Social media – it reaches well, just about everyone. It can be a blessing and/or a curse. It can also be a very effective means of communication when utilized correctly. We currently live during a time in the world where we have many options at our fingertips to be able to communicate with others.
Here are five tips to using social media effectively as church youth group leaders:
1) COMMUNICATE CHURCH YOUTH EVENTS
When events and services, whether they are special events or regular services have details posted on social media, more people are apt to attend. Also, repost the same info a few hours before the event as well.
2) MONITOR CONVERSATIONS
Once you have an account established on social media for your youth group it is important to monitor any interaction under that account. Whether it is a public or private page, make sure comments from others are appropriate and relevant.
3) RESPECT PRIVACY
Due to the fact that those children involved are minors, it is a good idea to make sure their parents have signed a photo consent document – okaying photos of their children to be taken and published on social media.
4) POST ENCOURAGEMENT
Post short writings of encouragement, short sermons, or even encouraging images, such posts have the potential of influencing others in a positive manner.
5) UTILIZE MORE THAN ONE PLATFORM
As a church youth group leader, it is important to do some research to see what the majority of your audience uses. Do they use Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Linked In, Google Plus? Are you wanting to reach the parents of the youth as well to extend communication?