Operations 102Communications, Class

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Operations 102—Communications

1. Strategy: The Culture of Your Church.

2. Strategy: Parsing the Preaching Pastor

3. Web4. Hardware & IT5. Productivity Tools

6. Multisite & Cutting Edge Issues

7. Advertising8. Policy & Practice9. Policy & Practice10. Communications

Team

Today’s Topic

The key to good communications is the team of staff and volunteers. How does one create a great and creative communications team? What is the role of the creative team in the entire “vibe” of the church campus? Let’s explore how to communicate effectively within a budget. This will include the use of volunteers. Are you going to accept all the photography of volunteers or will you have quality and control standards?

Today’s Topic, cont.

Are there inexpensive ways to utilize electronic platforms … texting, social media, church apps, HTML email, and robocalls? Will online advertising work for churches or can you advertise in social media? There are ways that you can shift resources away from traditional media. Yet, you must maintain cross-platform consistency of experience and graphic presentation style.

Rob Cizek

Rob Cizek is the Executive Pastor at Northshore Christian Church, a non-denominational church of 1,500 and Christian Academy of 800 in the greater Seattle area. He oversees daily operation of the organization and its ministries. His responsibilities include overseeing the staff, strategic planning, communications and interfacing with Northshore’s Elder Board. He also organizes a networking group for Executive Pastors in the Puget Sound area. His prior experience includes being an Emmy award-winning newsroom manager.

CommunicationsTeam & Summary

Communication

Structure

Communication

Broadcast Communication

Interactive Communication

Broadcast Communication

Broadcast Communication

Broadcast Communication

The information people need to participate

Broadcast Communication

We speak & they listen Bulletins Pre-service screens Brochures Mailings Class Catalogs Text Blasts

Broadcast Communication

Effective broadcast communication: Keep it straightforward Make sure it answers the questions

Interactive Communication

Interactive Communication

Participant Expectations: Have a voice Get an immediate response

Interactive Communication

Social Media can be used as broadcast communication, but you aren’t getting full benefit.

Interactive Communication

Engaging Social Media Monitored Responses within 15 minutes Shows you are serious about

creating community.

Interactive Communication

Social media feedback loop

Organization

Individual

Information

Respond

ReplyTaking their

input

Other people watching

Interactive Communication

Social media feedback loop allows: Church to make better

decisions People to know their

voices have been heard

Organization

Individual

Information

Respond

ReplyTaking their

input

Interactive Communication

No social media is better than bad social media!

If you don’t have the time to do social media well, you may not want to use it.

Interactive Communication

Possible liability risk

Events posted under church’s name may expose the church.

(Even if it is not a church sponsored activity)

Communication Toolbox

Communication Toolbox

Social Media: Free - many already use it Texting: People pay most attention to texts HTML email: Attractive and timely newsletters Robocalls: Effective for general broadcast communication Websites: #1 way your church is found Online Advertising: Google AdWords Podcasts: Place on website and iTunes for free Blogs: Senior Pastor- “behind the scenes” Streaming Services: Low cost Mobile Apps: Future of computing Texts & Twitter on the big screen: Audience participation Interactive church management software: Examples-

Community Church Builder & The City

Communication on any budget

Take on only those mediums you have the resources to do well (forgo the others).

It’s not having a tool that makes it great. It is how well we use the tool.

Select your electronics tools sparingly, in a way the best supports mission.

Communication on any budget

1. Up-to-date web site.2. Reliable and up-to-date weekly bulletin.3. Quarterly class catalog/listing of church events.4. Church social media account, monitored and responses provided

continuously.5. Text blasts.6. Regular email newsletter.7. Sermon audio/video on web site (podcasts).8. Live streaming of services.9. Online church database.10. Mobile church app.11. Church blog12. Online pastor position

Hierarchy of Communication Tools

Church Style Guide

Consistency Counts

Church Style Guide

Agreement:

Logo Slogan Colors Backgrounds Typeface Standard look among different mediums

Church Style Guide

Create Design Binder: Examples of how each item should look. Everyone gets a copy. Get team buy in Trading creative freedom for the power of

consistency

Police all communications

Investing in Communications

Choice A: Hire a trained and gifted person

Choice B: Choose a committed and empowered volunteer

Without a communications person, everyone is responsible for communications (which means nobody is).

Communications coordinator is necessary

Investing in Communications

Communications is the primary way we reach our local missions field.

Quality outreach is needed if we are serious about reaching these people.

Communications Team

Include all the people who have a communications role.

Example team:Senior PastorExecutive PastorWorship PastorEvents planner/schedulerCommunications Director

Communications Team

Meeting’s purpose: Identify priority messages to

congregation. Determine which mediums to use Interactive communications Creative communications

How can we communicate differently than before?

Forum for reviewing graphics and major communication campaigns.

Pastors and Staff

Ministry leaders sometimes have unrealistic expectations of communication.

First step- educate them all on the communication plan and design for the church.

Have deadlines and stick with them!

Volunteers

Great hearts- but don’t realize the church communication isn’t always creative or high profile.

You’ll want a commitment… at least a year.

They need support!

Some volunteers have a communication background

In-sourcing vs. Outsourcing

Website templates & hostingGraphic design: freelance designer may a

good optionPrinting: the longer lead time

the more affordableCommunications Director:

difficult to outsourceSocial Media Director:

difficult to outsourcethe “voice” of the church

Church Communications

Good communication may require an investment…

Imagine the cost of bad communication.

Q & ASend Questions via Chat to Tami

Article on XPastor, How to Communicate Effectively on Any Budget, by Ron Cizek

Communications is about having the right structure to get the results you want.” How do you define “the results you want”? How do you set a balance between too much information (6-page bulletin) and not enough?

If your SP is too busy to do a blog, or is not so inclined, what are some thoughts on using a ghost writer …

Text and Twitter on the big screens sounds absolutely frightening …

How do you balance creativity with maintaining consistency and standards in branding, without discouraging creativity?

Alan Personius