The Importance of Church Social Media Engagement: Strategies and Tips
Social media has emerged as a powerful tool for churches to connect with their members and extend their message to a broader audience. However, merely having a presence on social media platforms isn’t sufficient; active engagement with your followers is crucial for social media success in a church context.
What Is Church Social Media Engagement?
Church social media engagement is all about connecting people with the life of your church and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The aim is to craft posts that resonate deeply, encouraging more interaction through comments, shares, and likes. It’s not just about how many views a post gets, but about the engagement that occurs when people actively respond. Focus on sharing posts that invite interaction, like asking questions or encouraging followers to share their opinions. Each post should be designed to spark conversation and strengthen the sense of community online.
Why Is Church Social Media Engagement Important?
Social media engagement is crucial because it opens up a two-way conversation between your church and its congregation, as well as the broader community. By posting engaging content and actively responding to comments and questions, you help build a community of dedicated followers who are deeply involved in your church’s activities. This kind of interaction is key to developing a strong and committed supporter base.
How to Track Engagement on Facebook & Instagram
- Average Engagement Rate: Facebook and Instagram provide an average engagement rate calculated using the formula:
(Likes + Comments + Shares + Reactions) / Total Number of Followers
According to Hootsuite, a good Facebook engagement rate in 2021 was 0.18%, while a good Instagram engagement rate falls between 1% and 3%. You can find your engagement rate in the insights section of each platform.
- Actions Counted as Engagements: Several actions count as engagements, including:
- Likes: Clicking the ‘like’ button on your Facebook post.
- Comments: Leaving comments on your Facebook post.
- Clicks: Clicking on an image or link in your post.
- Shares: Sharing your post.
- Saves: Saving an Instagram post to a collection.
Seven Types of Posts That Increase Church Engagement
- Share a Playlist: Encourage members of your church to share gospel tracks they are currently listening to and explain what these songs mean to them.
- Praise Dance Videos: Post videos of church members taking praise dance breaks, as dance videos are popular on social media.
- Ask a Question: Create posts with simple questions that invite responses. Questions can be about personal experiences, favorite Christian songs, or other relevant topics.
- Share a How-To Post: Create instructional videos or posts, whether they’re about practical tasks or spiritual and biblical topics.
- Host a Contest: Contests with kingdom-related prizes can generate excitement and engagement among your followers.
- Create a Poll: Polls are an effective way to gauge your audience’s opinions on various issues.
- Online Bible Study Groups: Facilitate online Bible study groups to encourage followers to engage with each other while learning the Word of God.
The Takeaway
Social media is a powerful tool for churches to connect with their congregation and spread their message. If your church isn’t utilizing social media to engage with your followers, you’re missing out on a significant opportunity to strengthen your community and share the gospel message with a wider audience.
If you want to enhance your church’s social media presence or develop a new website for your congregation, Assure Studios can assist you. Feel free to reach out and book a consultation today by calling 972-898-7128 or sending an email to john@assurestudios.com.
