A Better Social Media Strategy

Social media gives me anxiety.

There, I said it. It’s 24/7, it’s public to the world, and there’s that constant pressure to be posting something meaningful. Or honestly, just something.

For most of us, we’re in one category or another. Maybe we just really need help or margin to be able to run social media the way we want it done. Or maybe we just really need some new ideas and strategy to help execute that plan.

Enter – THE BRAND NEW XP3 SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDE.

In the Social Media Guide, you are going to see two main ingredients. You’ll find strategy delivered in video (only a couple minutes long) that’ll help you think differently about social media. You’ll also find some practical tools to help you get the job done (like 6 post suggestions a week, you guys!). We spent a lot of time preparing and researching, and we’re excited to share some of the big ideas you’ll find in the guides.

• Social media is social. When it comes to ministry, a lot of us are really good at sending information over social media—announcements, verses, camp reminders (just turn in your forms, hello!). You need a way to promote all the things that you work so hard to produce. That’s important! But social media is way more than an announcement page. It’s a place to share conversation, to create connection, and to stir thought. After talking with our partners, we made the move to stop producing 60 devotional images a season. Why? Well, because they convey information, but they’re not as helpful at creating conversation. The new Social Media Guide aims to move away from simply informing, and instead toward bringing meaningful content and dialogue to your social media page.

• Your yoministry is about people. Your social media should be, too. When a student walks into your environment, what will they find? People! Because of that, we’re making specific recommendations that you not only post the super cool graphics we’re creating for you, but include pictures of volunteers, environments, students, games, and all the other things that make up your weekly service, too. The people who make up your student environment are the heart of your ministry, so why not show them off online?

• Go where it’s most beneficial. We found that the best place to meet students was Instagram. After all, that’s where they’re spending most of their time! All of our social media suggestions will be optimized for Instagram posts and stories (although you can adapt them to fit whatever platform you need). In the past, we’ve given suggestions for Twitter and Facebook, but as technology and student culture changes, Facebook and Twitter have lost momentum in reaching Generation Z. All that to say, spend your time where it matters the most, and online, that place is Instagram!

• Know your audience. We’ve created this guide to help you run a student-facing account. But as you already know, it won’t just be students checking our your Instagram! You’ll have parents, Small Group Leaders, first-time guests, potential visitors, and maybe even your senior pastor checking out your page. For that reason, we’ve structured the guide to make your account a landing page for your ministry with the goal to interact and engage with your students. If you’re looking for support running accounts specifically for Parents and Small Group Leaders, checkout Weekly from Orange.

Listen, I know you’ve got a lot on your hands. And in the middle of everything that’s going on in your youth ministry, you’ve still got a social media account to run. We want to be a partner in helping you leverage your social media in a way that helps you keep your sanity and keeps that social account a super fresh, fun place for students to engage with your ministry outside of weekly service.

To learn more about XP3, the youth ministry curriculum and strategy from Orange, visit thinkorange.com/xp3.