Communication for Churches
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This document discusses best practices for church communications and outlines various mediums that churches can use to communicate effectively with their audiences. It encourages churches to understand their audiences, define their brand, and tailor their message and mediums appropriately. It provides guidance on using various channels like websites, print materials, video, and social media to connect with members and the community in intentional and engaging ways.
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Communication for Churches
- 2. www.jordesign.com JORDAN GILLMAN Founder of Jordesign & FaithVox
- 3. www.jordesign.com JORDAN GILLMAN Founder of Jordesign & FaithVox
- 10. www.jordesign.com We are Always Communicating MORE THAN WORDS
- 12. www.jordesign.com The World’s Greatest Story
- 13. www.jordesign.com Dress for the Occasion
- 14. www.jordesign.com Suppose one of you has 100 Sheep…
- 15. www.jordesign.com To The Unknown God
- 19. www.jordesign.com Your Community AGE & FAMILY STATUS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS NATIONALITY/CULTURE
- 20. www.jordesign.com Your Congregation AGE & FAMILY STATUS SKILLS AND TALENTS THEIR HEART
- 21. www.jordesign.com What Do They Need? PHYSICAL NEEDS EMOTIONAL NEEDS SPIRITUAL NEEDS
- 25. www.jordesign.com What Makes You Unique?
- 26. www.jordesign.com How are you perceived?
- 32. www.jordesign.com W DO WE COMMUNICAT
- 33. www.jordesign.com Modern Day Parables? WHAT TO SAY HOW TO SAY IT THE MEDIUMS TO USE
- 38. www.jordesign.com How Can You Help?
- 40. www.jordesign.com Don’t Waste Their Time
- 42. www.jordesign.com HOW TO SAY IT
- 46. www.jordesign.com Signage KEEP IT ON BRAND MAKE IT EASY TO READ DON’T SAY TOO MUCH
- 48. www.jordesign.com Printed Materials KEEP IT ON BRAND (WITH VARIATION) PICK YOUR AUDIENCE
- 50. www.jordesign.com Photography KEEP IT REAL PEOPLE CONNECT WITH FACES
- 55. www.jordesign.com http://churchjuice.reframemedia.com/blog/hidden-power-of-the-church-website-echo-2012 46%of people said a church’s website was important in picking a church to visit
- 56. www.jordesign.com http://churchjuice.reframemedia.com/blog/hidden-power-of-the-church-website-echo-2012 33%of people said the internet was the first place where they learned about their church.
- 57. www.jordesign.com Website A FIRST IMPRESSION REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE
- 59. www.jordesign.com What to Expect if they visit? When and Where to come along? What You Believe What your church is like (character)
- 61. www.jordesign.com Website A FIRST IMPRESSION REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE CONCENTRATE ON CONTENT
- 63. www.jordesign.com Staff & Contact Details
- 64. www.jordesign.com Website A FIRST IMPRESSION REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE CONCENTRATE ON CONTENT MOBILE & TABLET FRIENDLY
- 65. www.jordesign.com Mobile & Tablet Friendly
- 67. www.jordesign.com Website A FIRST IMPRESSION REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE CONCENTRATE ON CONTENT MOBILE & TABLET FRIENDLY IS IT A MATCH?
- 68. www.jordesign.com Is it a Match?
- 69. www.jordesign.com Social Media A WASTE OF TIME? THE TOWN SQUARE & WATERCOOLER A MISSION FIELD
- 72. www.jordesign.com Facebook Pages & Groups for Brands 2-way Connections Great Reach from Sharing Images are King
- 80. www.jordesign.com Instagram Quick Connections In the moment Behind the Scenes Hashtags
- 86. www.jordesign.com Periscope (and FB Live)
- 88. www.jordesign.com Periscope (and FB Live) Streaming Video In the Moment Behind the Scenes
- 89. www.jordesign.com Periscope (and FB Live)
- 92. www.jordesign.com Social Media LISTEN FIRST DON’T JUST SHOUT. ENGAGE. USE IMAGES TO INSPIRE BE INTENTIONAL EQUIP YOUR MEMBERS
Editor's Notes
- Quick background & bio
- Quick rundown about the work I do
- Sydney Scott Carver & Sinnots
- Move to NZ - cutting my teeth on the web
- back to Sydney to work on fervr
- Now I get to work with awesome Christian organisations all over the place
- Let’s start by taking a quick look at why churches should even care about communication. There’s a very simple reason. Whether or not we mean it...
- It is a fact of life that in everything we do - we are communicating something. It is more than the words we say or write - it is also the way we say the and the way we present ourselves. Everything you do as a church communicates something. Your website, Social Media, even you signage and Announcements - they all say something about you, and what you value First impressions.
- We live in an age of unparalleled messaging and connection. We live a life where we are used to being bombarded by visual messages all day and night. Tv, news, advertising, the internet - it all adds up to a lot of communication noise. As churches it can be really hard to break through all the visual noise - but it is important that we do.
- After all - we are telling the worlds greatest story. We have a message that has eternal ramifications. We have a message that changes people and transforms their lives. We have a message that matters. We need to make sure we share this story as effectively as possible - and cut through the noise. That’s why communication is important.
- Now, Think back to the example of the things your appearance, body language and mood communicate to others. Let’s take it a step further and think about how you present yourself differently to different people. If you were going to an important meeting - you would dress differently and have a very different manner to if you were meeting a close friend for coffee. If you had a job interview - you would likely present yourself differently depending of it was a job in a high powered office, compared to in a design studio or a supermarket. This isn’t manipulative or fake - this is simply behaving appropriately to the audience. And communicating the Gospel well means the same thing. The truth does not change - it is timeless. Our message remains absolutely the same. But the way we present it, the way we connect with people and share that story. That can change to suit the audience.
- Jesus used parables to talk to people in a way they could relate to. He used concepts they were used to from everyday life to illustrate and highlight deeper truths.
- When Paul spoke in the Aeropagus he started from a cultural starting point that the greeks would understand. He referenced their own poetry and showed how it pointed to Jesus. With a message this important, and a culture it is increasingly hard to get the attention of - it i important that we do the same thing.
- We need to be intentional in our communication. We need to think not only about what we say - but also the way we say it. That’s what we’re here to talk about.
- The first thing we need to think about is your Audience - who are you communicating to. In marketing terms - we’re talking about your Target Market. But marketing can seem a little cynical - so let’s think of them as your mission field. As a church, you hopefully have some idea of the people you are trying to reach. But in order to be intentional - it can be helpful to formalise it.
- First - let’s be clear that you need to specific. Yes - the Gospel is for everyone. It is a message to be taken to the whole world. BUT Your church is going to be better suited to reach some people more than others.
- For most churches the major factor is going to be where you are located. This immediately places you within a community. It surrounds you with people who you are called to reach. Now think about the Community around you. What are its characteristics?
- Another factor in deciding your audience is your existing congregation. There are things about the makeup of your church that make you best suited to ministering to certain people.
- The next thing to understand in order for effective communication - is a proper understanding of yourself as a church. It’s time to figure out who you are. What makes you tick? What makes you unique? What makes you, you?
- What we’re essentially talking about is your brand. A brand is more than a logo - it is the sum of how people see and perceive you. It is made up of a logo, but also am myriad of other things. Your staff your buildings the way you serve people the way you share Jesus All these things make up your brand. And if you’re not sure who you are - how do you communicate that to others.
- What is it about your church that makes you different to the church down the road? What characteristics do you have as a church which makes you suited to reaching a certain kind of person to share the Gospel with them? Maybe your congregation is full of people who are gifted at having conversations with strangers and making them feel comfortable? Maybe you have a young, artistically skilled congregation who are able to connect visually with the community around you? What is it about your church that makes you unique?
- How is your church currently viewed in the community? Where do they see you actively working amongst them - and what impression do they have of you?
- In commercial terms - an elevator pitch is your short, snappy description of your business or project. Short enough that you can tell Richard Branson when you bump into him in an elevator. Churches should be able to articulate who they are in this way. You should be able say who you are and what you are on about (in a human, understandable way) in close to a minute.
- Be realistic about who you are. Our culture increasingly values authenticity over polish. So be truthful. Don’t present yourself as something you are not, thinking it might be appealing. Just be honest about who you are - people will value that.
- So how do we communicate?
- If we’re going to follow Jesus’ lead and communicate to the world around us in ways that engage them - we need to consider three things.
- So what is the message we are trying to communicate to them?
- So should we preach at them? well, sometimes. The Gospel needs to be shared - and we should do that.
- Last year’s Google Trends report showed that the number 1 person people searched for online was Jesus. People want to know who people is And we’re the people to tell them. BUT - that probably isn’t all they want to hear. Yet so many churches spend so much time talking about their services, their governances and staff - they forget to tell people about Jesus. Don’t be one of them.
- Tell them your elevator pitch. Share with them what makes you tick. What does faith in Jesus look like for you in the real world? Where is your church’s heart? How are you sharing Jesus love? Tell them why they should care what you have to say.
- How can you be of practical or emotional help to people in your community? You may be able to tell them about how you can care for their tangible needs, or other types of support you can offer.
- People connect with stories. They draw us in. We get engaged and feel empathy for those that are involved. Share stories of how God is working in your church. How he is working in People’s lives. These are powerful ways of sharing and showing God’s love to the community around you.
- Whether they are listening to announcements on Sunday, reading your bulletin or surfing your website, don’t waste their time. Make sure that what you are bothering to say is important to your people (not just to you). Don’t say too much - keep things concise and snappy.
- So now we know what we want to say - what’s the right way to say it?
- The content in your site communicates in more ways than just the meaning of the words. The way they are written convey tone and character. Are you friendly, or formal? Are you casual or traditional? All these things help convey a feel of what your church is like. Think about the way you would talk to someone who walked in the door of your church for the first time. It’s reasonable to suggest that tone of voice is the same that you should try and maintain when you’re writing copy, or speaking from the front.
- Above all - it’s important to try and maintain consistency in your tone & voice. It’s likely your content has come from all sorts of places - so it can be a helpful exercise to review it regularly and make sure it all sounds like it is coming from the same place.
- It starts face to face. Think about the interactions you have with people - the way you express and present yourself. Are they indicative of the identity of the church?
- Signage is both a practical consideration - but also a communication and branding one. Signage can be welcoming, or so confusing it turns people off. Signage can continue to tell the story of your identity.
- If people are looking for a church - they are coming to your website. And what about the people in your community who aren’t looking for a church? Your web presence is a chance to tell them what you’re on about if they hear about you in the community in other ways - you’ve got to be ready.
- It’s a chance to show people...
- Village Church
- Touch on Sermons, Blogs and Events
- City on a Hill
- Last year - global usage of mobile devices went past the usage of desktop devices. I was talking to a communications guy at a US church the other day - he said that for the month of April, over 80% of their website views were from mobile devices. That’s huge. Google’s most recent Search Engine algorithm update changed to strongly favour sites which are mobile friendly.
- This means the site has the same style, but shifts to be optimised for each device. talk through example…
- The most important thing is that the way you present yourself on your website is a match to the reality.