Ten churches on social media: A glimpse into their church communities

Tips for churches on social media:

1. It’s worth doing. Lots of people will search for your church’s Instagram page when deciding if they want to visit in person.

2. Photos, photos, photos! People want to see the vibe of church and get an idea of what to expect. Fancy graphics can take secondary priority.

3. You don’t need to be a pro. You can get a great online presence started by empowering one person with a phone to post once a week. 

4. Post on both Instagram and Facebook. People under 40 generally use Instagram. People over 40 are more active on Facebook.

5. Rules for photo permissions are simpler than you think. In Australia you can freely photograph everyday situations, people and places (with caveats). However, it’s polite to give people a heads up that photos are being taken and give them an opportunity to decline. Most denominations require for churches to ask permission before posting photos of kids and vulnerable people.

6. Help visitors know what to expect. Photos of different parts of gatherings helps people imagine what it’ll be like when they visit. This could include people getting welcomed at the door, where kids gather for kids church and what morning tea food to expect.

7. Diversity matters. It can be hard to feel comfortable going to church when you feel really out of place. Showcase diversity of ethnicity, gender, ages and subcultures in your photos as much as possible.

8. Keep it real. Social media can be full of picture-perfect people who look like they’ve got it all. God builds churches, not of perfect people, but of broken people who put their hope in him.