Dean Cothill

Tag: church social media

  • Let’s show some gratitude online…

    Let’s show some gratitude online…

    Less grumpy, more gratitude.

    Gratitude is a powerful emotion that has the ability to transform our lives and relationships for the better. It can help us to appreciate the people, experiences, and things that bring joy and meaning to our lives. In this blog post, we will explore the many benefits of cultivating gratitude, and provide tips for how to make it a daily practice. By learning to express gratitude regularly, we can improve our mental and physical well-being, strengthen our relationships, and lead more fulfilling lives.

    How to show gratitude online

    One way to show gratitude to people online is to simply say “thank you” when they do something that you appreciate. This can be as simple as thanking someone for answering a question or providing a helpful suggestion. It’s important to be sincere and specific when expressing gratitude, so be sure to mention what you are thanking the person for and why you appreciate it.

    Another way to show gratitude is to express your appreciation for someone’s character or actions. For example, you might say something like “I really appreciate your kindness and generosity” or “I’m so grateful for your support and encouragement.” By focusing on the person’s positive qualities, you can show that you value them as an individual and not just for what they have done for you.

    A third way to show gratitude is to offer a small gesture of appreciation, such as sending a virtual gift or sending a handwritten note. These gestures can be especially meaningful if you are unable to be physically present with the person.

    A fourth way to show gratitude is to simply be there for someone when they need it. Whether it’s offering a listening ear or providing practical assistance, being a supportive presence can mean a lot to someone who is going through a difficult time.

    A fifth way to show gratitude is to make an effort to stay in touch with people, even when you are busy or live far apart. A simple message or phone call can go a long way in letting someone know that you care about them and value their friendship.

    A sixth way to show gratitude is to celebrate the achievements and milestones of the people in your life. Whether it’s a big accomplishment or a small win, taking the time to acknowledge and celebrate someone’s success can mean a lot to them.

    Finally, a seventh way to show gratitude is to simply be grateful and express your appreciation for the people in your life on a regular basis. This can be as simple as telling someone “I’m so glad to have you in my life” or sending a message to let them know that you are thinking of them. By expressing your gratitude frequently and consistently, you can strengthen your relationships and build deeper connections with the people in your life.

    So let’s break it down…

    1. “Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate it.”
    2. “I can’t thank you enough for your advice and guidance.”
    3. “I’m grateful to you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.”
    4. “I appreciate your willingness to lend a helping hand.”
    5. “Thank you for being such a great support and encouragement.”
    6. “I’m grateful for your kind words and encouragement.”
    7. “Thank you for always being there for me and for your ongoing support.”

    There you go, copy and paste these into a few chats…

    Let’s have an attitude of gratitude, together, online.

    Grace and peace

    Dean

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    https://ejournal.akbidbungabangsaaceh.ac.id/

  • 25 Ways to Promote your Church’s New Years Vision on Social Media

    25 Ways to Promote your Church’s New Years Vision on Social Media

    Vision Sunday is around the corner isn’t it? What’s the word? What’s the statement that’s being plastered everywhere? Where are we going as a church this year? Whats the plan? Here a couple of ideas to try and nudge you and your team in the right direction…

    Right away… Let go!

    1) Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp etc to recruit a virtual DREAM TEAM, people in your church who are engaged in social media and will help lead efforts to promote the Christmas production. Call them your social media INFLUENCERS (LOL) if you will…

    2) Create a social media promotional schedule in Google Docs. Share it with your dream team, get their input, add to it & improve it based on their input. Make a WhatsApp group if you want to share details quickly…

    3) Create a Facebook event for your activation or the start of your years service(s).

    4) Post the event to your church’s Facebook page, invite guests, invite your friends. (Your church does have a Facebook page, right?) Right? See more here.

    5) You & your virtual dream team share the event on your personal Facebook profiles & encourage others to do the same. Share. Share. Share.

    6) Post the event to any other social media profiles your church may have (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    7) You & your virtual dream team share your church’s post promoting the event on your personal profiles (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    8 ) Run a Facebook ad to promote your Christmas production. Boost or promote the post and get more engagement

    Create a promotional video for your Christmas service, and…

    9) Put the promotional video on YouTube, TikTok and Facebook, see number 10.

    10) Share the YouTube video on your church’s Facebook page.

    11) You & your virtual dream team share the YouTube video on your personal Facebook profiles and encourage others to do the same. Send the link on your WhatsApp groups and get as many people sharing…

    12) Share the video to any other social media profiles your church may have (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    13) You & your dream street team share your church’s video promoting the event on your personal accounts on those same social platforms (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    Reach out to other local organizations

    14) Find local online guides that have an event calendar. Submit your event, embed or link to the YouTube video. Local churches in PE will be familiar with http://pechurchnet.co.za/

    15) Find the Facebook pages for your city, chamber of commerce, & other local community organizations. “Like” their page. Then post the Facebook event to their wall if you can do that in a non-spammy way. Make friends. Be nice. Get the word out…

    16) Find on other social platforms (Twitter, Instagram, etc) profiles for your city, chamber of commerce, & other local community organizations. Send them a DM & ask if they would share your post about your Christmas production. Really make it a community event.

    If your Activation or Vision Sunday services span more than one Sunday…

    17) Post pics from the first day/night to your church’s Facebook page. Be sure to tag as many people as you can. Tagging will cause those pics to show up on those people’s profiles for them and their friends to see.

    18) You and your dream team share those pics on your Facebook profiles. Tag tag tag.

    19) Post some of the pics to your church’s other social profiles (Twitter, Instagram, etc)

    20) You and the dream team, share those pics. Personally.

    21) Create a video that includes footage from the opening day & short comments from people afterwards saying good things about it. Post the video to YouTube.

    22) Share the opening day/night video on your church’s Facebook pages and groups…

    23) You & your virtual dream team share the opening night video on your personal Facebook profiles & encourage others to do the same.

    24) Share the opening night video using your church’s other social accounts (Twitter, Instagram, etc).

    25) You & your virtual dream team share your church’s posts of the opening day/night video on other social accounts (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok etc).

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    https://ejournal.akbidbungabangsaaceh.ac.id/

  • My local church and Google “Business”

    My local church and Google “Business”

    “Google SEO” and Google Business isn’t something that should scare us off the bat, I’m going to try and simplify as much of it as possible as we go here.

    “Google SEO” is important for a local community church in South Africa (or really any organization) because it helps to increase the visibility of their website in search engine results. This can be especially important for a small, local church because it can help more people in the community discover their church and learn about the services and events they offer. Additionally, having a strong online presence can help to establish credibility and make it easier for people to get in touch with the church or learn more about it. Overall, Google SEO can be a useful tool for helping a local community church in South Africa reach a wider audience and connect with more people in their community.

    Why is “Google Business” important for my local church?

    Having a Google My Business listing can be beneficial for your local church in several ways:

    1. Increased visibility: Having a listing on Google My Business can help your church’s website show up higher in search results when people search for churches in your area.
    2. Connect with your community: Google My Business allows you to share information about your church, such as your service times, location, and contact information, making it easier for people in your community to find and connect with you.
    3. Online presence: Having a listing on Google My Business can help to establish your church’s online presence and make it easier for people to learn about your church and the services you offer.
    4. Customer reviews: Google My Business allows customers to leave reviews of your church, which can help to build credibility and establish your church as a trusted place of worship in your community.
    5. Insights: The Google My Business dashboard provides insights about how people are interacting with your listing, such as how many people have viewed your listing and how they found it. This can help you understand the effectiveness of your online presence and make any necessary adjustments.

    How to setup Google Business for my local church

    To set up your church’s Google My Business listing, follow these steps:

    1. Go to the Google My Business website (https://www.google.com/business/) and click “Start now” to begin the process of creating a listing.
    2. Enter your church’s name and address. If your church has a physical location that is open to the public, you can also add your phone number and website.
    3. Choose the category that best describes your church (e.g., “church,” “place of worship,” etc.) and add any additional information about your church that you would like to include (e.g., services offered, mission statement, etc.).
    4. Verify your listing by choosing the option that is most convenient for you. This may involve receiving a postcard in the mail with a verification code, or verifying by phone or email.
    5. Once your listing has been verified, you can begin to manage it by logging in to the Google My Business dashboard. From here, you can add photos, update your hours of operation, and respond to customer reviews.

    I hope this help answer some of your questions around some “Google SEO” and how it links up with setting up your “Google Business”. Here is another article related to why SEO is so key in more depth.

    Look forward to hearing from you.

    Grace and peace

    Dean

    sekolah tinggi ilmu kesehatan ukpm

    akper bina litasudama

    akademi farmasi tunas parjuna

    akademi gizi kendari

    fisioterapi st. lukas tomohon

    kebidanan mitra sejahtera jakarta

    akademi analis kesehatan muhammadiyah surabaya

    akper pemkab aceh tenggara

    akademi kebidanan delima

    akademi kesehatan lingkungan sumsel

    akademi analis kesehatan aceh

    poltekkes bengkulu

    akademi kebidanan arta kabanjahe

    radiodiagnostik widya dharma

    kebidanan hafsyah medan

    akademi kebidanan nusantara medan

    kebidanan indah medan

    akademi kebidanan delhus delmed

    akper harapan mama deli serdang

    stkip citra bangsa kupang

    stmik triguna utama bekasi

    kebidanan ikabina labuhanbatu

    akademi kebidanan bunga bangsa aceh

    https://ejournal.akbidbungabangsaaceh.ac.id/

  • The Joy and The Journey

    The Joy and The Journey

    The joy and the journey,

    A brand new year begun.

    Promises made in good faith,

    To be carried out, one by one.

    The road ahead is long,

    But we’ll travel it with grace.

    With hope in our hearts and fire in our soul,

    We’ll make our mark in this place.

    The future is ours to shape,

    With hard work and determination.

    We’ll turn our dreams into reality,

    No obstacle too great to overcome.

    So let us embrace the new year,

    With open arms and open hearts.

    The joy and the journey,

    A brand new start.

  • Why is SEO important for my local church?

    Why is SEO important for my local church?

    I started in the Methodist Church as a bight eyes bushy tailed 19 year old, for 9 years being a youth, young adults and worship pastor in Johannesburg and then here in Port Elizabeth (South Africa). I then changed jobs a little and then found myself in a non-denominational church for 5 years being the Online Church Pastor. (A video for another day – LOL). One church had 1000 members a service, other services we were hoping for 20 people to arrive, yes, 20! and then pre pandemic we had 2000 people per service 3 times a Sunday…

    It doesn’t matter if you’re a large church or a small church—if your website isn’t getting traffic, it’s not going to be successful. And unfortunately, getting people to visit your website is not as easy as it used to be. Search engine optimization (SEO) has become more important than ever in order for churches to get the attention of their target audiences. That’s why I’ve put together this list of five reasons why SEO is essential for churches and online churches today:

    SEO is important for increasing traffic to your church website

    Search engine optimization is important because it helps you to rank higher in search engines, like Google. This will increase the amount of traffic your website gets, which is the most effective way to drive more sales and leads. Having a high ranking on Google can also help you get more exposure through organic traffic and social media channels.

    If you want to grow your church and online church, SEO is one of the best ways to achieve this goal. Because it takes time for results, it’s an ideal long term strategy for any church pastor and creative team who doesn’t want their success dependent on short term gains from promotions or paid advertising campaigns. (So much money spent on Facebook Ads, and sometimes even more now port pandemic)

    SEO provides a higher ROI than traditional marketing

    SEO is a long-term strategy, so it’s more cost effective. SEO provides better ROI than traditional marketing. Printing 5000 flyers at the robots or local mall will only go so far. There are only 5000 of them, we don’t know who actually sees these flyers and it ends there. We have all had that one post that goes a little viral, and it just goes much further than we ever thought it could’ve.

    SEO is more targeted than traditional marketing: When you use SEO to target your audience, you can reach them when they are ready to buy and convert on your website. This is not possible with other forms of advertising, which means that the people who see your ad are much more likely to visit your church or event in the future.

    Local Church SEO is more measurable than traditional marketing: Because Google Analytics tracks all of the information about how users interact with websites, it makes sense for us to know if our efforts are paying off or not! and here we can then innovate and pivot if we need to.

    SEO builds trust and credibility

    Search engines are known for their good taste. If a website is well-known and respected, it’ll rank higher in search results. This means that you will be rewarded for the time and effort you’ve put into building trust with your audience.

    After all, if you’re an established church that built a good reputation online, why would people not trust you and your team?

    SEO helps build credibility among potential congregation or community members and helps them see that you’re trustworthy—a church they can rely on.

    SEO increases your market share

    So terrible to think like this but, Jesus has called us to go fishing, and let’s catch so much fish that the nets break… Search engine optimization is a long-term strategy. You can’t expect to see results overnight. That said, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, SEO can increase your market share—and the amount of fish you catch. Peter, Paul and John spent many nights on the water… How many nights you spending online?

    It helps you reach new members through organic search engine placement. Not only do unique visitors come from local searches, but those who visit your website will be more likely to actually check you out online for a church service or visit you in person.

    Search engines help drive traffic back to your site so that visitors stay on it longer—which means they’ll get more value out of their experience with you and are more likely to return again later on down the road, online or in person.

    SEO has the best ROI over time

    SEO has the best ROI over time. We in ministry for the long run, yeah?

    While PPC can be a great short-term strategy, it’s important to understand that with SEO, you’re investing in your church online presence for the long term. In other words, as you grow and invest in your church online, so too will your investment in SEO grow and pay off over time. So if you’re looking for a quick win that’ll help you get started on this journey, look elsewhere—SEO is a long game that requires patience and dedication but will eventually reap rewards if you stick with it.

    There are many benefits to using search engine optimization (SEO) in your church.

    Search engine optimization is an essential part of every churches marketing strategy. It is the best return on investment (ROI) and has many long-term benefits to your church.

    SEO is a low cost marketing strategy that increases your “market” share, which will lead to more people attending church and getting connected to community in the long run.

    Conclusion

    As you can see, SEO is an essential part of any local churches’ marketing strategy. It provides many benefits that other types of marketing don’t have—including higher returns on investment and greater trust in your “brand”. If you still aren’t convinced that SEO is right for your church, then consider the fact that it has the best ROI over time because there are no upfront costs involved! That means you can start seeing results right away without having to spend big bucks first. So what are you waiting for? Start implementing these strategies today!

    Church leaders (and maybe even business owners), I hope this helps…

    Contact me if you have any questions about SEO and other online presence management things.

    Much love

    Dean

  • What are some things that are preventing Church Growth at the moment and what could help? (Part 1 of 2)

    What are some things that are preventing Church Growth at the moment and what could help? (Part 1 of 2)

    There are many factors that can affect church growth. Here are nine potential issues that may be preventing church growth:

    1. Lack of a clear vision or mission: If a church doesn’t have a clear sense of its purpose or direction, it may be difficult to attract and retain members.
    2. Lack of outreach or evangelism: If a church is not actively reaching out to the community and sharing its message, it may struggle to attract new members.
    3. Poor communication: If a church is not effectively communicating with its members and the wider community, it may be difficult for people to understand and connect with its mission and vision.
    4. Limited resources: A church with limited resources may struggle to effectively minister to its members and attract new ones.
    5. Ineffective leadership: Poor leadership can demoralize church members and make it difficult for the church to move forward.
    6. Disunity among members: Disagreements and conflicts within a church can create a negative atmosphere and discourage people from joining or staying involved.
    7. Lack of relevance: If a church is not addressing the needs and concerns of its community, it may struggle to attract and retain members.
    8. Competition with other churches: In some areas, there may be a lot of competition among churches for members, which can make it difficult for any one church to grow.
    9. Negative reputation: If a church has a negative reputation in the community, it may be difficult to attract new members.

    Now here is where Creativity AND Innovation come in…

    But first a Bible story…

    For 3 points, who was the first person in the Bible to receive the Holy Spirit? It was a young man by the name of Bezelel. Bezalel possessed such great wisdom that he could combine those letters of the alphabet with which heaven and earth were created; this being the meaning of the statement (Exodus 31:3): “I have filled him … with wisdom and knowledge,” which were the implements by means of which God created the world, as stated in Proverbs 3:19, 20. By virtue of his profound wisdom, Bezalel succeeded in erecting a sanctuary which seemed a fit abiding-place for God, who is so exalted in time and space (Exodus R. 34:1; Numbers 12:3). The candlestick of the sanctuary was of so complicated a nature that Moses could not comprehend it, although God twice showed him a heavenly model; but when he described it to Bezalel, the latter understood immediately, and made it at once; whereupon Moses expressed his admiration for the quick wisdom of Bezalel, saying again that he must have been “in the shadow of God” (Hebrew, “beẓel El”) when the heavenly models were shown him (Numbers 15:10). Bezalel is said to have been at least thirteen years of age when he accomplished his great work (Sanhedrin 69b); he owed his wisdom to the merits of pious parents; his grandfather being Hur and his great-grandmother Miriam, he was thus a grandnephew of Moses (Exodus R. 48:3, 4).

    INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY. The same Spirit that was at the beginning of creation, is the same Spirit that is placed in Bezelel and is the same spirit that is in each of us. (RUACH-ELOHIM – if you’d like to Google a little)

    So what does this mean for church leadership?

    Innovation and creativity are important in church leadership for several reasons:

    1. To keep the church relevant and engaging: Innovative and creative approaches can help the church stay relevant and engaging in a rapidly changing world. This can help the church attract new members and keep current members engaged and invested in the church’s mission.
    2. To adapt to changing circumstances: Innovation and creativity can help the church adapt to changing circumstances, such as the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This might include finding new ways to connect with members and deliver services, or developing new programs and initiatives to meet the needs of the community.
    3. To better serve the community: By thinking creatively and innovatively, church leaders can identify new ways to serve the community and meet the changing needs of those around them. This might include developing new outreach programs, partnering with other organizations, or finding new ways to address social issues.
    4. To foster spiritual growth: Creativity and innovation can help church leaders find new ways to engage and inspire members, which can lead to deeper spiritual growth and connection to the church.
    5. To attract new members: By embracing innovation and creativity, the church can become a more attractive and welcoming place for new members, particularly younger people who may be looking for a fresh, relevant approach to faith.
    6. To foster collaboration and teamwork: Innovation and creativity often involve collaboration and teamwork, which can help church leaders build stronger relationships with one another and work more effectively as a team.
    7. To inspire and motivate: Creativity and innovation can inspire and motivate church leaders and members alike, leading to greater energy and enthusiasm for the church’s mission.
    8. To better use resources: Innovation and creativity can help church leaders find more efficient and effective ways to use resources, such as time, money, and personnel, leading to a more impactful and sustainable ministry.
    9. To stay true to the church’s mission: By embracing innovation and creativity, church leaders can stay true to the church’s mission and values while also adapting to changing circumstances and the needs of the community.

    See soon soon for part 2…

    Grace and peace

    Dean

    sekolah tinggi ilmu kesehatan ukpm

    akper bina litasudama

    akademi farmasi tunas parjuna

    akademi gizi kendari

    fisioterapi st. lukas tomohon

    kebidanan mitra sejahtera jakarta

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    akper pemkab aceh tenggara

    akademi kebidanan delima

    akademi kesehatan lingkungan sumsel

    akademi analis kesehatan aceh

    poltekkes bengkulu

    akademi kebidanan arta kabanjahe

    radiodiagnostik widya dharma

    kebidanan hafsyah medan

    akademi kebidanan nusantara medan

    kebidanan indah medan

    akademi kebidanan delhus delmed

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    stkip citra bangsa kupang

    stmik triguna utama bekasi

    kebidanan ikabina labuhanbatu

    akademi kebidanan bunga bangsa aceh

  • What Social Media platforms “should” my church be on?

    What Social Media platforms “should” my church be on?

    We’ve all be asked this question and it’s not always so easily clear cut, but I’m gonna try make it real easy to start with and then we gonna go from there…

    The five most important social media platforms for a church will depend on the specific goals and target audience of the church. Here are five popular social media platforms that many churches find useful:

    1. Facebook: With over 2.7 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the largest and most widely used social media platform. It’s a good choice for churches looking to connect with a broad audience and share updates about events and activities.
    2. Instagram: Instagram is a visually-focused platform that is popular with younger audiences (I’m not even gonna address TIKTOK in this article, it’s coming… It’s a good choice for churches looking to share visually appealing content and engage with followers.
    3. YouTube: YouTube is the largest video-sharing platform and is a good choice for churches looking to share video content, such as sermons or worship services.
    4. Twitter: Twitter is a fast-paced platform that allows churches to share short updates and engage with followers in real-time.
    5. Church-specific platforms: There are also several social media platforms that are specifically designed for churches such as Church Online, BibleApp, ChurchLink and ChurchLink App. These platforms allow churches to connect with members and share updates, prayer requests, and other information in a very simple user friendly way.

    Again, the most important social media platforms for a church will depend on the specific goals and target audience of the church. It’s often helpful to start by focusing on a few key platforms and then expand as needed.

    Who is the person you’re imagining when creating your social media post?

    There are several ways to determine your church’s target audience online:

    1. Analyze your existing social media followers: Look at the demographics of the people who are already following your church’s social media accounts. This can give you an idea of who is most interested in your church and what types of content they engage with.
    2. Look at your church’s website traffic: Use tools like Google Analytics to see who is visiting your church’s website and where they’re coming from. This can help you understand the age, gender, and geographic location of your church’s online audience.
    3. Conduct a survey: Consider conducting a survey to ask your church members and followers about their demographics and online habits. This can help you get a better understanding of your target audience.
    4. Analyze your local community: Consider the demographics of the community your church serves. This can give you an idea of the age, gender, and geographic location of your target audience.
    5. Research your “competition”: Hahaha, you know what I mean… Look at the social media accounts of other churches in your area to see who they are targeting and how they are reaching their audience.

    By gathering this information, you can get a better understanding of your church’s target audience online and tailor your social media strategy to reach them more effectively. Please email dean@deancothill.co.za for further questions and would love to join you and your community on this new digital road for church…

    Stay tuned for more daily articles on Sunday Social Sessions with Dean Cothill…