There was a day that being in the phonebook was considered cutting edge. Then pastors starting advertising in the newspapers. In the day that we live today, you cannot effectively reach people without an online presence.
This page was designed to share with you everything you need to do to set-up your online presence. This page is the basic outline of what needs to be done, but there are links listed below with helps and further detailed instructions.
I. Branding Guide
Why would we start with a branding guide? Well, everything you do to present your ministry will be determined by this guide. Logos, colors, fonts are all part of your guide. Everything you display must look sharp and uniform. A good graphics designer is a big help. We recommend Andrew Novack who offers special packages to church planters at a discounted price to help them get started.
Examples
II. Domain and Social Media Page Names
You might want your website domain and everything else to have the name Bible Baptist Church in it. However, you will never get the domain name of biblebaptistchurch.com. Therefore, it is essential that you, as soon as you choose your church name, set-up your domain name. Also, set-up your social media with the names you want to have.
The person setting up your website will be able to help you with your domain name. There is no reason to set up a domain name and then get a web-designer. This just makes things more difficult as you will have to transfer permission to him to access your domain.
For social media, you can go ahead and set up your listings. Your graphic designer or web designer can also set these up for you. As you set up each listing, you will see if your name has been taken. You might have to get creative with the name you use on social media. For example, you will never get @BibleBaptistChurch for Facebook, but you could get @BBCyourcityname. Before you start your social media listings, go to each social media platform you are using, and search the name you would like to use. It might be taken on Twitter but not Facebook. If you want the same name on each platform, you might have to change your name a few times until you see all platforms are not using your desired name.
III. Website
A website is a must in our day. It is imperative that it looks sharp, and it is always kept up to date. I have been to hundreds of sites that are missing phone numbers, times of service, and locations. I have seen many of them promoting Christmas 2014.
A few years ago, it was hard to get a first-class website and be able to keep it up. Today this is far less expensive and so much easier to keep up yourself.
A good web designer is a big help. Make sure that whoever you get to design your site, will give you a site that is easily maintain by you yourself. We recommend Andrew Novack who offers special packages at a discounted price for church planters. Andrew will even set up a deputation website for those who would need one. A good web-designer will set-up your domain as well as your site. Andrew’s websites are very easy to learn how to maintain on your own, or you can pay a monthly maintenance fee.
Examples
IV. Social Media
A ministry does not need to use all three of these platforms. For example, Twitter in some areas is barely used. Research which platforms are best for your ministry. I believe Facebook is a must in every area.
A. Facebook
Facebook is the largest and most important social media platform to have. However, you have a few decisions to make.
Which Should I Choose?
How to set up a church page or group?
How to best use Facebook?
B. Twitter
Twitter offers fewer options than Facebook. However, the size of information and the ease of posting makes this an essential part of your social media plan.
How to set-up your twitter?
How to best use twitter?
C. Instagram
Instagram is rapidly growing. Most of their users are younger. Instagram is a great way to connect to the younger generation and show them that your church cares about them.
How to set-up your Instagram Account?
How to best use Instagram?
There are other social media platforms, but these are the most popular with which to start.
V. Online Listings
You must gain control of your online presence. If you don’t take control of your online presence, others can, and they can use the listing to hurt your ministry. They could create a Yelp listing, which they now have total control over, and say what they want about your church. Online listing includes Google Business, Apple Maps, Yelp, and others.
How do you take control of your online listings?
VI. Email
Email is a wonderful way to Keep up with members, regular attenders, one-time guests, and others. You can send out professional newsletters, event promotion, or even prayer list emails to everyone or a select group.
There are free email services available such as Mailchimp.
Link to Mailchimp
If you need any help in any of these areas, please email me at rrust@bcpm.org. If you are planting a church and using BCPM, this will be free of charge.
This page was designed to share with you everything you need to do to set-up your online presence. This page is the basic outline of what needs to be done, but there are links listed below with helps and further detailed instructions.
I. Branding Guide
Why would we start with a branding guide? Well, everything you do to present your ministry will be determined by this guide. Logos, colors, fonts are all part of your guide. Everything you display must look sharp and uniform. A good graphics designer is a big help. We recommend Andrew Novack who offers special packages to church planters at a discounted price to help them get started.
Examples
II. Domain and Social Media Page Names
You might want your website domain and everything else to have the name Bible Baptist Church in it. However, you will never get the domain name of biblebaptistchurch.com. Therefore, it is essential that you, as soon as you choose your church name, set-up your domain name. Also, set-up your social media with the names you want to have.
The person setting up your website will be able to help you with your domain name. There is no reason to set up a domain name and then get a web-designer. This just makes things more difficult as you will have to transfer permission to him to access your domain.
For social media, you can go ahead and set up your listings. Your graphic designer or web designer can also set these up for you. As you set up each listing, you will see if your name has been taken. You might have to get creative with the name you use on social media. For example, you will never get @BibleBaptistChurch for Facebook, but you could get @BBCyourcityname. Before you start your social media listings, go to each social media platform you are using, and search the name you would like to use. It might be taken on Twitter but not Facebook. If you want the same name on each platform, you might have to change your name a few times until you see all platforms are not using your desired name.
III. Website
A website is a must in our day. It is imperative that it looks sharp, and it is always kept up to date. I have been to hundreds of sites that are missing phone numbers, times of service, and locations. I have seen many of them promoting Christmas 2014.
A few years ago, it was hard to get a first-class website and be able to keep it up. Today this is far less expensive and so much easier to keep up yourself.
A good web designer is a big help. Make sure that whoever you get to design your site, will give you a site that is easily maintain by you yourself. We recommend Andrew Novack who offers special packages at a discounted price for church planters. Andrew will even set up a deputation website for those who would need one. A good web-designer will set-up your domain as well as your site. Andrew’s websites are very easy to learn how to maintain on your own, or you can pay a monthly maintenance fee.
Examples
IV. Social Media
A ministry does not need to use all three of these platforms. For example, Twitter in some areas is barely used. Research which platforms are best for your ministry. I believe Facebook is a must in every area.
A. Facebook
Facebook is the largest and most important social media platform to have. However, you have a few decisions to make.
- Do I create a Facebook page?
- Do I create a Facebook group?
- Do I create both?
Which Should I Choose?
How to set up a church page or group?
How to best use Facebook?
B. Twitter
Twitter offers fewer options than Facebook. However, the size of information and the ease of posting makes this an essential part of your social media plan.
How to set-up your twitter?
How to best use twitter?
C. Instagram
Instagram is rapidly growing. Most of their users are younger. Instagram is a great way to connect to the younger generation and show them that your church cares about them.
How to set-up your Instagram Account?
How to best use Instagram?
There are other social media platforms, but these are the most popular with which to start.
V. Online Listings
You must gain control of your online presence. If you don’t take control of your online presence, others can, and they can use the listing to hurt your ministry. They could create a Yelp listing, which they now have total control over, and say what they want about your church. Online listing includes Google Business, Apple Maps, Yelp, and others.
How do you take control of your online listings?
VI. Email
Email is a wonderful way to Keep up with members, regular attenders, one-time guests, and others. You can send out professional newsletters, event promotion, or even prayer list emails to everyone or a select group.
There are free email services available such as Mailchimp.
Link to Mailchimp
If you need any help in any of these areas, please email me at rrust@bcpm.org. If you are planting a church and using BCPM, this will be free of charge.