A few weeks ago I attended the BUG Conference along with my pastor and student pastor. It was a very insightful conference that covered Facebook, Twitter, blogging and church marketing. It quickly became apparent that 20 & 30 year olds are among the most effective users of social networking. Most of the presenters were younger than my children.
The Demographics
The majority of the attendees were white males, age 20-30. There was a small percentage of people over 45, a small percentage of women and an even smaller percentage of people of color. In fact, of the 200+ participants, I counted 8 people of color. What these numbers said to me, is that more women, people of color and folks over 45 need to get up to speed using social networking to benefit their ministries.
Technology Changes Daily
Technology can be intimidating because it changes so quickly. Just a few years ago, social networking was all abuzz with teenagers and college students who wanted to keep up with each other. Then a strange thing happened – those students became today’s entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders and all of a sudden faxed and paper resumes became a thing of the past. These young leaders and ministers were using Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Linkedin and Technorati to network, promote their businesses and find jobs.
Two great things about these services is 1) they are free and 2) you make friends. If you have a computer, know how to create a username and password, that’s half the battle. Social networking is not a fad. In one form or another, it’s here to stay. It’s time to get up to speed! However, take some time to learn the strategies and etiquette involved in these networks.
What’s Next
Read articles
- Michael Martine of Remarkablogger is one of my blogging friends. He has written a wonderful article that gives an inside look at Twitter: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Marketing Your Business on Twitter. These same practices apply to ministry.
- Twitip is another blog that I read. They conducted a poll that is worth looking at to get some insight on how people are using twitter: Poll Results: Why Do You Tweet?
Take a Class or Workshop
- Find a workshop or conference
- Bring someone into your church to teach a class or workshop
- Study how other people on Facebook or Twitter use these tools
There is no reason to let your budget keep you from learning to use these tools. Most of what I’ve learned came from a few blogs that I read on a regular basis, and observing how other people in ministry, like Shaun King, use Facebook and Twitter. In fact, I found Shaun King through StumbleUpon. My current goal is to learn how to be strategic with social networking.
Tell me what you think?
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.yourministryhelper.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
Tags: church and facebook, ministry and twitter, social networking, using social networks in church, viral marketing
July 25th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I would echo and agree with everything you have written here Valerie. The laser point is:
“Social networking is not a fad. In one form or another, it’s here to stay.”
Ministries have to take this stuff seriously. It does not mean that every single social network or tool will be here to stay but this is the “shift” the web has made and it is ever so surely being integrated into our society. Churches need to experiment, explore, and adapt some of these platforms so they do not get left behind on the significant communication channels needed to effectively connect with people and share the message of Jesus!
July 26th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Hi David, thanks for your insightful comments. I am the second oldest person on our church staff and am usually the one encouraging the rest of the staff to use social networking.
Unfortunately, the church often has a “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality. But sometimes, it’s a lack of understanding of the future of marketing. Even the word marketing is a no no in some ministry circles. But that’s what we do every time we invite someone to one of our services. I can invite all of my Facebook and Twitter friends with one message. That’s taking marketing to another level.
July 26th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Good for you Valerie!
Keep up the communication crusade. For those who recoil at the word “marketing” I use the word communication. And for those on the “edge” I try to “teach” them by telling them that marketing is essentially “telling a story”. We as Christians have the best story on the planet to tell but often we are the worst story tellers, communicators, or marketers I know. There is a lot of educating to do. Keep serving God with excellence!