Looking for some late-summer church communication strategy ideas? We’re in August now, and fall anticipation is upon us. So let’s use this time to get your church communication ready!
Here are 5 church communication strategy ideas to do now!
Get to know the congregation better. You can’t go wrong learning about members. Talk with them to truly understand their needs, concerns, and goals. Create (or correct) research about large church groups that represent growing demographic groups in your community. What do they need from your church? Are you delivering them in your communication? Is there anything that can be eliminated?
Focus on their social media. Discover your church’s social media influencers by searching for their feeds.
What are they posting about?
Do they follow church channels? Why? Why not?
Then ask them how the church can improve engagement and content. Do they think you have enough engaging content?
Is there too much promotional content? What’s a successful rhythm for your content?
Identify potential volunteers. By talking with members about communication improvements, it’ll help discover talented people that you need for a highly-effective communication team.
Organize a meeting with them to talk about what can be done. Share goals and request help.
Be on the lookout for photographers, videographers, writers, editors and designers who’d love to join your ministry.
Be mindful, though, of those earning a living doing what you’re requesting. They may not want to give it to the church for free, so ask them if they’ll offer a discount for regular, ongoing work.
Talk with ministry leaders. Talk to the leadership who are running the ministries.
Share what you’re discovering about members. Encourage the leaders and show interest in what they’re doing. Ask questions to hear how they’re meeting needs of their groups.
Share how you’re trying to help them; as well as, enable their ministry. Find out what they’re prioritizing and how you can assist!
Simplify your website. Effective summer church communication strategy is about simplification! And since your website is critical to the church’s digital communication, calm it down.
Ensure it’s well-organized and obvious (only 6–7 main menu items). That each page has short, scannable content: not a lot of paragraphs, 3–4 links to other pages, bullet-points with answers, and call-to-actions along the way. Are there enough pictures that extend the page’s story?
How about staff pictures? Do they look up-to-date? Is there an easy way to contact someone in charge of various ministries?
Make sure your website is ready to lead people this fall from watching online services into an in-person community!
EDITOR’S NOTE — Mark MacDonald is communication pastor, speaker, consultant, bestselling author, church branding strategist for BeKnownforSomething.com and executive director of the Center for Church Communication.
