One of my breakouts at The Orange Conference was titled “Re-Thinking Social Media”:
We all have a fair and general idea of the “what,” the “how,” and the “why” we need to be using social media and engaging deeply into social networking services and properties.
But what the world (and your ministry) needs is a healthy dose of creativity, innovative thinking, and a courageous attitude to try things that are neither conventional, typical, or proven.
We’ll take a look at some “alternative” ways to “rethink” how we use social media and social networking, and in particular the blogging medium for your ministry initiatives.
Over the next few posts I’ll go through the 10 key points of what I covered during the breakout. All of these have something to do with how to re-think the use of the blogging platform.
Limiting Information – Part 1
Typically we see blogs and other social media platforms in terms of a torrent of information with little withheld.
There is still wisdom in using the blogging platform as a place where not everything is discussed and where not everything is readily available.
Sometimes, limiting information through your blog, or limiting the time in which one can access the infromation, can be advantageous in terms of your particular use of the blogging platform.
For example, sometimes by developing a culture and an understanding where certain pieces of valuable information is available for only a certain and limited amount of time can be leveraged powerfully on the blog.
How can you begin to “limit information” via your blog to actually produce better engagement with your audience and/or ministry/organization?
There’s much more to this use, but I’ll let you marinate on that for a bit.
S.Miracle says
I don't really see where limiting information can be good for a church/ministry. I understand its implications in the business realm because it creates a sense of urgency.
I suppose you can create a teaser post or page for a bible study that a church will be offering and then have a sign up form for more. In this way you can limit the content information.. but I think church members will be really aggravated if you limit the time with which to read information as in only having it up for a week.
human3rror says
Culture development takes time.
Rethinking this paradigm is a huge step, and many people aren't going to “get it”… and that's fine.
Unfortunately, i had some great examples at the breakout that would help provide clarity, but… i felt that I didn't want to give those necessarily here.
😉
your response is typical.
Ancoti says
Sounds like less is more was an underlying theme of the conference. Selectively choosing what to put up is turning data into information.
kevincooper says
I actually agree with the post…I think it's again about knowing your audience. Certain information, given your audience, may benefit your goal or vision by limiting the information you're able to communicate and visa versa.
bbrooke says
Obviously you limited the info in this post ("There’s much more to this use…"), which has challenged the audience to get deeper engaged with an opened ended question which to some could feel like a "riddle" (don't know why but it got me to post a comment which I rarely do).
Another way, again used in this post, was making the content can be part of a series. Instead of providing a comprehensive recap of "Re-Thinking Social Media" all at once, you choose to "limit" the info to a series of posts that can build on each other. (Pastors do this all the time with there teachings).
Nathan Ketsdever says
Perhaps one way to tie innovation to the way we do church……..crowd sourcing sermon topics with Twitter or a blog poll???
Here are my thoughts outloud….
Actually a better way to do a vote would probably be an e-mail vote…to be fair to 40 to 60 year olds who aren't on all these digital platforms. I think its important that we provide ways in which these people can and will participate. They shouldn't have to join twitter just to be a participant in a democratic vote.
Phillip Gibb says
If you are meaning less for more here or being strategic in the content shared then I fully understand.
Most people will switch off when there is too much information – I do, or that skim and skip – I do that too.
However if you provide strategic thought in doses that promote engagement and growth then you lead and grow your community. Otherwise there is the risk of a bloated and stuck following because all they do is stare at the text and don't know what to do.
I think so. 😉
Jim says
puahaha…
Jim says
you wax philosophic sensei…i love how you are forcing us to think outside the norm