Archive for September, 2011

Social Media :: AND Conference

by Tim Schraeder on 09/23/2011 in ANDconference, Church Communications, Social Media with No comments

Strategy

  • Honesty
  • Value
  • Connecting people to each other, not just you
  • Measure progress (stories and numbers)
  • Conversation not broadcast

Benefits

  • Relationship collateral
  • Reputation management
  • Idea generation
  • Audience/competitor research
  • Fan loyalty
  • Help others
  • Record keeping

How to Get Started

  • Determine your audience and objective
  • Pick one, start slow
  • Watch before your interact
  • Don’t put on a non-social in charge of it. Assign by “shape” not by “org chart”
  • Don’t control, cultivate
  • Don’t start it unless you can maintain it
  • Don’t censor unless there’s a problem.

Other Thoughts…

  • People are asking the wrong question first… it’s not how can I get more people to my spot… it’s how can I make people’s lives better. It’s a gift exchange.
  • Deliver what’s unique to you. Don’t recreate the wheel or try to copy what other people are doing.
  • Honesty is more important than talent
  • Don’t be defensive. Just don’t give people an outlet to throw rocks.
  • Would I do the same thing online if I was in someone’s living room.
  • It’s a process, not an event. Be slow and deliberate.
  • Don’t advertise it. Just practice, find your voice… find your groove. Populate your shelves before you invite the customers.
  • Earn the right to share certain stuff. Start with your strength.
  • Do new things in your own voice.
  • Leave room for people to enter themselves into the story. If you do all the talking, there is no room for others to get involved. Leave it open ended.
  • Reverse engineer advertising. From company to consume. Not “here’s what we think” but “what do you think?”
  • Don’t overdesign… focus on the story.
  • People can smell fake. What you put online should be an outflow of what you already do. It’s not an add-on.
  • What question are you answering? That’s the difference between good content and just an advertisement.
  • Have compassion for the audience.
  • Consumer reviews are the purest form of content.
  • Be minimalistic.
  • Twitter is a community of “do-ers,” they’re active people. Wait on twitter until you’re ready to be active.
  • 80% perfect and live is better than 100% perfect in your head.

Event Promotion & Media Relations :: AND Conference

by Tim Schraeder on 09/23/2011 in ANDconference, Church Communications with No comments
  • Only what is most vital to a majority of the church is communicated with high emphasis. For them, that’s about 80% of the church population.
  • They try to use volunteers as much as they can.
  • They use volunteers for proofreading: English majors, people who like to write, people who are picky and have a good eye for detail.
  • They communicate with all of their proofing volunteers by email.
  • Nothing goes to the printer without 2-3 sets of eyes from outside of their staff team looking at the printed material.
  • Doing it via email makes it easier for people to be involved.
  • As much as possible they try to use volunteers to do graphic design.
  • They don’t have anyone on staff who focuses on graphic design.
  • If you only have one person designing for your church things can look the same, get boring, have the same feel, etc.
  • Different volunteers have different skill sets in graphic design.
  • They ask any potential volunteers to provide a portfolio of their work to get a feel for their ability.
  • Deadlines are hard to enforce with volunteers.
  • Volunteers have a limited ability.
  • The return is very great… people feel they have the ability
  • When people submit concepts, they are clear to let them know they may or may not used but let them know that they will be a valuable part of helping the church move forward.
  • Be clear about your expectations with volunteers.
  • You don’t need to hire a graphic designer, you need to hire a project manager.
  • If you have one person design everything it looks the same.
  • People have great skills and creative talents that are waiting to contribute to your church.
  • You need to create a system to maximize your people resources.
  • They ask their volunteers to recruit another volunteer.
  • They also do a vouluntour… a tour of volunteer opportunities and ways people can serve.
  • Most of their volunteers come through the web.
  • One of their key staff members volunteered to help do graphic design for their capital campaign.
  • They give their volunteer proofreaders a simple style guide to help acclimate them to the voice/style of the church.
  • For volunteer designers, they typically coach and give direction for each individual project.
  • They don’t act as a print production shop for other ministries.
  • Everyone one their team spends a majority of their time in conversations helping people define what they really need.
  • They work to give everyone a customized approach for their communication needs.
  • They look at themselves as consultants.
The AND and how it’s changed how they communicate.
  • If you look at our website, it’s not a good website.
  • Right now it’s built on an attractional model: it helps people define whether or not it’s a church for them and how they can get involved.
  • It’s pushing information.
  • Now, they are dreaming about how they can use it to be missional, connect people with people and resources, etc.
Weekly Announcements
  • They try to outline 2-3 next steps out of the weekend service an announce those from the platform.
  • That’s it.
  • So, if you get a request to make an announcement, find a yes behind the no.
  • Announcements for the weekend need to be received Monday by Noon.
  • Saying too much will dilute the entire message.
  • Remind people that you are thinking about the bigger picture and on a larger scale.
  • The key is more about the relationship you have with your staff/team than what you produce for them.

Bulletin & Enews

  • They do a monthly bulletin.
  • Generally, their bulletin has information about the current series and make a list of every single event happening at their church [because they don't have that many extra events happening].
  • They also give people more a connection page called “Chatter” where they highlight other things people are saying about Granger via social media, blogs, etc.
  • They give the basic information about who they are.
  • They also include a monthly Bible reading plan.
  • There were only about 5-6 announcements that impacted a majority of their church each month, so now they consolidate it to once a month.
  • This change has saved them a lot of time and money.
  • They still hand out the bulletin weekly, but it’s only a monthly edition.
  • All of the content in the website drives people to the website.
  • A monthly bulletin reduces the amount of last-minute activities.
  • They only send out 1 enewsletter per month as well.
  • Use intriguing subject lines to generate more interest and increase your open rate.
Press Releases and Media
  • Developing partnership with the media is a great way to get free promotion and interest.
  • They send a press release out for anything they do that they think is neewsworthy.
  • They use an inexpensive online faxing service to fax local radio and television stations and magazines.
  • It creates an opportunity for you to develop relationships with reporters and writers.
  • If you provide enough great content for them, they will start coming to you for content.
  • Post your events to local community online calendars, too.
  • Spread the word through all of the available outlets.
  • In the past they’ve sent press releases about their baptism service, their food drop,  things that they do that are different, etc.
  • Use the media for good to tell the story of what God is doing in their church to their community.

Mark Beeson :: AND Conference

by Tim Schraeder on 09/23/2011 in ANDconference with No comments
  • We have a call from God to receive the life and to embrace it… to allow God to change the very essence of our being.
  • Then, we are to give it away.
  • In the economy of God, we won’t lose anything in the process.
  • We are called to do life on mission.
  • God brings us from where we are, just as we are, to a new way, the Jesus way.
  • God doesn’t require us to be qualified.
  • God has a love beyond anything we could imagine, have known, or could experience.
  • We have not even seen the depth of God’s love.
  • God sent His Son because He loves us.
  • His only begotten Son gave his life for you, me, and for every person we will ever see.
  • We receive life, love, and an amazing call to a life of meaning, purpose, and significance.
  • God calls us not to choose one of many ways, but to choose The Way.
  • There is a way that’s not that way.
  • We need to turn our feet, our lives, desires, and affections and follow Christ.
  • In that following, we are constantly giving it away.
  • Sometimes that giving away is done in an organized way… we’ve got mission, vision, and something people want to be a part of.
  • Sometimes we give it away on mission, individually.
  • We share our faith with others and show them The Way.
  • We keep giving out, handing it off, and passing it on.
  • Our days become valuable when we recognize they are numbered.
All of it is really ATTRACTION
  • The way we go about ministry individually, corporately, in small groups and in weekend services is attractional.
  • If there is no plan or structure, it’s unattractive.
  • We need to be attentive to growth.
  • You don’t get to choose problem-free living, you only get to choose your problem.
  • God is going to do what He said He is going to do.
  • Jesus did not die for nothing… He came to seek and save the lost.
  • People will be attracted to our corporate gatherings and to our live as we are conformed to the image of Christ.
  • Everything is attractional.
  • At the end of the day, the disciples were like Jesus.
  • Jesus was attractive.
  • We should be like Christ.
  • It’s a great challenge for all of us, but that’s what God is calling us to do.
  • People were filled with awe.
  • God has prepared people to hear our message.
  • Many people live with low character.
  • They don’t stick to their commitments.
  • Maybe one of the things we should consider in our work for Christ is if we are attractive, if we are looking more like Jesus.
  • Are we caring, honest, trustworthy, dependable, on mission, valuing the right things, etc?
  • The more we are like Christ, the more attractive we will be for Christ.
  • Genesis 27 – Jacob and Esau
  • We do absolutely nothing to deserve God’s favor.
  • We’ve come to think that the patriarchs of our faith are heroes.
  • That’s not always the case.
  • God is the hero in the story of Jacob… it’s the story about God intersecting Jacob’s story.
  • God takes us where we are and begins a training program.
  • God trains us to become more like Christ.
  • We move from an untrustworthy place to a place of attractiveness.
The Mouse vs the Dinosaur
  • Are you building your team around 1 or 2 people? A dinosaur?
  • Or are you empowering others? Are you discipling thousands of mice?
  • Determine not to build the church on high capacity, high character people.
  • Build hundreds and thousands of the 80%… missional communities, etc.
  • 10 people can lead hundreds, 100 can lead thousands.
  • Unleash, empower, and train people who have been relegated to the back row.
  • Don’t ignore people’s potential.
  • The 80% can do more than the 20%.
  • This will change the world.
  • It will bring the Kingdom to where it needs to be.
  • It will revolutionize the church in America.
  • This is how the Gospel is going to come…
  • …by small groups, missional communities.
2 Peter 1:5 -8
  • What are the steps God wants people to take?
  • We aren’t doing this alone, we are together.
  • Faith
  • Goodness
  • Knowledge
  • Self-control
  • Perseverance
  • Godliness
  • Mutual affection
  • LOVE
  • For if you posses these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive.
  • This is what God calls us to do: to attract people who we are, what we do, and what we build, all for His glory.
  • Realize who you are but remember how God changes and inspires you with His presence.

Less Control, More Influence, Kem Meyer :: AND Conference

by Tim Schraeder on 09/23/2011 in ANDconference, Church Communications with No comments
  • We can get over-zealous about what we do.
  • We can push performance over people.
  • We can push policies over personal relationships.
  • Our first love can be the what, not the why.
  • What do you care more about?
  • Do you care about freeing up people to do what they can do?
  • Or do you care more about getting them to comply with your rules?
  • Sometimes the picture we are drawing isn’t what people are seeing.
  • This is all about inner-personal communication, our one-on-one responsibility.
  • The minute you start feeling frustrated, you need to have a personal fire alarm.
  • We all need guard rails.
  • Instead of pushing harder, back up, take an inventory, and try another approach.
  • Scott Belsky, “Connecting with people across the spectrum requires us to stay connected to the needs and beliefs of those around us.”
  • It becomes more challenging when we get lost in our creative pursuits.
  • Our intentions can be good but we need to adjust our M.O.
  • We can over-estimate what we need to get done and under-estimate the impact it has.
  • Sometimes we are the last ones to know how we come across to others.
  • When I feel like I’m stuck, I remind myself that I’m exponentially more effective when I draw perspective from people who don’t think like me.
1 – Rewrite your job description.
  • If we skip the inner-work our outer work will suffer.
  • Check out UNTITLED by Blaine Hogan.
  • We are all creatives, regardless of what we do.
  • Your best ideas must move you before they move someone else.
  • Pace does not slow down in ministry.
  • The frenzy will drive us if we let it.
  • When you are serving people we think we are doing them a service, but instead of saying “Do this because..” say, “Do this yourself by…”
  • You can lower walls by shifting how you approach things.
  • Kem had her team write a one-sentence job description.
  • “At the end of the day, if I’ve done my job well, this is what I’ve done…”
  • Define why people would say thank you.
  • Don’t communicate what you do, communicate the value people will feel by what you do.
  • Pull back.
  • Don’t focus on what you do, focus on what people feel because of what you do.
  • “Lead and leverage communications and technology to eliminate information obesity and simply complexity across departments and campuses.” – Kem Meyer’s 1-sentence job description.
  • Do the JFK – ask not what other departments can do for you but ask what you can do for other deparments.
  • Check your ego.
  • Maybe we take ourselves too seriously.
  • “Watch your form. too often we become so concerned with our content that we forget the form. The feelings, rituals, experiences.”
  • Focus on the meta.
  • When you focus on the meta you can focus on a value instead of undermining it.
  • Don’t communicate a message, share an experience.
  • Find the “yes” behind the “no.”
  • Always answer with “yes.”
  • “Yes we could do that, or we could do this…”
  • Communicate that you are “for” someone.
2 – Ask Don’t Tell
  • If you are passionate about you do, chances are the people you work with are passionate about what they do, too.
  • People will feel our passion.
  • The heart of leading change is all about how you make people feel.
  • Too often we come at people too strong.
  • Example: Phil Davison
  • Effective communication depends on a common vocabulary.
  • Do you know the vocabulary of the people around you or do you expect them to know yours?
  • Sometimes we can be our own communications roadblock.
  • Surround yourself with people who can save you from yourself.
  • Process. Slow down.
  • We are all more Phil Davison more than we care to admit.
  • Calibrate your motives.
  • In the frenzy of the passion we might be over-inflating our self-importance.
  • Take time to hear about people’s needs.
  • Your job needs to start where it’s hurting the most.
  • Don’t have an agenda.
  • Sometimes we can focus from outside-in instead of focusing from the inside-out.
  • Think about the emails you send. How long are there? What’s the context? What’s the tone?
3 – Get some margin.
  • If you want to have communication breakthroughs, how much time are you leaving for communication?
  • Is your calendar filled with insecurity work?
  • Are you busy cranking out work to make yourself feel better or productive?
  • Block out time for conversations.
  • Produce less, get more relational collateral.
  • Personal conflict can stop us.
  • Different departments have different languages and values.
  • Don’t avoid it.
  • The more we communicate the less we communicate.
  • Don’t add more weight to what people are trying to carry.
  • Have self-control with what you communicate.
  • Anticipate barriers and remove them.
  • Barriers could come in the form of language or timing.
  • Commit to rhythms and values; be done with lists of do’s and don’t's.
  • Have you ever noticed we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions? – The Noticer

At the end of the day, this is a trip… not a destination.

  • Find joy in the journey.
  • Matthew 6:22 – go through life with an attitude of wonder.
  • Be full of questions… don’t have all the answers.
  • Be a student of everything, not an expert.
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