However, the whole idea of “checking in,” especially on Facebook, weirds me out. I highly dislike to be “checked in” by my friends. (HINT HINT)

I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way.

There’s a difference in using a location based service to get real-time information and checking into a business.   Location based services include getting directions or searching for nearby restaurants. Check in is used to specific the location of an individual. Some businesses use check in services to offer

In a recent report done by Pew Internet & American Life Project, 74 percent of smartphone owners use real-time location based apps to get information, whereas only 18 percent of people use a geosocial service to “check in” to specific locations.

The number of smartphone owners are up 35 percent since last year. Almost half of Americans own a smartphone, now.

What does this mean for you?

Well, nothing if you dismiss it. But you could use “check in” services to have church members check in to your church on Sunday morning. Of course, only if they’re comfortable with it.

As you could expect, most of the site’s visitors are women who post picture featuring home décor, crafts, fashion ideas and recipes.

I recently attended a webinar about Pinterest and its use in marketing and SEO. If you’re wondering if Pinterest is just another social avenue or if there’s a way you can use it for your church, please consider the following:

1. While most website visitors are on and off of your site within a few minutes, Pinterest users linger for an average of 16 minutes.
2. You can use keywords and hash tags in the description of your pictures, this will help with link building.
3. Each picture you post can have a link to another webpage. Maybe your blog? Website?
4. Use keywords in the description of your board titles

How Can Your Church Use Pinterest?

1. Maybe your church had a really great VBS theme. Take some pictures, post them on Pinterest with links back to your church’s website.
2. Maybe you need some ideas for projects for your Sunday School classes…try searching Pinterest
3. Maybe you’re taking a dish to a pot luck (do people still have those??) and need a new recipe- search Pinterest
4.  Look for interesting ways to organize your rooms, offices…etc.

What other ways can you think of to use Pinterest?

1. 10 Tips for Having a Great Church Blog
2. Audio and Video Recording in Worship Services- Part 1
3. Creating a Winning Team from Dysfunctional Members
4. How to Get Guests to Give you Their Information
5. Social Media Demographics

-           The largest percentage of people using facebook are 45 years or older and in the $50-$99,999 income bracket.

-          The average age of Twitter users is split pretty evenly across the four age brackets

-          43.82% of Google + users are single.

-          Pinterest stats were pretty much exactly as I thought they would be

-          49% of Linked In Users are 45 years and older.

-          67% of social media users use social media to stay in touch with friends

Via: Online MBA Resource

What other blogging tips would you like to share?

Photo by: aithom2

What are your thoughts on sharing the Gospel via social networking channels?

Airline KLM offers a social networking feature on selected flights which allows users to preview who they’ll be sitting next to on their flight.  Also, if you aren’t on one of the selected flights and you met someone you might be interested in, you can create a profile on “We Met on a Plane.”

Want your Tweet read by, “the golden voice?” Use hash tag #voiceoflove and you might just get your tweet read by Ted Williams, the voice of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, for the “Golden Voice of Love” campaign.

Women dominate Valentine’s day conversations on Twitter. Check out this infographic.

Social Media can both help and hurt real-life relationships: An article about using social networking sites wisely and to build your relationship, not hurt it.

Google always has fun little graphics for holidays like Valentine’s Day. See the history of these graphics below:

And Just for laughs…a little Social Media Valentine’s Video from Socialnomics.

Using Media During Worship Service

Closing the Back Door

Presentation Software Review

faitHighway offers new website solution with WordPress themes

faithHighway Go Live: Christ Alive Church

When to Use Technology and When to Say No

Social Media Resolutions for 2012

Facebook New Apps for the Timeline

What’s most surprising to you?

Infographic by Assisted Living Today – Assisted Living Facilities

Resolution 1:  Set one specific social media objective to begin with

Keep your social media efforts focused on your ministry and keep it mass-media oriented. Make a list of your priorities as a ministry and make sure your posts meet those criteria.  Most likely you’ll need to get familiar with social media and play around with it for a little while before you find the perfect way to use it for your ministry.  Make sure you keep your target demographic and your congregation in mind to ensure the best chance of establishing a real connection.

Resolution 2:  Find the right way to use social media for your church

This is what Mari Smith, the Pied Piper of Facebook, says: “The main reason people fail in social media is lack of a strategy. There’s so much confusing and conflicting advice out there, it’s easy to get lost in the social media jungle. By having a clear objective, developing a strategy to accomplish that objective, and measuring milestones along the way, you’re bound to have better results.”

• What can you say that will grab your community/congregation’s attention?
• What is the best way for you to say it?
• Where is the best place for you to start saying it?

If you’re unsure, the best place to start is by using your website or a page on your site like a blog as your “hub.”  It’s important to remember that your social media strategy needs to be custom fit for the unique message you want to communicate to your community.  Focus on your ROI, or Return On Investment (of time and resources).  When you have a specific objective and start using social media in the right way, it magnifies the effectiveness of your overall outreach efforts.

A good take-away is this:  Don’t waste time using other people’s social media tactics. Find a social media strategy that connects your business to your audience.

Resolution 3:  Keep your social media social

Once you’re able to keep to the above resolutions, you will be able to focus on keeping it social.  You have to remember to maintain a personable and relationship driven approach to any and all types of media.  Like I said, focus on your Time ROI.  The right message that aligns with your ministry goals in a social media marketing strategy can save your organization time and resources spent elsewhere on outreach efforts.  It also makes your more personal acts of outreach more effective.  Remember:  Don’t waste time sending messages that don’t work. Find the right message for your church and, above all, be social.

Resolution 4:  Maintain your focus on your overall outreach strategy

There are a couple of reasons that social media can waste your time:

• It is a social environment.
• Ministries need to create a social presence and it can be hard to find the balance between ministry/doctrine and community/relationship.

Don’t get stuck in the traps when adapting your outreach to social media. We’ve seen through research that building buzz and excitement in your virtual community can translate to real results in your physical community.  Focus on building relationships online and communicate that you can meet needs people feel or that you can answer questions they have.  Social media outreach creates stronger relationships with the people in your market.  It can be used to reduce apprehension and pique the curiosity of more people and in less time than with most other outreach venues.  This only helps and invigorates your in-person approaches for outreach.  Also, part of staying focused is avoiding getting sidetracked.  The world of social media is full of shiny objects waiting to grab your attention.  Try time-blocking an hour a week to knock out a few posts to be sent out later.  This will allow you to adapt social media to work for your church and your work flow.

Resolution 5:  Don’t bite off more than you can chew

I know this never happens with outreach, especially for vision-driven pastors and ministry leaders bent on conquering the world this year, but let’s pretend for a second like it does.  Experts say that trying to be everywhere on social media, especially right off the bat, is a big time waster. Social media is made up of numerous different places where people hang out, and these places all have different environments.  Please don’t try to be everywhere all at once because you won’t know what to say or the best way to say it.  You need to walk before you can run:

• Research to find out where your ministry can be effective
• Observe what people are saying and how they’re saying it
• Listen and adapt your message to fit in the conversation

Be sure to keep your message custom and personal.  You should communicate with a relevant voice and add your own social touch to all of your online outreach. As long as you can choose your posts wisely and make sure to add some social juice to them, you’ll reap much more than you sow.

Don’t try to jump into all social media platforms at once.  I suggest you start with a Facebook fan page and get good at driving people to your website.  Then take on Twitter and see how you can get all three working together with the fewest number of messages possible.  This can be a fun game.

So that’s what I recommend for 2012.  It’s true that social media can be a powerful tool when used properly by a church.  There’s no need to be scared of the conversation as long as we take it a little at a time.  Also, remember that being proactive and taking initiative, doesn’t mean biting off more than you can chew.  Keep your message social, inviting and relational to remind the masses why we do what we do.  And, above all, keep your eyes on the prize.  Don’t get caught up in the fads of the day.  Find the right site for you initially and achieve one small goal at a time.

I hope this has been helpful for you.  If you have any questions about this post or any of the tools faithHighway offers to help you in your social media efforts, you can reach us at 877.703.2484.  We’ll talk to you soon!

Photo By: webtreats