The Benefits of Social Media

By Kaitlin Zwingert

Overview

• General Information• Why should Social Media be used?• Specific tips and strategies•Facebook•LinkedIn

Why is Social Media important?

Connecting your group to another also connects you to everyone that they’re connected to.

Social media is just a new way to do old business.

How does social media improve the quality of ministry and help move the

church's objectives forward?

Via: Communication

ConnectingCall to Action

It's easy and effortlessThere’s varietyIt's ubiquitous

It's viral

Communication

Connecting should create a conversation.

It’s not yodeling. It’s campfires!

Connecting

GoGivePray

Mobilize

Call to Action

Young people avoid paper mail;

they’re online.

GO TO THEM!

Going paperless is good for the earth!

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”Genesis 2:15

“You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands.”Psalm 8:6

Get on Facebook yourself!

Create a personal profile to connect with parishioners and potential church members.

What about the church?

A page&

A group

Facebook Page

• Must have an official rep as an admin• Communicates broadly (comments, posts)• Posts and pages are available to everyone • Anyone can “Like” your page • Admins post under the page name• Tabs and Insights are available

Facebook Group

• Closed space for small groups • Offer more privacy settings and options• Members must be approved or added by other

members• They are notified by default• Collaborate through chats, photo albums, docs and

group events• No insights or tabs available

Facebook is not just for kids!

The fastest growing group is women over 45.A.K.A. MOMS!

Social Media Boundaries?

Don’t be nervous to add children in the church as friends on Facebook.

You want to be approachable.

It’s a way to have something in common with an age group that you have nothing in common with.

”Jesus said, ’Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14

Engagement Tips

• Ask questions they can answer• Use @_name to mention other

pages/people• Post colorful/interesting photos

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.”1 Peter 5:2

When you are thoroughly connected, it is easy to find information, events, and most importantly:

job openings.

By encouraging parishioners to use LinkedIn, you can help them get jobs and better their lives.

Why join LinkedIn?

• Create personal LinkedIn profiles and connect with each other.• Have rectors connect with as many parishioners as possible.• Create a page for the diocese, and join it.• Have each church make a page and connect with the diocesan page.• Continue connecting with other groups and expanding your network.

Steps to Success on LinkedIn

Seems like a lot?

Many organizations today have a social media coordinator as part of their staff.

It should be relatively simple to find a young adult in the church willing to work for the

church in this capacity.

Resources

• http://www.slideshare.net/danielle.brigida• www.mashable.com• www.linkedin.com• www.facebook.com• www.biblegateway.com• http://churchsmo.com/

Questions?Kaitlin Zwingert

kazwingert@gmail.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/kazwingertLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kazwingert

Twitter: @kazwingert