01 August 2021 | By Diandra | Reading Time 2 mins
In the 21st Century, social media is one way in which we can engage in relevant and meaningful conversations. Using social media profiles, such as your church Facebook page, you are able to foster conversations and connections through sharing regular updates. This is known as organic content. You can also further target certain demographics and interest types with paid advertising. While paid advertising is a quick way to reach many people, organic content is more likely to build lasting relationships and promote engagement with your community.
People rarely use social networks for a one-way experience. They’re seeking connections — with people, communities, and values. And because there are so many possibilities to make connections, social networks try to learn your interests - what people like and dislike - to give you relevant content and encourage you to engage in meaningful conversation. This is why you will often see similar posts to those you have been searching or sharing with your friends.
Social media engagement is crucial to sharing the Good News online. Unfortunately, social media’s aim of bringing people together with similar interests can create virtual bubbles, such as a Christian community, meaning that the Good News is unlikely to reach non-Christians. People who have never shown interest in the Christian faith or the church are unlikely to see your content. Look at your list of friends online, you may have a neighbour, a friend or a relative who needs to hear the Good News. So what can you do about it?
Have you ever bought something on the recommendation of a friend that was so good that you told your friends about it? By regularly engaging with Christian content you enable the content to further its reach by recommending it to your friends. Engaging with a post online means you like, comment on it and share it. When you do this, people that are friends with you, message you, or share common interests with you, can also see what you share or what you comment on.
Here are 3 simple but impactful things you can do to help share the Good News online:
1. Follow local based Christian organizations.
2. Like, share or comment on relevant posts, this will help the post to be seen by more people.
3. Invite at least one friend to do the same.
If you would like any further guidance on managing your social media, feel free to get in touch with us.
Jesus valued spaces where people of all backgrounds gathered. For Jesus, that space was the marketplace. Of his 132 public appearances, 122 had a marketplace context.
Anthony shares his time between pastoring in Stirling and exercising his creative gifts in Hope Fuelled Design. One of his favourite bible stories is when Jesus meet the Samaritan Woman at the well. For Anthony the story captures how Jesus meets all of us in the grittiness of life. The story is inspiring, challenging and grace filled. Did you know that it is arguable that the Samaritan Woman is the first evangelist? Because she told her village all about Jesus.
Perhaps, you have been searching on Google looking for answers to how you can improve your social media engagement. Maybe, you have read many articles and have felt them lacking or not appropriate for you. Certainly, some goto strategies such as prize competitions are difficult to imagine working in every context. There is not a one size fits all solution especially as we consider our responsibility in helping each other use social media wisely.