Social media can be a very unforgiving place, even for the most seasoned church professional. There are a few things you can do to make it more effective, and these can have a lasting impact on your church’s effectiveness.
Not Having a Strategy For Posting
If someone is not yet convinced that social media is for ministry, it is usually a good idea to just try it out. There are a few simple steps to get started, and then ask for help along the way.
If you are going to approach social media in a long-term way, then it is important to make it intentional.
A social media strategy is the foundation of everything you do online. Follow this step to create an editorial calendar and map out your goals and objectives.
Learn how to read and understand Facebook Page Insights.
Over Reliance On Social Media
One of the biggest mistakes that ministries make is treating their Facebook Page like an extended bulletin. In 2018, Facebook changed the News Feed algorithm to encourage more engagement and discourage the consumption of information. This is a major change from how the platform works.
Spamming Several Social Media Platforms
If you find that you’re constantly posting the same content across all of the platforms, then it’s time to ask why you have all of these accounts. If you’re not able to achieve the same impact on one platform, then it’s time to look at other options.
Not only do the platforms have their own cultures and best practices, but your audience is also likely to be different on each platform.
There is no limit to how much time we can spend on social media platforms. Instead, the easiest way to save time is to create one set of posts for every platform.
Not Interacting
Being on social media is very different from being on a broadcast channel. Instead of focusing on what people are saying, ignore what they’re saying.
It’s also hard to build relationships with people if you post multiple times a week. Instead, schedule posts that are realistic and keep it consistent. If you are starting a social media ministry, or planning on expanding it, then sign up for multiple accounts in order to get the username that you want. Follow these steps to create a bio or “about” section to welcome people to join.
When There Is Lack Of Authenticity
Young adults are very sensitive to authenticity. If a church’s social media posts seem impersonal, or if its face is not as real as it appears, it can do serious damage to its reputation.
Finding your voice online can be hard, especially when you’re trying to represent a whole ministry. You also want people to feel that they’re talking to real people.
Not Being Accommodating
One of the easiest ways to feel disconnected from the world around you is by not recognizing it. This is especially true for people who are forming relationships with strangers. If you’re not careful, you might end up being a turn off.
Not Calling For Action
Creating content that people are interested in is a great way to connect with new people. In order to meet your goals, sometimes it’s necessary to ask people to do something. This can be done through social media or other forms of communication. A relationship is about building something that people can connect with. It has to be something that people can do together.
Recently, Facebook started to punish engagement bait, which is a way to get people to like, share, and tag their friends. This is a great technique to use when you’re having a hard time finding great content to share.