Ministries, nonprofits, and other organizations, be sure to download this free white paper to learn from your peers, see where you stack up, and harness the top 5 tech trends you cannot ignore in 2014.
Maximizing Conversations:Creating a Simple Social Media Campaign for Your Chu...John Deisher
Special days in the church, such as Easter and Christmas, mean reaching your community in new and unique ways. Having a social media plan can enhance the effectiveness of these outreach programs, helping you remaining faithful to "preach the Gospel". This interactive session will present an outline for preparing and implementing a social media campaign, regardless of past technology experience. Strengths and weakness of social sites will be discussed, along with tools and resources to implement the campaign.
Presented at the All Church Ministries Conference (Southwestern Assemblies of God University), March 1, 2014
There are 2.3 billion active social media users in the world. The number of users has risen by 176 million in the last year. Whether you just set up your Facebook profile or you’re a Snapchat expert, having a good social media strategy will help your church reach out to your community and the world!
The effective use of social media for evangelism - Isaac Owusu AsareIsaac Owusu Asare
This presentation covers the basics of social media to equip Christians/believers use this greatest communication tool in human history to spread the gospel and contribute to winning souls for Christ. Find out how be effective and be a digital missionary. It covers Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and looks at cases studies of evangelistic use of social media in Ghana and abroad It posits that for social media evangelism to be effective there has to be some sorts of follow-ups.
The Power Of Messaging: Explode Your Business With Conversation-Based AdsTara West
Take your advertising strategy to the next level with Facebook messaging. Learn about the opportunities for your businesses through Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram Direct.
Maximizing Conversations:Creating a Simple Social Media Campaign for Your Chu...John Deisher
Special days in the church, such as Easter and Christmas, mean reaching your community in new and unique ways. Having a social media plan can enhance the effectiveness of these outreach programs, helping you remaining faithful to "preach the Gospel". This interactive session will present an outline for preparing and implementing a social media campaign, regardless of past technology experience. Strengths and weakness of social sites will be discussed, along with tools and resources to implement the campaign.
Presented at the All Church Ministries Conference (Southwestern Assemblies of God University), March 1, 2014
There are 2.3 billion active social media users in the world. The number of users has risen by 176 million in the last year. Whether you just set up your Facebook profile or you’re a Snapchat expert, having a good social media strategy will help your church reach out to your community and the world!
The effective use of social media for evangelism - Isaac Owusu AsareIsaac Owusu Asare
This presentation covers the basics of social media to equip Christians/believers use this greatest communication tool in human history to spread the gospel and contribute to winning souls for Christ. Find out how be effective and be a digital missionary. It covers Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and looks at cases studies of evangelistic use of social media in Ghana and abroad It posits that for social media evangelism to be effective there has to be some sorts of follow-ups.
The Power Of Messaging: Explode Your Business With Conversation-Based AdsTara West
Take your advertising strategy to the next level with Facebook messaging. Learn about the opportunities for your businesses through Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram Direct.
This is a presentation for ISKCON leaders on the topic of Social Media and how they can use it in ISKCON. Many thanks to other show creators on this site from whom I borrowed slides.
Grey Fox Communications & Marketing Ltd - Or work & history 2021Ben Capper MCIM
Fully updated for 2021; our work portfolio demonstrating our expertise and client base as a communications consultancy.
Based in Liverpool, UK, we work with organisation wherever they may be to to help them to do good better.
Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Yasir Afzal
In 24 hours, my team and I reviewed a brief to gain more visibility in the community and created a proposal for the nonprofit to better serve community members.
This is the PDF version of the London Fundraising Summit online fundraising presentation with speaker notes by Amy Sample Ward - Creative Commons Share and Share Alike
This is a presentation about TBD.com: It's strategy and lessons learned. This is focused only on TBD.com, and not the 24/7 cable station that was part of TBD.
A "Cheat Sheet" for those who are new to social media.
These are the social media platforms that people are already probably familiar with, but may not know all of the business applications of the basic platforms.
Content Marketing vs. Health CommunicationsErin Norvell
Many private sector organizations are forgoing traditional advertising tactics and turning to “content marketing,” which is the creation and dissemination of high-value content for marketing purposes. As the volume of this content continues to grow online, a tug-of-war is forming between big consumer brands and public health communicators. Competing for the same target audiences, health communications and content marketing are colliding in today’s digital world. View this presentation for examples of how brands are creating high-quality content and driving deep engagement, and learn strategies that health communicators can apply to public health messages.
This presentation was delivered at the NIH Digital Summit in Bethesda, MD on October 19, 2015. A video archive of the event is also available: http://www.nih.gov/news/events/digital-summit.htm
This deck was shared on Thursday, August 31, 2017 as the final session in the Church Online Communications Comprehensive, a 14-week online training course.
Revista realizada pelos alunos da disciplina Redação e Edição em Impressos das faculdades Integradas Helio Alonso, campus Méier, no segundo semestre de 2013.
Docente: Maracy Guimaraes
This is a presentation for ISKCON leaders on the topic of Social Media and how they can use it in ISKCON. Many thanks to other show creators on this site from whom I borrowed slides.
Grey Fox Communications & Marketing Ltd - Or work & history 2021Ben Capper MCIM
Fully updated for 2021; our work portfolio demonstrating our expertise and client base as a communications consultancy.
Based in Liverpool, UK, we work with organisation wherever they may be to to help them to do good better.
Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Yasir Afzal
In 24 hours, my team and I reviewed a brief to gain more visibility in the community and created a proposal for the nonprofit to better serve community members.
This is the PDF version of the London Fundraising Summit online fundraising presentation with speaker notes by Amy Sample Ward - Creative Commons Share and Share Alike
This is a presentation about TBD.com: It's strategy and lessons learned. This is focused only on TBD.com, and not the 24/7 cable station that was part of TBD.
A "Cheat Sheet" for those who are new to social media.
These are the social media platforms that people are already probably familiar with, but may not know all of the business applications of the basic platforms.
Content Marketing vs. Health CommunicationsErin Norvell
Many private sector organizations are forgoing traditional advertising tactics and turning to “content marketing,” which is the creation and dissemination of high-value content for marketing purposes. As the volume of this content continues to grow online, a tug-of-war is forming between big consumer brands and public health communicators. Competing for the same target audiences, health communications and content marketing are colliding in today’s digital world. View this presentation for examples of how brands are creating high-quality content and driving deep engagement, and learn strategies that health communicators can apply to public health messages.
This presentation was delivered at the NIH Digital Summit in Bethesda, MD on October 19, 2015. A video archive of the event is also available: http://www.nih.gov/news/events/digital-summit.htm
This deck was shared on Thursday, August 31, 2017 as the final session in the Church Online Communications Comprehensive, a 14-week online training course.
Revista realizada pelos alunos da disciplina Redação e Edição em Impressos das faculdades Integradas Helio Alonso, campus Méier, no segundo semestre de 2013.
Docente: Maracy Guimaraes
Ready! Set! Convert: Open Leadership In Church CommunicationsMarvin Dejean
This primer on social media for churches and ministry is a step by step guide in developing a SM strategy for churches seeking to get engaged with Social Media
The spiritual life isn’t just confined to holy days – it’s meant to be a full-time commitment to a way of life. This makes mobile the perfect platform for churches to expand into. Mobile devices are now with us all the time, and are in many ways our closest connection to the rest of the world. By launching a mobile app, a church (or any religious organization), can offer a 24/7 community connection to its members.
Keys to Social Media Success for MinistriesThe A Group
We're here to help take the guesswork out of the often-confusing world of hashtags, timelines, retweets, likes, filters and followers. These three keys to social media for ministries will help you better understand the tools available to you, create unstoppable social media strategies, and build a successful and active community of supporters that fits your mission and brand.
The Forgotten Secret Weapon of Digital Marketing: Email
Digital marketing is a rapidly changing, ever evolving industry--Influencers, Threads, X, AI, etc. But one of the most effective digital marketing tools is also one of the oldest: Email. Find out from two Houston-based digital experts how to maximize your results from email.
Key Takeaways:
Email has the best ROI of any digital tactic
It can be used at any stage of the customer journey
It is increasingly important as the cookie-less future gets closer and closer
AI-Powered Personalization: Principles, Use Cases, and Its Impact on CROVWO
In today’s era of AI, personalization is more than just a trend—it’s a fundamental strategy that unlocks numerous opportunities.
When done effectively, personalization builds trust, loyalty, and satisfaction among your users—key factors for business success. However, relying solely on AI capabilities isn’t enough. You need to anchor your approach in solid principles, understand your users’ context, and master the art of persuasion.
Join us as Sarjak Patel and Naitry Saggu from 3rd Eye Consulting unveil a transformative framework. This approach seamlessly integrates your unique context, consumer insights, and conversion goals, paving the way for unparalleled success in personalization.
10 Video Ideas Any Business Can Make RIGHT NOW!
You'll never draw a blank again on what kind of video to make for your business. Go beyond the basic categories and truly reimagine a brand new advanced way to brainstorm video content creation. During this masterclass you'll be challenged to think creatively and outside of the box and view your videos through lenses you may have never thought of previously. It's guaranteed that you'll leave with more than 10 video ideas, but I like to under-promise and over-deliver. Don't miss this session.
Key Takeaways:
How to use the Video Matrix
How to use additional "Lenses"
Where to source original video ideas
Financial curveballs sent many American families reeling in 2023. Household budgets were squeezed by rising interest rates, surging prices on everyday goods, and a stagnating housing market. Consumers were feeling strapped. That sentiment, however, appears to be waning. The question is, to what extent?
To take the pulse of consumers’ feelings about their financial well-being ahead of a highly anticipated election, ThinkNow conducted a nationally representative quantitative survey. The survey highlights consumers’ hopes and anxieties as we move into 2024. Let's unpack the key findings to gain insights about where we stand.
The digital marketing industry is changing faster than ever and those who don’t adapt with the times are losing market share. Where should marketers be focusing their efforts? What strategies are the experts seeing get the best results? Get up-to-speed with the latest industry insights, trends and predictions for the future in this panel discussion with some leading digital marketing experts.
Mastering Local SEO for Service Businesses in the AI Era is tailored specifically for local service providers like plumbers, dentists, and others seeking to dominate their local search landscape. This session delves into leveraging AI advancements to enhance your online visibility and search rankings through the Content Factory model, designed for creating high-impact, SEO-driven content. Discover the Dollar-a-Day advertising strategy, a cost-effective approach to boost your local SEO efforts and attract more customers with minimal investment. Gain practical insights on optimizing your online presence to meet the specific needs of local service seekers, ensuring your business not only appears but stands out in local searches. This concise, action-oriented workshop is your roadmap to navigating the complexities of digital marketing in the AI age, driving more leads, conversions, and ultimately, success for your local service business.
Key Takeaways:
Embrace AI for Local SEO: Learn to harness the power of AI technologies to optimize your website and content for local search. Understand the pivotal role AI plays in analyzing search trends and consumer behavior, enabling you to tailor your SEO strategies to meet the specific demands of your target local audience. Leverage the Content Factory Model: Discover the step-by-step process of creating SEO-optimized content at scale. This approach ensures a steady stream of high-quality content that engages local customers and boosts your search rankings. Get an action guide on implementing this model, complete with templates and scheduling strategies to maintain a consistent online presence. Maximize ROI with Dollar-a-Day Advertising: Dive into the cost-effective Dollar-a-Day advertising strategy that amplifies your visibility in local searches without breaking the bank. Learn how to strategically allocate your budget across platforms to target potential local customers effectively. The session includes an action guide on setting up, monitoring, and optimizing your ad campaigns to ensure maximum impact with minimal investment.
It's another new era of digital and marketers are faced with making big bets on their digital strategy. If you are looking at modernizing your tech stack to support your digital evolution, there are a few can't miss (often overlooked) areas that should be part of every conversation. We'll cover setting your vision, avoiding siloes, adding a democratized approach to data strategy, localization, creating critical governance requirements and more. Attendees will walk away with actions they can take into initiatives they are running today and consider for the future.
Top 3 Ways to Align Sales and Marketing Teams for Rapid GrowthDemandbase
In this session, Demandbase’s Stephanie Quinn, Sr. Director of Integrated and Digital Marketing, Devin Rosenberg, Director of Sales, and Kevin Rooney, Senior Director of Sales Development will share how sales and marketing shapes their day-to-day and what key areas are needed for true alignment.
The Secret to Engaging Modern Consumers: Journey Mapping and Personalization
In today's digital landscape, understanding the customer's journey and delivering personalized experiences are paramount. This masterclass delves into the art of consumer journey mapping, a powerful technique that visualizes the entire customer experience across touchpoints. Attendees will learn how to create detailed journey maps, identify pain points, and uncover opportunities for optimization. The presentation also explores personalization strategies that leverage data and technology to tailor content, products, and experiences to individual customers. From real-time personalization to predictive analytics, attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge approaches that drive engagement and loyalty.
Key Takeaways:
Current consumer landscape; Steps to mapping an effective consumer journey; Understanding the value of personalization; Integrating mapping and personalization for success; Brands that are getting It right!; Best Practices; Future Trends
Most small businesses struggle to see marketing results. In this session, we will eliminate any confusion about what to do next, solving your marketing problems so your business can thrive. You’ll learn how to create a foundational marketing OS (operating system) based on neuroscience and backed by real-world results. You’ll be taught how to develop deep customer connections, and how to have your CRM dynamically segment and sell at any stage in the customer’s journey. By the end of the session, you’ll remove confusion and chaos and replace it with clarity and confidence for long-term marketing success.
Key Takeaways:
• Uncover the power of a foundational marketing system that dynamically communicates with prospects and customers on autopilot.
• Harness neuroscience and Tribal Alignment to transform your communication strategies, turning potential clients into fans and those fans into loyal customers.
• Discover the art of automated segmentation, pinpointing your most lucrative customers and identifying the optimal moments for successful conversions.
• Streamline your business with a content production plan that eliminates guesswork, wasted time, and money.
Come learn how YOU can Animate and Illuminate the World with Generative AI's Explosive Power. Come sit in the driver's seat and learn to harness this great technology.
A.I. (artificial intelligence) platforms are popping up all the time, and many of them can and should be used to help grow your brand, increase your sales and decrease your marketing costs.In this presentation:We will review some of the best AI platforms that are available for you to use.We will interact with some of the platforms in real-time, so attendees can see how they work.We will also look at some current brands that are using AI to help them create marketing messages, saving them time and money in the process. Lastly, we will discuss the pros and cons of using AI in marketing & branding and have a lively conversation that includes comments from the audience.
Key Takeaways:
Attendees will learn about LLM platforms, like ChatGPT, and how they work, with preset examples and real time interactions with the platform. Attendees will learn about other AI platforms that are creating graphic design elements at the push of a button...pre-set examples and real-time interactions.Attendees will discuss the pros & cons of AI in marketing + branding and share their perspectives with one another. Attendees will learn about the cost savings and the time savings associated with using AI, should they choose to.
Mastering Multi-Touchpoint Content Strategy: Navigate Fragmented User JourneysSearch Engine Journal
Digital platforms are constantly multiplying, and with that, user engagement is becoming more intricate and fragmented.
So how do you effectively navigate distributing and tailoring your content across these various touchpoints?
Watch this webinar as we dive into the evolving landscape of content strategy tailored for today's fragmented user journeys. Understanding how to deliver your content to your users is more crucial than ever, and we’ll provide actionable tips for navigating these intricate challenges.
You’ll learn:
- How today’s users engage with content across various channels and devices.
- The latest methodologies for identifying and addressing content gaps to keep your content strategy proactive and relevant.
- What digital shelf space is and how your content strategy needs to pivot.
With Wayne Cichanski, we’ll explore innovative strategies to map out and meet the diverse needs of your audience, ensuring every piece of content resonates and connects, regardless of where or how it is consumed.
SMM Cheap - No. 1 SMM panel in the worldsmmpanel567
Boost your social media marketing with our SMM Panel services offering SMM Cheap services! Get cost-effective services for your business and increase followers, likes, and engagement across all social media platforms. Get affordable services perfect for businesses and influencers looking to increase their social proof. See how cheap SMM strategies can help improve your social media presence and be a pro at the social media game.
The What, Why & How of 3D and AR in Digital CommercePushON Ltd
Vladimir Mulhem has over 20 years of experience in commercialising cutting edge creative technology across construction, marketing and retail.
Previously the founder and Tech and Innovation Director of Creative Content Works working with the likes of Next, John Lewis and JD Sport, he now helps retailers, brands and agencies solve challenges of applying the emerging technologies 3D, AR, VR and Gen AI to real-world problems.
In this webinar, Vladimir will be covering the following topics:
Applications of 3D and AR in Digital Commerce,
Benefits of 3D and AR,
Tools to create, manage and publish 3D and AR in Digital Commerce.
For too many years marketing and sales have operated in silos...while in some forward thinking companies, the two organizations work together to drive new opportunity development and revenue. This session will explore the lessons learned in that beautiful dance that can occur when marketing and sales work together...to drive new opportunity development, account expansion and customer satisfaction.
No, this is not a conversation about MQLs and SQLs. Instead we will focus on a framework that allows the two organizations to drive company success together.
Mastering Local SEO for Service Businesses in the AI Era is tailored specifically for local service providers like plumbers, dentists, and others seeking to dominate their local search landscape. This session delves into leveraging AI advancements to enhance your online visibility and search rankings through the Content Factory model, designed for creating high-impact, SEO-driven content. Discover the Dollar-a-Day advertising strategy, a cost-effective approach to boost your local SEO efforts and attract more customers with minimal investment. Gain practical insights on optimizing your online presence to meet the specific needs of local service seekers, ensuring your business not only appears but stands out in local searches. This concise, action-oriented workshop is your roadmap to navigating the complexities of digital marketing in the AI age, driving more leads, conversions, and ultimately, success for your local service business.
Key Takeaways:
Embrace AI for Local SEO: Learn to harness the power of AI technologies to optimize your website and content for local search. Understand the pivotal role AI plays in analyzing search trends and consumer behavior, enabling you to tailor your SEO strategies to meet the specific demands of your target local audience. Leverage the Content Factory Model: Discover the step-by-step process of creating SEO-optimized content at scale. This approach ensures a steady stream of high-quality content that engages local customers and boosts your search rankings. Get an action guide on implementing this model, complete with templates and scheduling strategies to maintain a consistent online presence. Maximize ROI with Dollar-a-Day Advertising: Dive into the cost-effective Dollar-a-Day advertising strategy that amplifies your visibility in local searches without breaking the bank. Learn how to strategically allocate your budget across platforms to target potential local customers effectively. The session includes an action guide on setting up, monitoring, and optimizing your ad campaigns to ensure maximum impact with minimal investment.
Digital Commerce Lecture for Advanced Digital & Social Media Strategy at UCLA...Valters Lauzums
E-commerce in 2024 is characterized by a dynamic blend of opportunities and significant challenges. Supply chain disruptions and inventory shortages are critical issues, leading to increased shipping delays and rising costs, which impact timely delivery and squeeze profit margins. Efficient logistics management is essential, yet it is often hampered by these external factors. Payment processing, while needing to ensure security and user convenience, grapples with preventing fraud and integrating diverse payment methods, adding another layer of complexity. Furthermore, fulfillment operations require a streamlined approach to handle volume spikes and maintain accuracy in order picking, packing, and shipping, all while meeting customers' heightened expectations for faster delivery times.
Amid these operational challenges, customer data has emerged as an important strategy. By focusing on personalization and enhancing customer experience from historical behavior, businesses can deliver improved website and brand experienced, better product recommendations, optimal promotions, and content to meet individual preferences. Better data analytics can also help in effectively creating marketing campaigns, improving customer retention, and driving product development and inventory management.
Innovative formats such as social commerce and live shopping are beginning to impact the digital commerce landscape, offering new ways to engage with customers and drive sales, and may provide opportunity for brands that have been priced out or seen a downturn with post-pandemic shopping behavior. Social commerce integrates shopping experiences directly into social media platforms, tapping into the massive user bases of these networks to increase reach and engagement. Live shopping, on the other hand, combines entertainment and real-time interaction, providing a dynamic platform for showcasing products and encouraging immediate purchases. These innovations not only enhance customer engagement but also provide valuable data for businesses to refine their strategies and deliver superior shopping experiences.
The e-commerce sector is evolving rapidly, and businesses that effectively manage operational challenges and implement innovative strategies are best positioned for long-term success.
Digital Commerce Lecture for Advanced Digital & Social Media Strategy at UCLA...
Top 5 Tech and Ministry Trends to Embrace in 2014
1.
2. IT IS NO LONGER A QUESTION
of IF ministries must embrace technology; it’s a
question of HOW. Audiences are already using
brand new ways of communicating, connecting
and giving. Is your organization meeting them
where they are?
We surveyed 50 top ministry leaders to learn how
their organizations are embracing online strategies,
using digital communications, and fundraising
online. We’ve also included success stories from
ministries who have embraced technology and
seen amazing results, growth, and reach. These
responses paint a picture of the current landscape
of technology for ministry, the ways ministries are
using it well, and where we can continue to grow.
Take the chance to learn from your peers, see
where you stack up, be inspired by their ideas,
and learn about the top five tech trends you must
embrace this year.
2 | THE A GROUP
3. THE A GROUP | 3
Online Strategy
Technology is a critical ministry tool, and most organizations
are using some form of it. However, the majority of ministries
lack a comprehensive strategic plan.
4. Online Strategy
36% of ministries have
a written strategic
plan for using
technology.
The majority of organizations post new content
to their sites an average of once per week.
< >
4 | THE A GROUP
95% Have a website
5%
DO NOT
have a website
40%
Update their
site every two
years or less
60%
Update their
site every two
years or more
46%
of ministry
sites are
optimized for
mobile viewing
59%
of organiza-tions
do not
have a single
employee
whose sole job
is related to
technology
73% of ministries outsource technology resources
5. THE A GROUP | 5
The Church at Brook Hills
At Brook Hills, we’re passionate about not just being a place people come
on Sunday mornings. We want to encourage and equip our congregation
(and others) to interact, learn and connect with God throughout the
week. With so many people using their phones for everything in life, from
coordinating their social lives to managing money, we knew it made sense
to create a mobile option where people could continue to grow in their faith,
from their phone, anytime, anywhere.
We partnered with The A Group to build an app for The Church at Brook
Hills. We chose an app because we didn’t just want this to be a re-creation
of our website. We wanted to create a unique offering that a user could go
to for an easy-to-use, personal Bible study resource.
The app features the weekly audio and video teachings from David Platt,
Jim Shaddix and others. Users can also access a daily Bible reading plan,
family worship guide, and scripture that supports the latest teaching. The
week’s events and news also populate into the app, giving the user a full
picture of what is happening during the week at Brook Hills.
We view this app as a way to enhance ministry and increase reach. It’s not
just a platform for people to find out about us, but a resource they can use
to become dedicated followers of Christ.
6. TWR
TWR has always employed cutting-edge technology to bring the Gospel
to the world. From the beginning of our ministry, we relied on radio
to reach the ends of the earth with the truth of Jesus, in the people’s
native language. We realized that technology wasn’t just an avenue for
communicating but a powerful ministry tool that allowed us to reach places
that were difficult to reach, where Christians were persecuted, or where
missionaries would never be allowed.
With the internet, the world is even more open to the Gospel. We knew
broadcasting our programs both through radio and online would increase
our reach, but we faced the challenge of how to manage and distribute
content in more than 200 different languages. Each country could manage
their own websites and media, but we found our brand was being diluted
and our media resources were scattered.
We partnered with The A Group to develop two key software platforms that
would allow us to minister globally while staying organized and consistent.
The first platform lets us duplicate a main global site, both in design and
functionality, to create a separate site for TWR partner ministries. In each
site’s admin panel, we can easily translate the partner’s site into their
language. The second platform, LinguaDMS, is an online repository that
houses all of our media including broadcasts, videos, images and marketing
materials in one online platform with no language barrier. With LinguaDMS,
we can manage and archive all of our digital files in all languages, and
distribute these around the world to any platform or device.
Broadcast technology is what lets us reach the world. Behind the scenes,
cutting-edge software platforms built uniquely for us allow us to do what
we do. By investing in the technology tools we need, we are able to further
our mission.
6 | THE A GROUP
7. THE A GROUP | 7
Digital Communications
Ministries are actively using email and social media for
communications. These tools are very effective, and
will benefit from being part of a larger strategic plan.
Text marketing is becoming an increasingly important
communications tool that ministries must embrace.
8. Digital Communications
90% of organizations use email for
newsletters and other supporter
95%
Use social
media in
some form or
another
8 | THE A GROUP
communication
ONLY 22% have a text
marketing strategy
89%
Plan to
increase use
HOWEVER
the percentage of organizations
with a strategic plan for
social media is only
59%
Percentage of organizations using:
Twitter: 82% | Facebook: 100% | Pinterest: 41% | Blogs: 59%
9. THE A GROUP | 9
The MET
Last fall, The MET opened our second church campus in Cypress,
a quickly growing, affluent suburb about 30 minutes from our home
campus. With new families moving to Cypress everyday and without many
churches in the area, we saw a huge opportunity to minister to the families
here. For months leading up to the opening of our new campus, we
focused on active outreach, letting the Cypress community know we were
there for them.
We partnered with The A Group to create a campaign themed “Because
you’re here, we’re here.” and worked together to create all the branding
and visuals for the campaign. We made sure that our social media
platforms, from our Twitter skin to Facebook cover photo, were branded
with the We’re Here campaign. These platforms became great avenues
to keep people up to date on construction, prayer requests, and opening
weekend details.
Beyond just using our platforms to spread the word about the new
campus opening, we equipped the congregation at our existing campuses
to use their personal platforms to invite friends and build buzz about our
Cypress campus. We organized an official street team and provided them
with Facebook photos and shareable graphics to post on their platforms.
As the launch got closer, we posted shareable invitations and countdowns
that our congregation could take and post on their own pages to invite
their friends to join us.
We ended up having more than 1,700 in attendance on our first Sunday
in Cypress! So much of ministry is social and personal. It’s not just about
leadership ministering to a congregation; it’s about all of us being the
Church, loving our neighbors, and inviting our friends to join us in the hope
we’ve found. Social media creates another avenue for people to connect,
and by equipping our church to tell our story on their platforms, we help
them to minister to those around them.
10. Ministry Matters
Ministry Matters, an initiative of The United Methodist Publishing House,
provides thousands of free and paid Christian resources in a digital format
to pastors, teachers, and worship leaders. With new content added
continuously, we rely heavily on email to keep our readers and subscribers
up-to-date on available resources and to encourage people to subscribe.
Recently, we have focused on finding ways to grow our email lists. Email
is ultimately about widening your supporter base so we intentionally create
reasons for people to engage with us. For example, we offer free content
such as a spiritual gifts survey or Sunday morning sermon ideas on our
website but require that someone enter their email address to access it.
Because we’re offering something of value, we find that people are very
willing to sign up. Our email list has grown from 1,500 subscribers to
more than 34,000. Twelve thousand of those have joined just in the last
few months.
We also put a lot of thought into the content and design of emails we send
out each week. We include timely and practical articles, which get the most
engagement, and pair those with stories about products we’re offering. We
even make sure to design our emails in such a way that encourages people
to scroll down and read the whole thing. We typically have about a 29%
open rate and 28% click-through-rate.
Most importantly, we don’t just focus on email in a silo. We integrate it with
all of our digital communications, posting our emails on Facebook with sign
up links, including social media links and call outs in our emails. Through
cross-promotion, we give people several different ways to engage and go
deeper with us.
Email can be an incredibly effective way for ministries to reach supporters,
whether it’s sending life-changing content out to people, sharing stories of
how God is working, or encouraging people to give. It continues to be an
important part of our communication strategy.
10 | THE A GROUP
11. THE A GROUP | 11
Online Fundraising
The majority of organizations do have online options for
giving, but many do not measure what percentage of
revenue comes from digital sources. There is opportunity to
grow online fundraising, as well as mobile fundraising options
such as text-to-give. These outlets do not just represent
alternative options for giving; they represent untapped
revenue sources.
12. Online Fundraising
72%
12 | THE A GROUP
of organizations accept online donations.
55%
Percentage of revenue from online donations.
use text-to-give for donations.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
10% or Less 11% to 25% 26% to 50% > 50% Unsure
Organizations Surveyed
Only
30%
21%
7% 3% 14%
13. THE A GROUP | 13
Soles4Souls
Shortly after founding Soles4Souls, we found that support for the
organization was growing rapidly, especially among young, passionate
audiences. This group of supporters wanted to help, and wanted to
go beyond simply writing a check and moving on. What they lacked in
disposable income, they made up for in social network reach, the desire to
make a difference and willingness to advocate for a cause.
We had to figure out how to engage these supporters and empower them
to support our work. We partnered with The A Group to build an online
fundraising platform that equipped supporters to create and manage their
own fundraising campaigns and collect donations on our behalf. Using the
platform, supporters could create a personal profile and fundraising page,
share their story and fundraising goals, and accept donations to their
campaign. The donations were sent directly to us while the supporter was
able to track and share their fundraising goals.
To create brand advocates, we also added the option to host team
fundraisers and to create shareable graphics and email the campaign out
to family and friends or post on social media.
The payback was almost immediate and the viral use was an instant
success for building the brand. People all over the world were exposed
by our participants, making them brand evangelists, not to mention the
fact that supporters have raised more than $3.5 million on the platform.
Technology not only became a critical tool for fundraising; it put power in
the hands of our supporters, creating participants and advocates instead
of just donors.
14. Cross Point
Our church ministers to a relatively young and tech-savvy congregation,
and we make it a priority to stay up-to-date on new technology and
communications tools, from Instagram to text messaging. We recently
created a text marketing and giving strategy and used Textify Mobile, a
text marketing service, to facilitate our database, group management, text
messaging, and text-to-give.
Having a text system in place makes it really easy for us to communicate
with our congregation quickly when the need arises, from a service
cancellation to a reminder for a volunteer team. With the ability to manage
groups, we can send messages to specific people or lists, such as youth,
parents, staff etc.
The biggest results we’ve seen using text messaging are in text giving. We
recently launched text giving by encouraging everyone in our congregation
to give a small amount, such as $5, in order to illustrate how when
everyone gives a little, great things can happen. We took a traditional
offering as well as offering a text-to-give option. We had more than 700
first-time donors donate via text in one day! Not just 700 who gave via text,
but 700 NEW people who had never given before. Not only is text giving
proving to be a great option for a modern audience that doesn’t carry cash
or checks, but it opens up the door for people who have never given before
to join in and support organizations.
14 | THE A GROUP
15. THE A GROUP | 15
State of the Union
As today’s ministry leaders are finding, organizations must embrace new
technology to stay relevant with a modern audience. These ministries can
improve their marketing and increase their reach by creating comprehensive
strategic plans for using technology in communications and fundraising.
Technology creates incredible opportunities, not just for fundraising and
communications, but for enhancing your mission and reaching more people.
“There have been some instances (all isolated and not coordinated
with other parts of the organization) where people have ventured out
and tried new technologies. The results have varied and success is
mixed. Much of this can be attributed to a lack of a comprehensive
plan up front.”
“People seem to want both traditional and technological answers.”
“We have been able to make our church more accessible by
streaming our services online, posting sermons on our website,
listing upcoming events, and allowing our church members and
those who are looking for a church see what we are all about on
their own terms and timelines.”
“We have success with the areas of technology that we do use.
We just don’t use all the avenues available...nor as efficiently or
effectively as we could/should.”
“We’re heading in the right direction to not allow technology to hold
us back but instead to use it for the benefit of the mission.”
“If it weren’t for technology, we would not be doing what we do
today in ministry.”
16. As technology continues to advance, it can be difficult to
know where to start or what to embrace next. Websites,
social media, email and the other items that were once all
the rage are now expected. Ministries can no longer simply
dip their toes in the technological waters and expect to stay
relevant. They must dive in, building the foundation with online
presence and tech strategy, then making sure they are up-to-date
with today’s tech trends.
16 | THE A GROUP
17. Here are our top five trends that
ministries cannot ignore in 2014:
1) Integrated Marketing
Marketing and technology are no longer two separate disciplines. They
are closely related, each influencing and supporting the other. Create an
integrated marketing strategy that includes technology tools, such as
sending out an email alongside a direct mail piece or running a pay-per-click
THE A GROUP | 17
ad campaign in addition to print ads.
2) The Marketing Technologist
As marketing and technology strategies merge, the need for a “marketing
technologist” on teams is on the rise. Having someone on your team,
whether an internal employee or outside agency, who can understand
both marketing and technology is critical. This person will help close the
gap between the two areas to ensure your implementation of technology
will support your marketing efforts.
3) Mobile First
Ninety-one percent of people on earth own a mobile phone, and 50
percent of mobile phone users use their phone as their primary internet
source. Not only must websites be optimized for mobile viewing through
a mobile or responsive site, but designers must take a “mobile first”
mindset. Assume that a user is viewing the site on a mobile device and
plan all features accordingly.
4) Personalized Content
People no longer view technology as impersonal. As the primary source of
communication and social networking, technology is not seen as a barrier
but as a connector, and users expect their technology to be personal to
them. From customized ads to personalized emails, ministries must tailor
content for their audiences through data-driven marketing.
5) Text-to-Give
As fewer people carry cash and checks, it is critical to create an easy-to-
use mobile giving option. Audiences are quick to embrace text-to-give
opportunities, and ministries are seeing amazing results. Through
services like Textify Mobile (textifymobile.com), churches have raised nearly
$10,000 and acquired 700 first-time donors in just one day.
18. ABOUT THE A GROUP
Great strategy. Greater reach.
Through marketing and technology,
we help nonprofits, churches and
ministries get results.
We are a full-service strategic solutions company. With
everything we do rooted in strategy and a passion for
mission, our goal is to offer our clients creative and
effective solutions to their branding, technology and
communications needs. We work hard to understand their
challenges and opportunities and successfully navigate the
marketplace, which has been radically transformed by
new technologies.
For case studies of how organizations like Metro World
Child, Soles4Souls, TWR, and the Christian Leadership
Alliance are using social media and technology to
expand their reach, raise money, and minister online,
visit www.agroup.com.
18 | THE A GROUP
19. THE A GROUP | 19
Services
Marketing
Marketing strategy and brand development
Full-service marketing campaigns
Graphic design
Content creation
Social media management
Video production
Technology
Strategic technology partnerships
Custom web design
Easy Content Management
Multi-lingual platforms
Web platform development
Secure enterprise cloud hosting