Pop Quiz:
How many people did you reach last week?
How many were in-person, and how many were online?
How many people do you reach through social media?
If you’re not sure, it’s time to get familiar with your metrics and start thinking like a hybrid church.
Recently, a client asked in a web meeting: “Who is our website for?”
I truly had to pause for a moment: being in the communications trenches, websites are so much a part of the fabric of modern communications, they are available to everyone - which means that they’re not often geared to any one particular audience.
The client wasn’t being flippant in his question - he was searching for a way to get the entire ministry staff on board with the purpose of the site. Some staffers saw it as a pipeline for the latest information about Mass times and funerals. Others saw it as a way to explain each fact of their ministry work. Still others saw it as their own parish-wide wiki, which became a digital filing cabinet.
If you’re looking to refresh your approach to your online presence, here are some resources to get started:
The awesome team at The Unstuck Group has a comprehensive approach to assessing your complete digital strategy, including a review of roles and responsibilities.
Looking for an app? The team at Catholic Apptitude (get it?) has a comprehensive review of available apps and resources for parishes.
Finally, don’t feel like you have to create all your own content. Follow and share social content from accounts you like, including Word on Fire, Our Sunday Visitor, daily reflections from Pope Francis, or your local Catholic publication.
A website is the front-and-center digital ministry space for people in your community. It’s your space, open 24/7 and fully accessible to all who might need to find inspiration, information and invitations to connect.
Homework: Take a short assessment of your complete digital ministry space: website, eblasts, social media, and email communications. Who is your primary audience in each of these channels? How might your content need to change, based on who you want to reach?