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

1. Blogs,Twitter, Facebook & YouTube - What & Why? Robert Meade – GCI IT

2. What is Social Media?

3. Who Uses Social Media?

4. Before Social Media – The Webpage

5. Webpage – Keys to Success • Simple & focused • Key Information is Accessible • Who you are • Where you are • Why you are • Easily Updatable with Authorization

6. Wheel of Social Media

7. 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!

8. Blogger Content Producer 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 • 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

9. Blogger – Getting Started • Read some blogs • http://thesurprisinggodblog.wcg.org/ • http://genmin.blogspot.com/ • http://trinitarianworship.blogspot.com/ • Sign up at www.blogger.com • Post “with purpose” on a regular basis (at least monthly)

10. Facebook Content Producer 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 • 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

11. Facebook – Getting Started • Sign up at www.facebook.com • Find some people you know and “friend” them. Post a bit yourself (more is better) • Find a couple churches or businesses to “like” • Once comfortable - set up a church page for your congregation and post “with purpose” at least once a week

12. YouTube Content Producer Audience Likes to watch, not read Will share what is worthwhile to them Often values humor or education (combined when possible) • 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!

13. YouTube – Getting Started • Look at what churches are doing on YouTube: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_wu61fbtMI • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCN-JS70oBw • Get an easy-to-use video camera & use it • Sign up at www.youtube.com • Upload your video – link and share it • Post “with purpose” at least a couple a year

14. Twitter Content Producer Audience People in your same ‘niche’ Primarily “followers” – relatively few posters • Likes to share frequently in very short messages (140 characters max) • Likes potential of a worldwide audience • Willing to build community online

15. Twitter – Getting Started • Go to www.twitter.com • Look at the following examples: • michaelhyatt • edstetzer • Sign up for an account • “Follow” the above examples, and others • http://wefollow.com/twitter/christian • Begin posting and sharing daily

16. Social Media Concerns • Time • Negative Comments • Keeping it Fresh • Authorized Media • Perceived loss of control

17. 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

18. Where to Begin?!?

19. Questions?