Churches as Thought Leaders in Social Media
Zappo’s has done it. Ford is doing it. Southwest is known for it. They’re some of the current social media thought leaders. Setting the pace for other organizations. Not only setting the pace, but teaching other organizations how to use social media properly. They are pioneers blazing a trail for others to follow, but the great thing about these organizations is they are not just expecting us to follow, they are teaching us how to do it. They are blogging about their experiences, writing books, and allowing their Strategists to go out and speak at conferences.
The church, however, is trying to figure this out. The social media aspect of it, that is. In my opinion, one church hasn’t been able to step up and become the thought leader in this space. I’m waiting for it to happen. Any day now. I see a few that are primed to make it happen, they’re just at the Tipping Point.
We need more leadership in this space.
Churches need to know how to reach their current church community and the city they occupy. How to reach people that don’t attend a church, how to recruit more volunteers using social media, or to show churches how social media can increase involvement in initiatives outside of the church and for their live worship experiences.
As soon as one Church decides it will lead the way, the opportunity will be provided to influence others. Leading the way is not a communication director or church’s selfish gain or as a popularity contest, but it’s for the simple reason of teaching other churches how to reach more people. Churches CAN unite under the medium of social media. Cities can be reached through social media, people can be activated into opportunities outside of the church, making your city a better place as a result of your social media efforts!
The church as a whole could be vastly impacted if a few churches would start making the investment in that Online Communications position, providing the right resources, talent, time, energy, and materials that are needed to improve in that space.
Never has the opportunity been greater to reach your target audience, the people you live life around every single day. The people you worship with every single sunday.
Who will step up and lead the charge? Who will set the pace for other churches? Who will be the thought leader that shows how to effectively reach a community through Social Media?
I SO agree. We need more leadership in this space. AND the best part of it is that social media is free/not expensive and is about relationships, which is where the whole love your neighbor component can shine.
Good point on the “loving your neighbor.” The potential to churches in social media is so amazing. An organization that is built around Community and Communications should thrive in a space such as social media.
Great post. The opportunity isn’t just in the social media space, but let’s tackle one thing at a time.
Yes, I think one of the best ways to do that is to look at social media not as a strategy to engage your own people, but engage all of the people within your reach — whether they are within your church walls or not. Community engagement across social media would mean the church would have a very different look and feel for content, interaction and promotion.
Thanks Kenny! I completely agree with your thoughts. Social media allows the church to extend its reach beyond a Sunday morning. A reach that will allow you to directly engage & influence the community the church occupies.