The Big Four
Social media’s power-hitters for the church
African safari enthusiasts have their Big Five—the wildlife most sought after on jeep runs across a fierce landscape: lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhino.
Social media has its Big Four—those platforms with arguably the strongest possibilities for churches: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Pinterest.
Here’s a primer on why these platforms make the cut:
Facebook Cast your nets wide with the biggest social-media platform on the Internet. There is more populace found on Facebook than in most small countries. Chances are, nearly 80 percent of your church uses Facebook every day. Use this platform to push church announcements to your congregation instantly (direct to their mobile devices).
YouTube Use the most powerful message medium available (video) on the world’s third-largest Internet site. Most videos can be shot, uploaded and edited with a smartphone. Also, stream your Sunday services live through YouTube’s free nonprofits program. All you need is an inexpensive Flip Video recorder or your mobile device.
Twitter As pure mass messaging, Twitter is great for upcoming outreach events, retreats, prayer requests or facilities announcements. We’re not looking for authors here; quick blasts of information will do. Twitter integrates best on users’ tablets and mobile devices. This medium also reaches younger people who are disenfranchised with Facebook. Youth pastors should be all over this one.
Pinterest Mashable reported this year that Pinterest is now as popular as Twitter. Mainly used for images and creative work, Pinterest can be used to “pin” the creative life of your church, much like an old-school corkboard: children’s Sunday school artwork or even pastoral staff hobbies (on a staff talent show pinboard). Using Pinterest will help your church be found more frequently through Internet search engines by people intrigued by the unique expressions of your church family.
Sean Matthew O’Brien is an EFCA church planter (Church in the Round, launching fall 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio) and the owner of Vidage Creative Media. Sean leads social-media workshops throughout the Texas/Oklahoma District. To learn more about workshop offerings for your district or church, contact him via email or Twitter.
The Big Four
African safari enthusiasts have their Big Five—the wildlife most sought after on jeep runs across a fierce landscape: lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhino.
Social media has its Big Four—those platforms with arguably the strongest possibilities for churches: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Pinterest.
Here’s a primer on why these platforms make the cut:
FACEBOOK Cast your nets wide with the biggest social-media platform on the Internet. There is more populace found on Facebook than in most small countries. Chances are, nearly 80 percent of your church uses Facebook every day. Use this platform to push church announcements to your congregation instantly (direct to their mobile devices).
YOUTUBE Use the most powerful message medium available (video) on the world’s third-largest Internet site. Most videos can be shot, uploaded and edited with a smartphone. Also, stream your Sunday services live through YouTube’s free nonprofits program. All you need is an inexpensive Flip Video recorder or your mobile device.
TWITTER As pure mass messaging, Twitter is great for upcoming outreach events, retreats, prayer requests or facilities announcements. We’re not looking for authors here; quick blasts of information will do. Twitter integrates best on users’ tablets and mobile devices. This medium also reaches younger people who are disenfranchised with Facebook. Youth pastors should be all over this one.
PINTEREST Mashable reported this year that Pinterest is now as popular as Twitter. Mainly used for images and creative work, Pinterest can be used to “pin” the creative life of your church, much like an old-school corkboard: children’s Sunday school artwork or even pastoral staff hobbies (on a staff talent show pinboard). Using Pinterest will help your church be found more frequently through Internet search engines by people intrigued by the unique expressions of your church family.
Sean Matthew O’Brien is an EFCA church planter (Church in the Round, launching fall 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio) and the owner of Vidage Creative Media. Sean leads social-media workshops throughout the Texas/Oklahoma District. To learn more about workshop offerings for your district or church, contact him via email or Twitter. [\disclaimer]