Effective communication rises and falls on how well you know your audience. For the church you have 2 audiences: internal and external (congregation and community). Most of you (hopefully) understand your congregation because they regularly let you know what they like and dislike. Plus you meet with them every week or so. But...
Your congregation visits your website more than your community will. But both audiences are important. And where they look on your website is critical since both audiences look for different reasons. Often your congregation clicks on your staff (or leadership) page to identify who’s in charge, additional personal details, and how to directly...
Interestingly, in order to effectively communicate, the church needs to stop talking before the congregation (or community) stops listening. Or we’re just wasting our time! It’s crazy how short the average attention span has gotten all while we drone on and on. Here are 5 (somewhat unexpected) locations that deserve a good hearty...
People love video. If your church communication does not contain video, you need to start considering how to add it to your mix. But it’s difficult! Writing is simple compared to good photography but video adds even more complexity that’s very difficult to master. In order to shoot and edit a great...
It’s difficult to believe we’ve had social media for almost two decades. We once wondered if it would have staying power — and now we question if we use it too much! It’s become the “normal” way we keep in touch and the best way to build a following (outside of our...
Recently someone tweeted “Branding is for products. Also for Cattle. People aren’t products.” and implied that a church (of people) shouldn’t brand themselves but instead be “wild, weird, and ever-changing”. Is the church (known for being sinners saved by grace) too imperfect to brand themselves perfectly? The false premise to this question is that...
Easter’s has come and spring is hopefully taking hold near you. New life is everywhere (especially as we emphasize the Gospel). Now, it’s time to resurrect your church’s website. Please! If you created your website (and it still looks similar) more than 3 years ago, it’s dying. And if you’re not updating your...
I grew up in the church; you probably did too. But the sobering news is that about a third of our communities have no connection with a church. Does that mean 2/3s are fully connected? No. We know that even though someone knows about church doesn’t mean they go to church. And...
Imagine if your church maintained focus on a solution to their community. Something that instantly got their attention and made the church relevant and needed to them. And then used those content “fences” to make their congregation known for something. That’s what I call a communication thread. A brand promise or brand story...
