For this post, I want to talk about the Do’s and Don’ts of Facebook Timeline. I must admit, when Timeline first hit the scenes I thought the cover image would provide huge advertising and promotional opportunity. Unfortunately, both of these are banned on Facebook. Here are some techniques you want to either consider implementing or standing clear away from adopting.

1)   No Call to Action

This means, no contact information, no arrows point to the Like Button, no website or buy now verbiage.

HyperArts Blog: http://goo.gl/YI92o

2)   Get Creative with Your Cover Image

So, you can’t advertise or provide contact information in your header but you certainly can get very creative with the images you use. Each fan page gets a photo album named “Cover Image.” Change your cover image regularly and use the description to add your call to action.  It doesn’t have to always tie to branding. See the image below from Compassion International.

3)   Add Milestones

One of the cool new features of Timeline is Milestones. You can add a milestone for each major event that occurred in the history of your organization.

This is what I created for The 700 Club.  This gives you an opportunity to tell the story of your organization. Each update appears in your newsfeed so be careful. Uploading all the milestones at once could crowd your audiences newsfeed and you run the risk of them hiding your page updates.

4)   Make good use of apps and thumbnails

Here you see that Entertainment Tonight has sweepstakes apps, online mobile app, live chat, videos, and even their Twitter and Pinterest app. The only app here that is unnecessary to me is the like app. You already know how many people like the page because it is listed right under the name. This is great real estate for another app.

5)   Use the Pin & Highlight Feature

Pinning a post allows you to keep a post you would like to see on top for 7 days. After 7 days, the post returns to its place within the timeline. Highlighting allows you to spread a post out across the timeline so it is more noticeable than the other posts on the page. I typically use this feature right before a big even or if I want to bring more attention to a particular post.

Other tips include:

• Responding to wall posts and comments. Have an engagement strategy.
• @  tag those you are responding to on a particular post.
• Post photos and pictures. Even if they are not branded images, they generate interactions.
• Don’t overuse third party apps (we will discuss this in more detail in a later post)

Most importantly…have fun!

With over a 100 Million users now, Google+ is becoming the place to be on the Web. So why does it seem slow to catch on? You’re Facebook friends aren’t doing it! I worked with a guy that closed his Facebook account once Google+ launched last year. Now, I’m not that bold but I do believe Google+ has great value in search marketing. Everything you post will be indexed quicker in the largest search engine in the world, Google.

Upload a YouTube video and post it to Google+. Over time, you will start to notice the quality of comments is better on Google+ than it is on YouTube. Why you ask? Because the audience on Google+ is different from the audience on YouTube. For a business, ministry, or non-profit, you will find a better gathering on Google+. These users are more serious about their interactions.

In this post, I including an infographic created by BlueGlass Media for Chris Brogran on Why Google+ is the Place to Be.

Google+ For Business InfoGraphic by BlueGlass Media

An infographic for a project at chrisbrogan.com, created by the smart team at BlueGlass.com

Source: Burson-Marsteller

Each Sunday, thousands of people enter into a house of worship for various reasons. Some are coming for the purposes of praise and worship, others are expecting to hear the Word of God that will be delivered through their pastor, while many others are looking forward to the fellowship with other believers. How do the pastor and church leaders ensure their members are growing in their faith? How can they stay connected?

A content strategy…

I use to work for EQUIP International Ministries in Atlanta, GA. EQUIP was founded by leadership expert and guru John Maxwell. John just started an email series called “A Minute with John Maxwell.”

Each day, people who are subscribed to John’s emails receive an email that addresses a particular topic. John even goes as far allow his audience to submit topics they would like for him to address in one minute. This is an effective strategy because it allows the audience to get involved in creating relevant content. John’s team does not have to come up with content because they are giving the audience exactly what they are requesting. An excellent strategy!

Likewise, churches and ministries have this opportunity to creative relevant and engaging content to keep their audience returning. You don’t have to spend a lot of money of hiring someone to create content because it is in-house and you don’t have to waste money on advertising. You get more traffic from content than you will ever get from an ad placement. Ads will expire but content lives on forever.

Cover Photo: 851 x 315 pixels

• Minimum size: 399 pixels across
• Cannot contain: Website, address, phone number, “Click Like” or any call to action

Profile Photo: 180 x 180 pixels

• Profile photo sizes down to: 30 x 30 pixels in the News Feed

The following are images of some really cool pages:

As ministries, we try to figure out this space and which tools will allow us to reach people effectively. Should my page be on Facebook? If so, what messages do I communicate? Why Twitter? And, what is a tweet? How can I teach my people to customize messages for maximum impact? These are excellent questions and it is very important for ministries to have the right strategy.

I am amazed as I look back throughout the years how marketing has changed. What surprises me even more is how many marketers are still relying on practices of the 90s.  Let’s take a look back on marketing throughout the years:

Marketing in the 1990s

• Magazine ads
• Newspapers
• Direct mail
• Press Relations
• Yellow Pages

Marketing in the 2000s

• Direct press releases
• Web banner ads
• Pay-per-click
• Internet radio
• YouTube
• White papers

Now

• Social networks (social search over search engines)
• Internet Music
• Web-based videos
• Death to the press releases, yellow pages, magazines, and print newspapers

Who would have thought that in 2012 there would be social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ where friends are sharing information about themselves and sharing/retweeting their others’ thoughts.  Did you ever think “liking” something could be so powerful? I love how one of the Facebook pages I currently manage explodes with comments, likes and shares each time I post a Scripture.  When there is a call for community prayer, the audience shares their desires and struggles and the whole community rallies together to pray for each other. It is powerful to see this in action.

Ministries have a great opportunity here to serve and connect with people. Content drives social media and the organization that creates content that best serves their audience will see indescribable growth. This does not come without hard work from you and your team creating great content that inspires and impacts.

KINGDOM THOUGHT: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)

Anyway, one thing Facebook has allowed many brands to do in the past is “hide” behind a Facebook page. What I mean by this is, users can only contact a brand or organization on the Facebook wall. The brand can respond or not; however, not responding to serious inquiries makes the brand look aloft or out of touch.

On March 30, 2012, FB will be allowing users to content the page through direct message.

See the red 21 above? The page just converted this week and it already has 21 messages. Is your ministry ready for this? I understand many pastors like to have their space but I want to encourage you of this huge ministry opportunity. This ministry above shut off the capability for users to post messages because there was no plan in place to handle them; however, it will not be like this for long. There is already a plan in place for others the handle private messages.

So, for you pastors who like to set boundaries…great! We all need them. But, consider this feature as another outlet to provide ministry.  You don’t have to do it all but you can assign a staff member to answer the inquires and questions that come into your inbox.

Until a proper plan is set, turn this option off. Having it up and not responding to inquiries could be just as much of a public relations disaster as not commenting to inquiries on your wall.

Kingdom Thought: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrew 4:13).

Many times management places pressure on marketing to report on ROI of each campaign and initiative. While there are good reasons to set individual campaign goals, this pastor challenged us to just disciple. We can have great ministries where thousands of people are receiving Christ each year, but are we discipling these new believers? When the storms of life come, and they will come, will they have a sure foundation?

Pastors are called to equip and empower the body of Christ to go out and make disciples of nations. The pastor today emphasized the importance of coming to Jesus and then going out to make disciples. Is your pastor spending more time ministering to the people or preparing them to minister? Jesus poured into the lives of 12 disciples for the purposes of sending them out to making other disciples.

Last weekend, I led a friend to Christ. Afterwards, I felt so wretched that this was the first time that I’d done so in a long time. What have I been doing with my life and who was I waiting for? Today, we have the Internet that is a huge resource for ministries. The message doesn’t change, but the delivery system does. We have Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and so many other properties to spread the gospel. What are you waiting for?

Engage your culture and your community. Regardless of your ministry, you are trying to reach a very diverse audience. Many Christians engage a community that no longer exists because they are stuck in the previous generation’s way of doing things. How can you change your delivery to ensure you are connecting with the culture and the generation?

Kingdom Thought:  Building a sure foundation will not make a life storm free but storm proof. (Matthew 7:24)

Just when you thought the society that never sleeps took a nap, Pinterest totally changed the game. I must admit I did not want to join yet another social media site but I just could not resist. It is in my blood and I knew I would be hooked as soon as I pinned my first item.

Even though Pinterest does not distinguished between individual and business pages, both can benefit from its features. If you have an online store, there is a huge potential for your items to go viral quickly. Try pinning items that relate to the lifestyle of those shopping at your store. The Social Media Examiner article, “26 Tips for Using Pinterest for Business” talks about how Whole Foods is building their exposure on Pinterest using this method.

I am currently experiencing the luxuries of enjoying social media without working in social media through Pinterest (except my random Twitter thoughts). With anything from Fashion to Religion to Travel (and all points in between), Pinterest is changing the game and helping people find cool things instantly.

Try it out & follow me!

Kingdom Thought: Ministry has also caught on the Pinterest. Check out my board, “My Random Thoughts.”

Yes, in the midst of fashion, art and life, the Gospel message is being shared. Yea God!

I almost missed church today. Suffering from exhaustion due to my recent move, I didn’t think I had enough energy to go to church. I knew going would cause me to exert and incredible amount of energy in Praise and Worship and during the sermon. At my church, you can’t just sit there with an occasional nod or Amen.  You will minister as much and as hard as the Worship team and our Pastor. The Spirit of God just flows…

This morning when I woke up, the Lord spoke to me about Social Rave and the next steps for this project. I have been trying to run away from this so when He told me that I needed to be in His house today, I immediately began to get myself prepared for church.

During service, Pastor told all the youth to come to the front…but not empty-handed. He told each of them to bring their smart phones.

Simultaneously, we all tweeted: “Because of Christ my life is better” @courtneymcbath #lovelifts RT. Talk about impact!

He expressed the need to social media in ministry and how we have an enormous platform to witness; however, not many of us realize it. YES! My heart leaped! Every time I hear a minister support the cause of social media for the Kingdom, I believe the Lord rejoices. Social Media is not evil as many people in the church still believe, but the devil will use it for his purposes. So, why can’t the children of God use it to advance the Kingdom?

Today has also taught me to move when God speaks. As Joyce Meyer says, “Do it afraid!”

John 14:7-15 states:

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

Can I do “greater works” than Christ? In today’s sermon, Pastor indicated that these greater works refer to quantity and not quality. No one can do the quality of work that Jesus performed but we all can do more in quantity. I believe social media in this age allows each of us as believers to do greater works. I often schedule tweets at 3 o’clock in the morning. For some reason, God wakes people up between 3 and 5 in the morning. It is typically when our world is still and our mind is at rest. We hear Him more clearly. So, I will schedule a tweet to go out this time in the morning in hopes that the message will bless someone.

I encourage you to take advantage of social media in your organizations and for personal ministry. It is the only place where your voice can reach nations instantly and for free. What is God speaking to you? If He gives you a Word don’t forget to share it with others. You could change someone’s life and bring souls to Christ.

Together, we can increase the population of heaven and decrease the population of hell.