The Pro Church Tools Show with Brady Shearer

7 Unpopular Truths About Church Online

Dec 4, 2024

Dive into the world of online church with some eye-opening truths! Discover why prioritizing mission over aesthetics is key for genuine engagement. Learn how social media is a marathon that requires ongoing commitment for meaningful reach. Explore the paradox of engaging a local audience by casting a wider net and the challenges of online criticism. Also, uncover the complexities of tracking online growth and the surprising effectiveness of seemingly boring posts. Embrace creativity while addressing the realities of digital outreach!

37:24

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Quick takeaways

Prioritizing effective communication over aesthetic appeal can enhance a church's online outreach and better resonate with its audience.

Building a sustained and consistent social media presence is essential for churches, as success requires a long-term commitment rather than immediate results.

Deep dives

Aesthetic vs. Effectiveness

Churches often emphasize aesthetic appeal in their online presence, but this focus can detract from the effectiveness of their communication. Many church creatives prioritize visually pleasing posts over those that resonate with the audience, leading to a disconnect between intention and reception. For example, using unrelated images for video covers may create a beautiful grid, but could confuse potential visitors about the content. Ultimately, creative expression should serve the church's mission, reinforcing the idea that effectiveness in outreach takes precedence over personal aesthetic satisfaction.

Intro

3min

Balancing Creativity and Church Mission

5min

The Marathon of Church Social Media Success

2min

Navigating Local Engagement Through Social Media

8min

Understanding Online Growth and Engagement for Churches

4min

Digital Outreach for Churches

15min

Let’s address some unpopular truths about church online—conversations many avoid but need to have. By confronting these realities, we can better focus our church's efforts and resources for greater impact.

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Table of Contents:

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0:00 - Intro

0:37 - Aesthetic Mismatch

8:08 - Social Media Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint

10:22 - Reaching Locally By Going Broadly

13:15 - Criticism Comes With Social Media

16:15 - You Can’t Outgrow Your Growth

19:04 - Tracking Posts to Guest Visits Is Impossible

24:24 - Boring Posts Often Perform The Best

IMPORTANT LINKS

- Social Media Hate: How Churches Should Respond!: https://youtu.be/mznF4GqFKJI

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