The ‘Set-it-and-Forget-it’ Social Media Strategy for Churches

Social Media can take up a lot of time to be effective - time we don't always have.

How to do Church social media if you don’t have time to do social media.

Social Media in smaller churches can be a challenge. You know you need to do something, and most of us know how big the opportunity is to reach people if we do social media right. But we just don’t have the skills, capacity or budget to do it well, and that keeps us from starting. Or if we do start, we struggle to keep the Social Media Machine running. We go though cycles of regular posting and then as ministry takes priority, the posting stops and your content gets out of date. Ugh… It’s September and your most current post is the Christmas Service times.

But, let’s change that — not having the ability to do something well, isn’t a reason to not do it at all. So let’s look at the basics that we can get in place to make sure we cover our bases while we grow in capacity time and budget.

When we start off a church we want to have some sort of digital presence to point people to our in person activities.

Step 1: Know why you want to be on Social Media

In this digital world, where we can’t be found in the phone book or Yellow Pages we have to have some sort of digital presence to guide people to our in-person activities.

As a church, you want to be visible, you want to be searchable — and find-able online. In the beginning, that is our aim. When you’ve grown and you have budget, time and capacity, we’ll come back and review this strategy and start with the next phase strategy.

In this post we will guide you to set up your social media accounts in a way that you can set-it-and-forget-it! If you follow this guide, you will have social media accounts that give you a proper presence online, make you searchable and help guide people to your in-person activities.

Let’s start with our ‘Set-It-and-Forget-It!’ strategy.

*Disclaimer: This strategy will take some effort to execute, but once it is set up, you will only need to come back to it when things change or you have capacity to grow your social media activities.

Step 2: Create accounts on Social Media Platforms

Creating accounts on the right social media platforms will help your community find you online. Consider platforms that resonate with your community, platforms that they are already using. In South Africa, these platforms are currently worth looking at:

• Facebook

• WhatsApp Business Account

• Instagram

• Google Maps Listing

• TikTok

• Twitter

If you don’t have capacity for all of them, at the least, create a Facebook and Instagram account, and a Google Maps listing. This way people can search for you online (Facebook and Instagram), and they are able to find you when looking for a church close to them (Google Maps).

Step 3: Keep It Consistent

Make sure you look the same across the social media board. Keep your branding, usernames and bios consistent on all platforms. This makes it easier for people to find and recognize your church wherever they go.

Step 4: Share the Essentials

Make sure folks know how to reach you. On each platform, add essential info like your church’s website (if you have one), contact number, email address, physical address, and those all-important service times. And if your church meets in different spots within a larger venue, indicate the exact location or venue.

Step 5: Cook Up Some Evergreen Content

Now, let’s whip up some evergreen content that you can sprinkle across all your social media platforms. This content stays fresh and engaging, no matter how many times it’s shared.

1. Church Experience Video

Imagine taking someone on a quick tour of your church, from the entrance to the main hall, with friendly faces and all. Capture that journey in a video to give newcomers a sneak peek of what they can expect.

2. About Us Video

Get your pastor in front of the camera and have them share your church’s vision, beliefs, and what’s cooking in the church pot.

3. Location and Service Times

Tell people where you’re at and when to swing by. A Google Maps link is like a GPS treasure map. If you’re in a shared venue like a school, be crystal clear about where to find you. This can be a text post or a link. but hink of something that is clickable or shareable that someone can easily refer back to.

4. Testimonials

Let the congregation’s voices shine. Share three posts with stories of what God has done in or through your church. Videos or quotes on snazzy backgrounds work like a charm.

5. Common Questions

Got answers to the usual suspects? Create posts that address questions like:

• How can I get involved?

• How can I make my contribution (tithe)?

• What else does the church have in store?

• Is there a Kids ministry?
  

Step 6: Set It and Forget It (For Now)

Once you’ve created these evergreen posts across all your social media platforms, you can let them do their thing while you focus on other church duties. This initial effort will make your church shine on social media and provide potential visitors with all the info they need to consider joining in-person.

Step 7: Closing the conversation loop

You won’t have to post anything on your social media channels, but it is a good idea to respond to comments, questions or other incoming contact. Most social media channels have an option to get email notifications of activity on your accounts. This is a good option if you aren’t checking in daily.

In a nutshell, getting your church on social media doesn’t have to be a headache. With these steps, you’ll have a strong online presence that’s easy to manage, even when you’re pressed for time.

You can, and should come back to social media when you have time, budget and capacity, and that will be a good time to check out our other blog article on running a low maintenance social media strategy.

This article has been adapted from a social media post by @probablydrewsoucy.