10 Reasons Your Church Should Be On Facebook
Your church should be on facebook. Plain and simple. Just in 2009 facebook has grown 276% in users aging from 35-54 (reported here) so you can’t ignore this communication tool.
1. Effective Communication – People are already using it. One challenge that we constantly face in ministry is the competition for people’s attention. I think it is hard for those on the receiving end to weed through the daily information overload and actually figure out what is important. Instead of sending people more snail mail and e-mail to sort through why not use a tool they are already using to aid in the communication process. With more and more people connecting on facebook it is an easy way for churches to stay in touch with our congregation and the community.
2. Share Photos – People love to see pictures of something they were a part of, plus great pictures can be a tool for people to show their friends how much fun a church can be!
3. Share Video – Facebook makes video so easy. Not only can you quickly record off your pc camera to share a video message on facebook but you can also embed links to great tools like Vimeo and YouTube. We currently use Vimeo since our messages are now in HD and YouTube limits your video to 10 minutes in length.
4. Connection Point – Church websites are great, but lets face it, a church website is a one way conversation. When people visit your fan page on facebook they can see regular people, just like them, posting thoughts, sharing photos, and interacting with one another.
5. Easy Invitation - Since facebook makes it so easy for a conversation in an online environment, it can also be a great way for your people to invite others to church. When new people see your church on facebook and begin using your fanpage as a “connection point” it can really make the unfamiliar seem more familar, thus helping people muster up the courage to visit on a Sunday.
6. Staff Visibility – As churches grow larger, it can be challenging for the average person that attends church to know who does what on your staff. Encouraging your church staff and key leaders to use facebook and interact with the church page can be a great way for people to learn about your team and other serving opportunities in your church.
7. Its Fun – If you make the choice to have fun with it, you can have a great time on facebook. Even if you had an ugly past and don’t want to re-connect with people from your past you can still have fun using facebook to deepen relationships in the present!
8. Celebrate Success – Sometimes in ministry I feel like we spend so much time focusing on areas we need to improve, that we forget to celebrate what we’re doing right. When interacting on facebook, you can see first hand the impact that a worship service or event has had on others. You actually end up with a documented timeline of events after you’ve been at it a while, which makes it easy to remember and reference the good times!
9. Rally The Troops – After you’ve got a good following, facebook can be an easy way to communicate a need quickly. Since many check the website at least once per day, or some even through their cell phones, you can get quite a quick response. Sometimes even in just a few minutes!
10. ITS FREE – Oh… did I say its free? Yep, you can do facebook for free, just like the people that already use it in your church… so what are you waiting for?
All you need to do is first set up your own facebook account, if you don’t already have one… then click here to create your own fan page!
If you can think of some other good reasons share them below or I’d love to connect with you onfacebook or twitter!
Other releated posts:
- Merging Social Media and Minsitry
- Twitter – Should You Try It?
- Five Reasons Pastors Should Use Twitter
- Social Networking For Small Groups
Great thoughts Frank. I know a number of church based organizations are developing their own social networking tool, but by read is that we’d do well to utilize what is already out there.
Question: Setting up a facebook page for the church. Should a church employee do it, or can a member do it with the pastors permission?
I have no problem with a church member or volunteer setting up a FB page. However, on the web, “content is king” so it has to be maintained. If the page is not constantly being updated, to make sure it is current, it is useless. So, if a non-staff person is going to manage the page they need to understand the need for fresh content in order to do a great job.
Great Post Frank,
I have just written a short review post and will add it to my blog today,I also started to follow you on Twitter so I look forward to staying up to date
GB
“a church website is a one way conversation.”
Interesting thought…church on Sunday mornings at many places are usually the same way…one guy in front having a one way conversation
Frank, this is an excellent starting point for the newbie to social media. One thing I would add is that with Facebook and other social media is that it allows users who are interested in you to follow you. Instead of a “shotgun approach to marketing” it allows ministries within a church to target their specific audience rather than send an announcement to everyone. . .even those not interested. Good stuff!
Thanks Frank, gained great insights on why church should use FB. Was making a resaearch on origins of FB and its evils (if any) as I sought info to answer one of my elders who is opposed to the idea of an official FB of our man’s ministr. Feel free to respond and give further insights.