Blogs,Twitter, Facebook & YouTube - What & Why?

Robert Meade – GCI IT

What is Social Media?

Who Uses Social Media?

Before Social Media – The Webpage

Webpage – Keys to Success

• Simple & focused• Key Information is Accessible– Who you are– Where you are– Why you are

• Easily Updatable with Authorization

Wheel of Social Media

Social Media – Keys to Success

• Simple & focused• Think about the mission – your purpose – of

why you share what you share!• Make it personal – not generic• Post regularly• Get younger people involved!

Blogger

Content Producer• Likes to Write in paragraphs• May like pictures• Thoughtful• Willing to be personal• Can be written by one or

several people

• Examples:– Pastor’s thoughts– Sermon Notes

Audience• Likes to read thoughtful, or

personal updates from this person or group

• May occasionally (but probably rarely) want to comment

• Examples:– Congregation– Family & friends– Disconnected from church

Blogger – Getting Started

1. Read some blogs1. http://thesurprisinggodblog.wcg.org/2. http://genmin.blogspot.com/3. http://trinitarianworship.blogspot.com/

2. Sign up at www.blogger.com 3. Post “with purpose” on a regular basis (at

least monthly)

Facebook

Content Producer• Social & willing to share with

people you know• Short text, pictures, videos,

and games are best• Willing to build community

online

• Examples – – Personal facebook page– Facebook page for your church

Audience• Someone who knows you or

someone in your congregation

• Someone who wants to show they are connected to your congregation

• Examples – – People who “friend” your

page

Facebook – Getting Started

1. Sign up at www.facebook.com 2. Find some people you know and “friend”

them. Post a bit yourself (more is better)3. Find a couple churches or businesses to

“like”4. Once comfortable - set up a church page for

your congregation and post “with purpose” at least once a week

YouTube

Content Producer• Shares visually• Likes to film or be filmed• Can keep a message down

to 10 minutes or less

• Note: with “flip” style cameras, creating video is easier than ever!

Audience• Likes to watch, not read• Will share what is

worthwhile to them• Often values humor or

education (combined when possible)

YouTube – Getting Started

1. Look at what churches are doing on YouTube:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_wu61fbtMI2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCN-JS70oBw

2. Get an easy-to-use video camera & use it3. Sign up at www.youtube.com4. Upload your video – link and share it5. Post “with purpose” at least a couple a year

Twitter

Content Producer• Likes to share frequently in

very short messages (140 characters max)

• Likes potential of a worldwide audience

• Willing to build community online

Audience• People in your same ‘niche’• Primarily “followers” –

relatively few posters

Twitter – Getting Started

1. Go to www.twitter.com2. Look at the following examples:

1. michaelhyatt2. edstetzer

3. Sign up for an account4. “Follow” the above examples, and others

1. http://wefollow.com/twitter/christian

5. Begin posting and sharing daily

Social Media Concerns

• Time• Negative Comments• Keeping it Fresh• Authorized Media• Perceived loss of control

Social Media Benefits

• Example of setting up a facebook page for the last year for New Hope Christian Fellowship

• Bermie Dizon’s re-connection with old classmates in Southern California

• Giving media-savvy younger people a key role in sharing your congregation

Where to Begin?!?

Questions?