There are 2.3 billion active social media users in the world. The number of users has risen by 176 million in the last year. Whether you just set up your Facebook profile or you’re a Snapchat expert, having a good social media strategy will help your church reach out to your community and the world!
3. Town Square
Where people go to socialize and
interact with each other.
Meet people where they are.
New People
Your social media site may be the
first interaction you have with
people who are new to your
church.
Form of
Communication
Add to current forms.
Context is key.
Response is necessary.
5. Facebook
Largest social media platform.
Originally for college students–now every age.
Struggle with reaching younger generation.
facebook.com/
AndrewOsborneCPH
6. 6
Statistics
Facebook
18–29 year olds
30–49 year olds
50–64 year olds
88%
84%
72%
Monthly Users: 1.79 Billion
Daily Users: More than 1 Billion
Monthly Active Users
U.S. Adults
79%
65+ year olds
62%
facebook.com/AndrewOsborneCPH
8. 8
Almost everyone is on Facebook. Why would
we not communicate to our community in
the place they all participate in already?
The Numbers
While signing up for a Facebook account is
free, you do have to pay to use the marketing
tools and paid ads.
Cost of Marketing
Facebook makes it simple to target a certain
group of people in your marketing.
Target Your Audience
Facebook feeds move quickly because there
are so many people posting constantly. Your
content might get lost in the crowd.
Distractions Abound
Pros Cons
Facebook Pros and Cons
facebook.com/AndrewOsborneCPH
9. Ways to use
Facebook
in your church
Share a Topic
or an Idea
News and
Promotion
Group Discussion
and Management
Share Original
Content
Others?
facebook.com/
AndrewOsborneCPH
11. 11
Examples
Doing Facebook Well
King of Kings
@kokomaha
Omaha, NE
Strength
Life.Church
@life.church
Oklahoma City, OK (Multi)
facebook.com/AndrewOsborneCPH
13. 13
Statistics
Twitter
18–29 year olds
30–49 year olds
50–64 year olds
36%
23%
21%
Monthly Users: 80.2 Million
Monthly Active Users
24%
65+ year olds
10%
U.S. Adults
facebook.com/AndrewOsborneCPH
15. 15
Because Twitter feeds change so rapidly, it’s
ok, and even encouraged, to tweet more
often.
Post Frequency
Posts can only be 140 characters long, so if
you’re hoping to share long-form content,
look elsewhere.
Length
Twitter is full of celebreties and notable
figures. Interaction with these leaders is
extremely easy on Twitter.
Influencers
It takes a lot of attention and effort to build
up a following on Twitter. You can’t post
content only every once in a while.
Time Investment
Pros Cons
Twitter Pros and Cons
16. Ways to use
Twitter
in your church
Church
Announcements
Ministry
Inspiration
Community
Involvement
Inspirational Graphics
Others?
20. 20
Statistics
Instagram
18–29 year olds
30–49 year olds
50–64 year olds
59%
33%
18%
Monthly Users: 400 Million
Daily users: 75 million
Monthly Active Users
32%
65+ year olds
8%
U.S. Adults
facebook.com/AndrewOsborneCPH
22. 22
Being designed for sharing photos, Instagram
makes it simple for churches to share photos
from events or to share even graphics.
Shareable Images
While it opens room for dialogue, sometimes
you want to share a link with your followers.
Instagram makes this difficult.
Lack of Links
Because Instagram prevents you from sharing
links in descriptions and titles, it clears the
way for true dialogue to happen.
Simple Engagement
You’re only able to post up to a minute of
video at a time. Be thankful; it used to be
only 15 seconds!
Video Length
Pros Cons
Instagram Pros and Cons
23. Ways to use
Instagram
in your church
Scripture/Quote
Graphics
Youth Ministry
Behind
the Scenes
Display the
Church in Action
Others?
27. 27
Statistics
Snapchat
13–24 year olds
25–34 year olds
35–54 year olds
45%
26%
23%
9,000 Snaps are shared per second
Daily Users
100 Million
55+ year olds
6%
facebook.com/AndrewOsborneCPH
29. 29
Because you can’t upload pre-made content
to Snapchat, your posts will look and feel
more authentic.
Authenticity
Probably because it was designed for
millennials, Snapchat can take some effort to
figure out.
Not Intuitive
While it may take some getting used to,
Snapchat shares your story chronologically,
letting you keep things in order.
Chronological
People can only view your content for a few
seconds at a time, and it goes away
altogether after 24 hours.
Expiring Content
Pros Cons
Snapchat Pros and Cons
30. Ways to use
Snapchat
in your church
Display Staff
Comradery
Discuss
Relevant Issues
Stories on
Mission Trips
Event Previews
Others?
36. 36
YouTube provides several ways to share your
content, creating multiple avenues for your
content to be shared.
Broaden Reach
YouTube gives plenty of suggestions for your
audience to watch next, which may pull their
attention away from your content.
Distractions
Being owned by Google, videos shared on
YouTube will have a much higher likelihood
of appearing in people’s search results.
Massive Audience
YouTube is a feel application. Because of that,
they use advertisements to generate money.
You may not always like the ads they attach to
your content.
Advertisements
Pros Cons
YouTube Pros and Cons
37. Ways to use
YouTube
in your church
Share Stories/
Testimonials
Create Hype
Church
Video Tours
Teachings
Others?
40. 40
What’s Next?
Emerging Networks
Tons of networks out there now
The landscape of social media today is
largely solidified, and it’s going to take
something massive to change it.
Likely not a repeat
The next Facebook won’t be Facebook
and it won’t look anything like it. It’s
going to look like something we haven’t
seen before and will meet a need or
provide a level of immersion that we
don’t even know we’re missing.
Be where your people are
If it’s Facebook, be on Facebook.
If it’s Twitter, be on Twitter.
Ask them. Do research. Listen.
79% of American adults with access to the internet use facebook.
Of all male-identified U.S internet users use Facebook.
of all female-identified U.S internet users use Facebook
On your page, click on the dropdown under Following. Click the pencil next to Notifications. Check next to All Posts and Events.
Join the Lutheran Com. Page (as well as others) for Ideas/advice
Facebook pages: Be sure to keep pages up to date with office hours, service hours. This is especially important during Advent, Lent, and for other special services.
of all male-identified U.S internet users use Twitter
of all female-identified U.S internet users use Twitter
You don’t always need to START a conversation….it can be just as effective to join in on others.
Be engaging. Posts should provide value to your followers. Get to know your followers, the content they like, and focus on that.
It's ok to share content more than once. It only takes about 8 minutes for a Tweet to be pushed down the feed. Mix up your copy, but don't be afraid to repost information to make sure your audience sees it.
Of all male-identified U.S internet users use Instagram.
of all female-identified U.S internet users use Instagram
Instagram doesn't allow live links in image captions. If you want to draw attention to a link, put it in your profile, then add (Link in profile) to your caption.
Be consistent. To grow an online community, you need to post consistently. Scheduling tools, like Buffer, Meet Edgar, Hootsuite, Post Planner, provide tools--at some levels for free--that allow posts to be scheduled in advance
download the app Canva or Word Swag to overlay a speaker’s quote on top of his or her picture.
Of Snapchat users
Of Snapchat users
Use Live video to show authenticity. Live video is booming now, and is expected to continue to grow in prominence. An appeal of live video, whether on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snap, is that the videos don't have to be polished. If you have an iPhone and social account, you're set to go. Jump in and have your pastor preview his Sunday sermon or Bible Class. Chat with the principal about what's happening in the school, feature activities and stories in your church.
Snapcode - Post your Snapcode everywhere. People can add you on Snapchat just by scanning your code, whether in print or on digital signage.
Geofilters - Finally, create a geofilter for your event. Geofilters are overlays Snapchatters can place on top of their pictures and videos. Snapchat usage is off the charts with younger audiences; if you want them to share your awesome event with their peers, a geofilter is one great way to do it.