Many churches and pastors have a love / hate relationship with social media. We know there is some potential to do good, but often the process can be frustrating and confusing. Knowing what platform to use, what to post, or how to create or find content feels like a lot to take on each week. The key to an engaging ministry on social media starts with a simple plan and consistency.
7-Day Social Media Plan to Engage with Your Church
Adapted from Re-Think Communication by Phil Bowdle.
Choose a platform
The first step in this process is to choose which platform(s) you will focus on. Two things to consider:
- Go where your people are. Being on a platform where you already have an audience will lead to more engagement and will help you grow.
- Don’t over stretch yourself. Focus on one or two social media platforms you feel people would engage with the most.
Schedule time
Having a social media plan will help you know what to post ahead of time, leaving more time to create and post content. Schedule some time, maybe 10-15 minutes each day, to work on your social media posts. You can also work ahead, by scheduling multiple posts at one time by using a third-party scheduling service such as Hootsuite or Buffer
Remember that social media is a two-way conversation. In addition to creating content, spend some time responding to comments or messages throughout the week.
The Plan
Day 1: Monday
Pray for your church
Start the week off in prayer for and with your church. Ask “How can I pray for you?” Encourage and lead your church to pray for something specific or share a testimony of how prayer has changed your life. Respond to comments and let them know you are praying for them today.
Day 2: Tuesday
Celebrate
Take a look back over the past week or so. What’s a win you and your church can celebrate? This could be a salvation or baptism. Maybe there is a ministry that is experiencing growth. Think about wins not everyone knows about and share them.
Day 3: Wednesday
Devotional Thought
Social Media allows you to share God’s Word with your church any time. Take time to share a quick verse and devotional thought. Share from your own experience of what God is teaching you. End your post encouraging others to share in the comments.
Day 4: Thursday
Sunday Preview
As you prepare for your message this Sunday, think about how you can build anticipation for the sermon. Maybe share a verse, ask a key question, or ask for feedback or stories on a specific topic.
Day 5: Friday
Honor a Volunteer
Take time to publicly appreciate someone serving at your church. Not only will this encourage that volunteer, but it is an opportunity to show how important and loved all your volunteers are.
Day 6: Saturday
Church Invite
Let your church know how much you are looking forward to seeing them tomorrow. Include details (times, directions), but don’t leave it there. Share why it’s going to be a great Sunday and encourage people to bring someone with them.
Day 7: Sunday
Sermon Recap
Take time Sunday Afternoon to share a video focusing on the application of your message. Give a quick overview for anyone who missed the sermon that morning. Share a story or verse you didn’t have time to include in the service. Encourage people to apply what they heard. If this is done as a live video, even better, as live videos get reach boost on most social platforms.
Try this schedule for a month and see what happens. The key to effective social media is discovering what works best with your audience. Make note of the things that worked and focus accordingly. Don’t worry if you miss a day or two. Just focus on connecting with people and being consistent. Over time you will see results.
