Why social media is the most important tool at your disposal.

Remember when MySpace was the biggest thing since sliced bread? As time moved on, social media evolved and new kids moved into the block. But how do we utilize these platforms to our advantage?

[featured-image single_newwindow=”false”]Flickr / Carlos Veira Lorenzo[/featured-image]

Facebook and Twitter are the largest and biggest social media platforms in the world and if you want to be successful in business, just existing on these platforms will only get you so far. We dabble with it. We play in the sandbox and then when we realize we don’t know what we’re doing, we vacate.

But why is social media all the rave today? Simply put, it’s where conversation is happening. We live in a society where we are more connected but more alone than ever before. And for the church, I believe it’s up to the us to bring those connections to a physical location. A place where people can feel safe and connected. This is the power of what social media can do for the local church.

Ask yourself: How do I utilize Social Media to its fullest potential?

· Social Media brings people together.
· Social Media allows community to interact.
· Social Media gives pastors a place to be real.

But how do you leverage social media? So many feel overwhelmed and have a hard time keeping up with the jones’. How do you maintain a regular presence on social media when you have 1,000 other things on your to-do list? It’s hard, and I believe the simple fact of feeling overwhelmed is what keep most people stagnant in the social realm.

What set’s successful pages apart?

Think about the pages you interact with. What are they posting? What are you sharing on your own timeline?

It’s engaging
It’s conversational
It’s easy to share.
It’s political
It’s where new friends meet.

If I looked at my personal Facebook page, I find these are the things that I interact with on a regular basis. I know if I took a peak at yours, I’d find those cute kitten images you adore. Now, think about what you post on your business/church page.

Only your events.
Links to your website without conversation.
Weeks between posts.

The goal of social media is to have a regular presence. People expect us to show up each week and when we don’t, Facebook removes our updates from our follower’s timelines. Engagement tells Facebook that our content is important. When people are constantly interacting, sharing or commenting on Facebook or Twitter, these networks realize your content is of value and will extend your reach.

So what should we do?

Post daily. Twice a week at the least.
Post engaging, sharable content.
Ask questions.
Use photos/video
Encourage check-ins.

If you do these things, I guarantee you will increase your social presence. People will be more engaged. I want to give you something that I believe will help you take your social media to the next level. eBook: Social Media Made Easy: A paint by numbers formula to running a successful social media campaign every time.

Remember, be engaging, be timely and use images and video to increase your reach. And most important, if you wouldn’t share your content on your personal page, no one else will.

[reminder]How do you utilize social media for your church or business? What things can you change?[/reminder]