Undoubtedly, the internet has taken over the world. Because of this, many churches feel the need to be present online – especially on social media. But many venture into the world of social media when they’re not prepared. For instance, it’s become common to see a church Facebook account that remained inactive for more than three months. Such a misstep can be a determining factor regarding visits to your church.
Here are four tips on how your church can use social media:
- Set a SMART goal. First, ask yourself, “why should I use social media?” rather than jumping in just because you see other churches doing it. With this question in mind, you will be able to define a clear goal and set a plan. Remember, your goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Some churches fail in their social media campaigns because they don’t set clear-cut goals. You may need to consult someone who understands social media dynamics to assist you in setting SMART goals.
- Decide which social media platform fits your audience. There are many social media platforms. You need to choose which one(s) to use based on their popularity among your target audience. While Snap Chat and Instagram are prevalent with the younger generation, those may not work well for an older audience. You also need to consider your content format. Whereas you can write a lot in one Facebook post, you have limited space with Twitter. If you plan to promote videos you can use YouTube and other video sharing platforms.
- Assign a focal person responsible for social media. Some churches have one or more social media accounts, but if you check the posting frequency, you’ll be surprised. They wait until there is a ‘big’ event in the church before they post. Why does it take so long to update their social media page? In most cases, it’s probably because they don’t have anyone responsible for it. A designated person can help in the design and implementation of a social media strategy and regulate feedback. This person can also manage updates – which is a very important step.
- Train your church members on how to use social media for evangelism. You need to involve church members in your social media effort. Explain to members why social media is an important tool for online mission; a work to reach over 2.4 billion people. Invite someone to talk about “social media and the online mission field” to church members. Identifying someone who understands this topic well may increase the evangelistic use of social media.
We’ve shared few tips on how your church can use social media, but we know that there are countless of while knowing that there many other ways one can use. You can also share yours.