It’s not just companies experimenting with Web 2.0
Social networking is catching on in the business world like wildfire. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace are being used to tap into the benefits of customer interaction and creativity that are available via these networks. My friend Anita over at Small Business Trends actively promotes social networking, especially Twitter, even for small businesses.
An interesting article I ran across from Sojo, Inc states that "Thirty-Two Percent of Influential Churches in the U.S. are on Facebook".
You would think that was good, right? However, the article goes on to ask, "Why have churches been slower to embrace these cost-effective marketing initiatives?" Their answer? Churches are used to top-down types of decisions, and social networking in general "can be unpredictable". In other words, it might be a threat to a more authoritarian structure.
While that may be a reasonable assumption, I don’t think that is the only reason. Religious organizations, except megachurches, usually are pretty cash-strapped, and they may have difficulty finding the time or money to pursue such an adventure. The people involved are older and less likely to be "into" or understand the benefits of social networking.
All of these could be seen as threats. What if the new site doesn’t take off? What if no one reads it? What if no one replies?
It is likely that in the Church of God circles, we will begin to see more and more social networking. In fact, I ran into 2 more blogs just this week! Also, UCG is hanging out on Facebook. I am not completely surprised, however, that UCG would do it first. In one sense, it has less of a top-down structure (because of the typical "one man" policies of some of the COGs).
I agree with Sojo’s conclusion, though:
"Bottom line, social networking sites are giving churches more presence and a better way to interact directly with their members within their own communities, while reaching a global audience."
Interestings stats and thoughts! You are right that it is hard finding the time to pursue such an adventure. Blogging can be fun, but UCG is still trying to determine if the blog is the most effective use of our resources at the moment. I welcome any feedback and suggestions to make the UCG blog more effective in fulfilling our scriptural mission.
Interestings stats and thoughts! You are right that it is hard finding the time to pursue such an adventure. Blogging can be fun, but UCG is still trying to determine if the blog is the most effective use of our resources at the moment. I welcome any feedback and suggestions to make the UCG blog more effective in fulfilling our scriptural mission.
Interestings stats and thoughts! You are right that it is hard finding the time to pursue such an adventure. Blogging can be fun, but UCG is still trying to determine if the blog is the most effective use of our resources at the moment. I welcome any feedback and suggestions to make the UCG blog more effective in fulfilling our scriptural mission.
@ucgmikebennett: Yes, it can take time. However, remember that most of a blogger's time is not used in actual writing. Advertising the blog and doing SEO takes up about 60% of your time.
However, as I've mentioned previously, UCG has resources that can feed a blog and vice versa. I think the problem you might be facing is: "What do I/we want to accomplish with this?" It's similar to the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" When a blog is young, it probably does not have a stated purpose.
This blog, for instance, has changed focus about 3 times, the last one requiring a move to the Blogger platform. I checked last night, and it has only been a little over a year since it started. 3 changes in 1 year takes a lot of effort, but it also isn't unusual for a young blog.
However, UCG already has a "product", if you will pardon the expression. Just because the Gospel is free doesn't mean it doesn't need to be "sold". Otherwise, why print booklets, create TV shows and videos?
Products need advertising. Companies use blogs to drive people to their other web sites that showcase their products. I would use the blog to point to more in-depth material among other things. Use it to summarize, critique or otherwise reference articles on the main web site. Put in enough keywords so that SEO can help drive traffic to the site and vice-versa.
I want to compliment the media people at UCG. Whenever I search for something on the net, who do I usually find? A good portion of the time, UCG is there on the first page of search results. It isn't PCG. Sometimes, LCG might show on the 1st try, but it usually is UCG if any COG shows at all. Recently, I've noticed that UCG shows up even when I would not have expected it, and that means you are doing something right! However, you can still use a blog to close the gap even more.
Also, have you heard of vlogs? The latest in blogging is video blogging. The Good News Commentaries are already being put up on YouTube. Consider riding the coattails of that effort by embedding the video into the blog with supporting commentary, research or, again, pointers to other material. Personally, I'd rather watch an embedded video on an interesting blog than on YouTube. I don't like the commenting mechanism on YouTube, and I just don't get the feeling of community that a blog provides.
The point is, sooner or later you will need a strategy to streamline efforts, or you will fragment your efforts. Just be careful that you still provide enough interesting and fresh material on a blog to keep people interested. However, it still should drive people to the "product" and still allow them to come back and comment on it.
@ucgmikebennett: Yes, it can take time. However, remember that most of a blogger's time is not used in actual writing. Advertising the blog and doing SEO takes up about 60% of your time.
However, as I've mentioned previously, UCG has resources that can feed a blog and vice versa. I think the problem you might be facing is: "What do I/we want to accomplish with this?" It's similar to the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" When a blog is young, it probably does not have a stated purpose.
This blog, for instance, has changed focus about 3 times, the last one requiring a move to the Blogger platform. I checked last night, and it has only been a little over a year since it started. 3 changes in 1 year takes a lot of effort, but it also isn't unusual for a young blog.
However, UCG already has a "product", if you will pardon the expression. Just because the Gospel is free doesn't mean it doesn't need to be "sold". Otherwise, why print booklets, create TV shows and videos?
Products need advertising. Companies use blogs to drive people to their other web sites that showcase their products. I would use the blog to point to more in-depth material among other things. Use it to summarize, critique or otherwise reference articles on the main web site. Put in enough keywords so that SEO can help drive traffic to the site and vice-versa.
I want to compliment the media people at UCG. Whenever I search for something on the net, who do I usually find? A good portion of the time, UCG is there on the first page of search results. It isn't PCG. Sometimes, LCG might show on the 1st try, but it usually is UCG if any COG shows at all. Recently, I've noticed that UCG shows up even when I would not have expected it, and that means you are doing something right! However, you can still use a blog to close the gap even more.
Also, have you heard of vlogs? The latest in blogging is video blogging. The Good News Commentaries are already being put up on YouTube. Consider riding the coattails of that effort by embedding the video into the blog with supporting commentary, research or, again, pointers to other material. Personally, I'd rather watch an embedded video on an interesting blog than on YouTube. I don't like the commenting mechanism on YouTube, and I just don't get the feeling of community that a blog provides.
The point is, sooner or later you will need a strategy to streamline efforts, or you will fragment your efforts. Just be careful that you still provide enough interesting and fresh material on a blog to keep people interested. However, it still should drive people to the "product" and still allow them to come back and comment on it.
@ucgmikebennett: Yes, it can take time. However, remember that most of a blogger's time is not used in actual writing. Advertising the blog and doing SEO takes up about 60% of your time.
However, as I've mentioned previously, UCG has resources that can feed a blog and vice versa. I think the problem you might be facing is: "What do I/we want to accomplish with this?" It's similar to the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" When a blog is young, it probably does not have a stated purpose.
This blog, for instance, has changed focus about 3 times, the last one requiring a move to the Blogger platform. I checked last night, and it has only been a little over a year since it started. 3 changes in 1 year takes a lot of effort, but it also isn't unusual for a young blog.
However, UCG already has a "product", if you will pardon the expression. Just because the Gospel is free doesn't mean it doesn't need to be "sold". Otherwise, why print booklets, create TV shows and videos?
Products need advertising. Companies use blogs to drive people to their other web sites that showcase their products. I would use the blog to point to more in-depth material among other things. Use it to summarize, critique or otherwise reference articles on the main web site. Put in enough keywords so that SEO can help drive traffic to the site and vice-versa.
I want to compliment the media people at UCG. Whenever I search for something on the net, who do I usually find? A good portion of the time, UCG is there on the first page of search results. It isn't PCG. Sometimes, LCG might show on the 1st try, but it usually is UCG if any COG shows at all. Recently, I've noticed that UCG shows up even when I would not have expected it, and that means you are doing something right! However, you can still use a blog to close the gap even more.
Also, have you heard of vlogs? The latest in blogging is video blogging. The Good News Commentaries are already being put up on YouTube. Consider riding the coattails of that effort by embedding the video into the blog with supporting commentary, research or, again, pointers to other material. Personally, I'd rather watch an embedded video on an interesting blog than on YouTube. I don't like the commenting mechanism on YouTube, and I just don't get the feeling of community that a blog provides.
The point is, sooner or later you will need a strategy to streamline efforts, or you will fragment your efforts. Just be careful that you still provide enough interesting and fresh material on a blog to keep people interested. However, it still should drive people to the "product" and still allow them to come back and comment on it.