Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Social media is a huge blessing, but just like the meat God gave the Israelites in the desert, it can be too much.
So how do we use social media to our advantage without it consuming our lives? Here are a few tips to make Social Media work for you and not against you.
Start Small.
Don’t feel the need to be on every popular platform. Start with one, do it well, and then add another as you have room. If your Twitter account isn’t getting likes, and takes up valuable pieces of your day, let it go. Focus on what is working instead of forcing something that isn’t.
It’s too easy to stretch ourselves too thin when it comes to social media. The good news is that you don’t have to.?
And don’t confuse starting small with staying small. Your platforms will grow and hopefully so will your capacity. You’ll learn tips / tricks along the way to do what you do quicker and easier.
Schedule.
Time is scarce, but wasted time is…wasted? The point is that scheduling content allows you to dive deep into focused work, ensure you aren’t missing important pieces, and frees up space later. Choose a consistent time every week to schedule posts for your social media accounts. Mix up announcement and engagement posts. Then throughout the week, respond to comments and drop a few engagement posts as they come to you. The pressure is off.
Facebook has its own scheduler, but there are plenty out there. They are worth investing into, but most have free options as well. Here are a few of my favorites:
Source.
Content may be king, but what about when we don’t have the time or creativity to create it? Don’t be afraid to share from other sources.
Here are some ideas:
- Behind the Scenes of what you’re working on for the weekend
- Worship leader tuning guitar
- Pastor writing message on computer
- Graphic Designer working on graphic (blur graphic for extra effect)
- Children’s Ministry preparing a lesson
- Volunteer sweeping the floor (“We’re getting ready for you!)
- Printing programs
- Audio Guy testing sound levels
- Clip of band rehearsal
- Local Events
- Use captions like, “Who’s going?” or “If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, invite your small group to _____”
- Video Clips from the weekend message (link to full message)
- Quotes from the weekend message w/ picture or graphic
- Stats from the weekend (___ baptisms, ____ new families, _____ kids, ____ parking spots empty, ____cups of coffee drunk)
- Volunteer Highlight
- Get to know us (staff member highlight)
- Helpful articles written by other people
- Celebrate another church’s highlight
- Curate an arsenal of engagement posts and schedule them throughout the month (see this article for ideas)
- Repost videos from the weekend messages
- Worship Song Set List Graphic
It’s okay to slow the brakes until you have a firm grasp on what you’re doing. It’s better to engage well with the audience you have than leave new followers hanging because you’re spread too thin or don’t have enough content to engage regularly.
I’d love to hear other ways you’ve found that help ensure SM doesn’t dominate your life, or questions you might have! Comment below.
Photo by?S O C I A L . C U T?on?Unsplash
