The Technology & Spiritual Practice SeriesBy Paul Lamb
The Technology & Spiritual Practice SeriesBy Paul Lamb
Goals of session
What is social media and why important?
How is it being implemented by Faith based communities?
How should you go about using it?
Straw Poll
A story…
What is Social Media?
It’s a Groundswell
“Groundswell is a social trend in which people use technologies to get the things they need from each other, rather than from traditional institutions…”
- Groundswell, p. 9
But Why Embrace it?
by Flickr User Liquid Lucidity
The Social Media Revolution
Tons of Channels
Tons of tools
Lots of ways to engage
Between this…
To This
Let’s see it in action – broadcast style
(Text plamb to 41411)
What if I wanted to share it with my Church?
But is anyone really listening?
Approaches for Online Church Community Building
One Way Communications
Email listWebsiteWebsite with newsletterWebsite with pictures Website with Audio &Video Live Streaming services
Two-way Communication
Website with pictures (anyone can upload)
Website with Audio &Video (anyone can upload)
Church BlogChurch Social NetworkTwitter streamText messagingMobile outreach/fundraising
So what?
Do you have the time?
Does any of this have relevance for your community?
Do you have someone to help…
Let’s say you want to try
Where would you begin?
How to build the social experience?
What’s your social object? Make sure there is a “there” there. Give users a reason to rally. Why would someone come to your site?*
*From Erin Malone, “5 Steps to building social experiences”
Give people a way to identify themselves and to be identified.
From Erin Malone, “5 Steps to building social experiences”
Give people something to do
From Erin Malone, “5 Steps to building social experiences”
Enable a bridge to real life
Gently Moderate. Let the community elevate people and content they value.
Exercise – Start by Asking the right questions1) Who are your target audiences?2) How do you want to interact with them?3) How do they want to interact with You? 4) What fears (or excitement) does your community
have around emerging technologies?5) What tools are currently being implemented6) How do you think you could use social media to
help you and them?7) What technology support resources are available
to you?8) Do you have a technology plan for the church?9) Do you have anyone to manage your technology
and/or social media?
Process
Educate yourself Identify your influencers and advocates Listen (don’t talk) Strategize – Approach, tools, process, policies Finalize Implement Get feedback (Measuring & Listening) Revise Listen again
Listening social media style
Do Engage Leadership Demonstrate the possibilities Listen Tailor the tools to the people, not the
people to the tools Integrate with other communication
approaches Find someone to manage consistently Set clear guidelines and expectations Measure Re-invent
Don’t Try all tools out to see what sticks Think of social media as a one way
communication platform Use social media as distinct from other
community building efforts Try and keep up with it all Be afraid of the negative Be afraid to abandon what doesn’t work Be afraid to experiment
And Remember…
“All communications strategies and tools must be driven by the needs and requirements of an audience
NOT the needs of an organization.”
From We Are Media toolkit
The Present…and Future
Resources
We Are Media toolkit (http://www.wearemedia.org/)
Tech & Spiritual Practice site (http://www.manonamission.biz/technology-spiritual-practice/)
ReligTech Wiki (http://religtech.wikispaces.com/Webinar+Resources)
Religion & New Media Wiki This presentation on slideshare
Additional Trainings & Support
From Oral to Digital: How Communication Technologies are Transforming the Church
The Future of the Church: How Spiritual Communities Can Remain Relevant in A Rapidly Changing Technology Landscape.
Customized trainings & Consultations
