Social media is a simple, free way to get your church’s message out. But it can sometimes seem overwhelming to manage — and it can be downright intimidating to novices. However, with a little practice, your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media accounts can help you achieve your church’s mission.

The best part is that each of these platforms is free. Yes, there are ways to spend advertising dollars on social media. And you can hire an expert to manage your accounts and help you strategize. But before you sign a check for such services, give these four simple tips a try, and see whether your presence improves.

1. Strategize First

Come up with a strategy before attempting any social media blitz. That means you need clear goals. What do you want to accomplish on social media? Who is your audience? With clearly defined objectives, you can zero in on those you want to reach for the Kingdom. This can be a geographical area or a target demographic.

Once you have a plan in place, stick with it. If it includes posting videos, make sure you’re consistent. If you want to stay away from lengthy posts, watch your word count and steer clear of blog posts. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for social media, but there are plenty of right ways to do it.

2. Share Everywhere

Get your social media presence out there by sharing it on everything, from billboards and signage to handouts and business cards. Make sure there is a link from your church’s website to your social media accounts. Most Web hosting services provide a way to embed your Instagram or Twitter feed right on your website.

With clearly defined objectives, you can zero in on those you want to reach for the Kingdom.

Choose handles that are clear and memorable. A social media handle is the series of letters, numbers and symbols that tag a particular account. For instance, Influence magazine's Twitter handle is @TheInfluenceMag. Select an uncomplicated, easy-to-remember handle that quickly and clearly identifies your church or ministry.

3. Interact Online

Social media is just that — social. Don’t expect simply to post comments people read, pictures people view, or videos people watch and call it done. The main purpose of social media is to interact with your audience.

Take the opportunity to ask questions and then respond to the answers online. And don’t be afraid to ask others to like your content and share it with their contacts.

4. Quality over Quantity

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing on social media. It’s important to be consistent with your posts, but that doesn’t mean posting constantly. If you’re finding that people aren’t interacting with your posts, try scaling back. Pay attention to the types of posts that get the most attention, and try to recreate that.

These tips are simple yet affective. You may find that you’re ready to go to the next level and hire a dedicated team member to handle your social media, or even spend some advertising dollars online. But before you do, make sure you’re comfortable and knowledgeable. The best way to get there is through practice.

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