Communicating Your Message in a Noisy World E 3 Workshop January 24, 2009 Presenter: Jill Wilson...

Communicating Your Message in a Noisy World

E3 WorkshopJanuary 24, 2009

Presenter: Jill WilsonCommunications Coordinator

Providence Presbytery

Church Communications

Who is your audience?Church MembersVisitorsNon-churched/De-churchedAgeGenderTechnological/Equipment Demographics

Technological demographics can change as much as every 6 months

formal or informal surveys determine where your congregation is technologically

Economic/Education Demographics

Know your messageWhat are you attempting to communicate

about your church?Message packaging is important.What are you saying VISUALLY?What are you saying in your TECHNOLOGY

ADOPTION?Are you communicating “TO” or “WITH”

your audience? (Web 2.0)

How we communicateVerbally

Worship announcementsWord of MouthLeaders engaging individual members

How we communicatePrint

Bulletin and InsertsPosters/Bulletin BoardsFlyers/BrochuresNewsletters

How we communicateElectronically

WebsiteBlogsFacebookTwitterPodcastsVideo Production

What other ways are you communicating with your congregation?

Communication Plan: Things to ConsiderTechnological Savvy of audience

Do they go online: facebook: twitter? listen to podcasts?

Bandwidth of Internet ConnectionDSL or Dialup?

Will they check email regularly?Do they want to receive texts?Do they READ “snail mail” pieces?

Print CommunicationDiscounted Software for Non-profits

(www.techsoup.com) (www.ccvsoftware.com)(http://www.1computerbargains.com)

These Software Publishers offer DEEP discounts on software to non-profits

Software is Discounted sometimes as much as 80% (Publisher retail $149 –Discounted price from $7 to $24)

Limited quantitiesRestricted to 501-3-c Nonprofits

Desktop Publishing Software MS Publisher

Easy and functional WYSIWIG with templatesDrag and Drop

Adobe CSS 4.0More Powerful and integrated for wider range of graphic

designs (Print and Web)More difficult to useLike Pagemaker or Quark Express Created for Graphic Designers

Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com)Contact management and newsletter designPriced on “email list quantity”Newsletter Templates : Easy to add content and publishThey send the emailNot much flexibility on layoutPrimarily for email newsletter

Tips on Images with ImpactEyes Grab Attention: Make sure you have

at least one set of eyes looking at your camera.

Grab opportunities to take pix at events with groups having fun

Does this pic make me wish I was there?Show action! Real people helping people.

Images with ImpactUnexpected and Bold images also grab

attentionStock Photos are often eye catchingRoyalty Free doesn’t mean “free”

RF just means you do not have to pay a fee for each piece you print

Truly FREE stock photo download siteshttp://sxc.hu/www.Dreamstime.comwww.aarinfreephoto.comwww.Everystockphoto.comwww.flickr.com – photo blogging site

TypographyUse Display fonts sparingly!Typography creates subliminal emotion. If a

creative font does not support your message—don’t use it.

Message in clean serifed or san-serifed fontPoint size guidelines

Kindergarten-2nd grade --24 point3rd – 5th --14 point6th-Adult –12 pointOver 40—14 point16-18 point is considered “Large Print”

Website ContentChurch Website is a Color Brochure for your

ChurchContent

Worship TimesChurch LocationWays to Connect with others in your

congregation (small groups)Calendar Contact InformationLink to Your Church’s Facebook pageMessage from pastor (sermon or video msg)

WebsitesBlog --www.Wordpress.com

Not so functionalGet quick and easy website presenceGet domain name (around $15 per year)or free

at http://yourname.wordpress.com Service Providers (www.e-zekiel.com)

(www.churchaddress.com)Content Management Software (CMS)Updating interface is like word processorNo additional software requiredHosting per month cost with small setup feeTemplatesSelf-customized from menu of choices

WebsitesCustom Web Designers (www.cloversites.com)

Choose template and they customize for youYou maintain with CMS interfaceHosting per month cost with significant setup fee. More flexibility and customization to needs

Purchase Template and Customize using HTML Editor www.dreamweaver-templates.net One-time cost $29-$160 Requires someone comfortable with html to edit and

maintain.Design own site using HTML Editor

Adobe DreamweaverMicrosoft Expression WebTop 6 Web Design Software

2008--http://www.consumersearch.com/web-design-software

Video and Podcasting TipsGood Sound is CRITICAL

Video can be grainy—but people won’t stay with you if the sound is not good

Video Podcasts no longer than 5 minutes in length.

Audio casts can be 2 hours or longer. They are like talk radio and b/c they allow for

multitasking, people will tolerate much longer shows during commutes, workouts, etc.

Web 2.0 means InteractivityBlogging, Twittering, Facebook

These Web 2.0 elements allow for two way communication

How can you use these in your ministry?Blogs with RSS www.wordpress.com

Pastor SermonsDiscussion Topics

Twittering is like texting www.twitter.comWhat are you doing now?Message Character Limits

Facebook www.facebook.comFacebook Page fosters communityCreate groups to communicate with group members

(This is the new “message board”)

Contact MePresentation Available online at

www.provhereshow.wordpress.com

jill@providencepres.org

I’ll be glad to help you with your website, or print communications

Presbytery Office 803-328-6269