layouts feature to transform their homepage. Not only is it fun and easy to use; it also helps you stay on the cutting edge of modern website design.
With our latest release, four more of eCatholic's free website designs include this awesome new feature:
Loyola - Featuring a unique header region elegantly floating above your homepage feature images (or video clips), Loyola offers a gracefully modern design.
Lourdes - Built to help your message be clear and succinct, Lourdes offers a large feature region with a header design that draws attention to the simple navigation bar.
Porres - A gentle, grey-scale crucifix background page image and a variety of module icons are all there to enhance your content.
Krakow - Featuring modern, sans-serif font and a simple, novel design, Krakow’s prominent icons keep your homepage clean, attractive, and fresh.See the difference - Take your site to the next level!
No more "catch-all bulletin board" homepages! Here's how you can get started with a new Sections Layout:
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Pick a compatible theme - You may need to change your website's theme and select a new design that supports a Sections Layout. Log into your website, click into the Design Studio, then use the Sections filter (pictured below) to see all compatible themes.
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Update your homepage layout - Once you've verified that your theme supports Sections Layouts, select a compatible layout in the Homepage layouts and/or Interior Page layouts dialog found in the Design Studio.
Learn more and see step-by-step instructions.
Get help with your homepage makeover!
If you don't have time to update your website yourself, claim your spot in our homepage makeover queue!
Our talented design team will configure your site with a theme that supports the new Sections Layouts feature, then optimize your homepage content.
Transform your homepage
Developer's Roundup: Designing with Sections
When you use a Sections Layout, you unlock new ways to present content on your website (both on your homepage and on interior pages). Here's a deeper look at the tools our developers have created with Sections Layouts.
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Create beautiful buttons to highlight your priorities
Prominently highlight your top priorities with clear, attractive button section designs. Here are a few ways you can display buttons using different types of sections:
- Buttons section - Create one or two rows of buttons.
- Text + Buttons section - Include a heading and text above your buttons.
- Columns section - Display buttons next to other types of content.
- Grid section - Display buttons with other content in a uniquely fixed pattern.
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Stack, sort, and group content with a grid
With a Grid section, you can display a variety of modules in a unique layout. Consider using a grid to group content around a theme:
- Consider a welcome message theme surrounded by images of your church.
- Add a text module with a greeting or an invitation to take a tour.
- Switch out smaller images with buttons that direct visitors to register or view Mass times.
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Highlight content (such as News and Events) with images and color
News and Events lists no longer need to be vertical and lengthy. Sections Layouts allow you to clearly display your content in a horizontal fashion while taking up less page space. Plus, you can dress up content with a pop of color or background image.
- Include images to individual news and events under each entry's settings to catch visitors' attention or add more style to your page.
- Use a background color to visually separate a section from other featured content on your page. Easily choose a suggested background color for consistency with your theme.
- Or select an image to display with a colored overlay in the section’s background
Background colors and images can also be added to other types of sections. Simply look for the option on the Advanced tab within a section's settings.
Learn more: See all sections types and ideas for designing
Inside eCatholic
Every year eCatholic takes a different approach at how we can regularly build team culture. This is especially important since we are comprised of remote professionals spread across North America. So recently we began sharing book recommendations during our monthly "summit." What's so great about book recommendations? Each recommendation reveals little nuggets about a person's interest or character.
If you're interested in the titles our team has talked about, (examples ranging from children's to historical non-fiction) check out our latest blog post. Then, maybe consider offering book recommendations with your team, classroom, or ministry.Learn more: See the eCatholic team's book recommendations
