Topic: Mastering your “Plan A Visit” Strategy Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at 7pm EST Duration: 60 minutes Where: Online / Zoom Webinar Recording: Available to program members
Many people thinking about visiting a congregation make it to the congregation’s website, but never follow through with a visit. Thinking about visiting a congregation is very stressful, let alone actually visiting.
You can help people interested in your congregation follow through with a visit by helping them decide to visit RIGHT THEN AND THERE when they are on your website and considering it.
Don’t let people linger in an anxious, tentative, maybe I’ll visit state.
To help them commit to a visit and move forward requires understanding their state of mind, shifting your website’s language, and what you are asking them to do.
Instead of saying, “Oh, visit anytime,” help them RSVP for a specific upcoming service. Proactively help them plan their visit and send them clear instructions, resources, and support.
The best part? You can automate this process with automated emails sending visitors who RSVP the information they need, prompting them to ask if they have additional questions, as well as notifying your team that they are coming.
By doing this you shift when you collect information from when they visit in person to when they plan to visit online. Instead of trying to figure out who newcomers are as they come in, you’re proactively connecting with them in advance.
Can you tell I love this strategy?
I’m watching this strategy being deployed across the church world. All the rapidly growing congregations I follow are shifting to this approach.
If you aren’t using this strategy on your website and membership development process, consider joining us for this session.
You can join my monthly training program and leave at any time via your PayPal account. To join for this session, enroll, and then end your subscription via PayPal once the session is complete. You’ll have a full month of access to our program member site.
Many people thinking about visiting a congregation make it to the congregation’s website, but never follow through with a visit.
Thinking about visiting a congregation is very stressful, let alone actually visiting.
You can help people interested in your congregation follow through with a visit by helping them decide to visit RIGHT THEN AND THERE when they are on your website and considering it.
Don’t let people linger in an anxious, tentative, “maybe I’ll visit someday” state.
To help them commit to a visit and move forward requires understanding their state of mind, shifting your website’s language, and what you are asking them to do.
Instead of saying, “Oh, visit anytime,” you ask them to RSVP for an upcoming service. You proactively help them plan their visit and send them clear instructions, resources, and support.
The best part?
You can automate this process with automated emails sending visitors who RSVP the information they need, prompting them to ask if they have additional questions, as well as notifying your team that they are coming.
By doing this you shift when you collect information from when they visit in person to when they plan to visit online. Instead of trying to figure out who newcomers are as they come in, you’re proactively connecting with them in advance.
Can you tell I love this strategy?
I’m watching this strategy being deployed across the church world. All the rapidly growing congregations I follow are shifting to this approach.
If you aren’t using this strategy on your website and membership development process, consider joining us for this session!
You can join my monthly training program for congregatioanl leaders and leave at any time via your PayPal account. To join for this session, enroll, and then end your subscription via PayPal once the session is complete. You’ll have a full month of access to our program member site.
Friday, September 20th I’ll be helping to document and amplify the Boston climate strike, live tweeting photos and video interviews, especially of our Boston Unitarian Universalist Contingent.
Below are some media tips for you wherever you are striking!
Whether you are sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or taking pix for other use, consider the following “shot list” of photos and videos to take to guide your efforts.
1. CLOSE-UPS WITH SIGNS
Photos of people holding signs fairly close up, say two people together with their signs. The media loves these! Show the people and their signs. Make sure you share your sign photos including the hashtag #ClimateStrike and sign. People search for those words together to find the signs, including for articles sharing the “top signs” from the protest.
Example: Tweet your sign photo with the TEXT OF YOUR SIGN written out followed by #ClimateStrikesign
Organize your group so you are all together with your signs and banners and take a group shot. Do this before things get started. Every march or protest I attend I organize people into group shots. This is often overlooked and a missed opportunity. Sharing your group photo publicly AS SOON AS YOU GATHER will help build energy and interest in the event. These photos are helpful on websites and PR for climate justice events.
Example: Group photos I’ve taken have been used in PR for nonprofits for YEARS following the action. They’ve been published in magazine articles, blog posts, coffee table books, and used in scholarly presentations on the climate movement.
3. ACTION SHOTS
Once you are marching, especially in a group with a banner, have someone from you group run ahead and take a good action shot of you marching. You can take turns doing this. Just run ahead, move to the side, and take photos or short videos of your group marching.
4. CROWD SHOTS
When you hear yourself thinking, “Wow, there are so many people here” take a crowd shot. People love seeing the size ofcrowds. Take a crowd shot. But also consider taking a short video of yourself explaining where you are, how many people there are, how exciting it is, and how happy you are so many people turned out. Show the crowd, Trump and the fossil fuel industry are watching…
Try and tell the story of your experience as it unfolds. Take photos as you are first gathering before the action. Take a photo as the crowds build. Don’t wait until everything is in full swing to take photos and share them. Help others experience marches through your eyes. I have found that sharing the story in this way helps engage people tuning in, including journalists considering reporting on the event.
6. SHARE A VIDEO MESSAGE
This takes a bit more intention, but it is powerful. If you have something to say about CLIMATE CHANGE and our need to act, share it in a video message. Take a short video — 30 seconds is fine — to share why you’re striking, your thoughts and feelings about climate, and a message for the people viewing your video. If you had 30 seconds to share a message on national TV, what would you say? Say it, tweet it, and tag it with the #climatestrike hashtag.
Example: You never know when a video will get picked up. I tweeted a short video at the start of a recent youth climate strike, tagged it #ClimateStrike and it was picked up by Twitter in the national coverage and was viewed 26,000 times within 48 hours.
If you do any of the above, I’d love to see your photos and videos and share them. Tag your tweets with @UUPLANET and I’ll get notified. That simply means including the text username @uuplanet in your tweet. Easy!
Thank you for striking tomorrow or participating in actions over the coming week! I look forward to seeing your photos and videos.
I just had a great conversation with a ministry team about membership, digital culture, and staffing. For these leaders — staff and membership volunteers — it was eye-opening.
I want you to have the same experience. I hope this 10 minute-ish video helps inspire you to update your strategy!
We need to meet people WHERE and WHEN they are making decisions about our congregations — that’s online for a huge percentage of potential visitors and new members.
We need to welcome them online.
We need to inspire, educate, and orient them online.
We need to bring a branch of the path to membership online.
How do we do this? First, acknowledge the fact that the world, our technology, and human behavior requires a shift. Once you do that you can seek out specific support.
I also lead a new LIVE and ON-DEMAND training for congregational leaders every month. This is through my Leading Congregations Monthly program. Learn more.
Zoom Video Presentations
As noted in this video, I also offer Zoom video consultations. This inlcudes one-on-one and team consultations, as well as remote video presentations for professional groups, seminaries, and conferences across the United States.
Congregations, Harness The Power of Your Podcast! Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 7pm EST
60 Minutes • Presented by Peter Bowden
Many congregational leaders fear audio podcasts keep people from visiting. The opposite is true!
Audio podcasts are frequently used to evaluate congregations, including deciding to visit and ultimately join. Podcasts also help existing members and volunteers stay engaged.
With podcasts and smart speakers growing in popularity, your audio ministry is more valuable than ever! We’ll discuss using podcasts for outreach, education, membership development, and stewardship.
NOTE: If you hold weekly services that include a sermon, you should be recording audio of these talks. If you do, distributing this content as a podcast is a must!
Harness The Power of Your Podcast! Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 7pm EST 1 Hour Session Presented by Peter Bowden
Many leaders fear audio podcasts keep people from visiting. The opposite is true! Audio podcasts are frequently used to evaluate congregations, including deciding to visit and ultimately join.
Podcasts also help existing members and volunteers stay engaged. With podcasts and smart speakers growing in popularity, your audio ministry is more valuable than ever!
We’ll discuss using podcasts for outreach, education, membership development, and stewardship.
This session is part of my Leading Congregations Monthly training program.
To attend this session only, join the program and cancel your subscription after this training is over via your PayPal account. Easy!
Next week I’m offering my “2020 Future Cast” to my 2019 training program for congregational leaders. This is our final session in the series. We’re discussing top tech and communication trends that are shaping your community, your congregation and the context within which you are doing ministry today.
To my nonprofit and religious professional colleagues, I’m now booking professional chapter group and staff team strategy sessions for 2020. That includes remote Zoom sessions across the United States.
This is a great time to plan opportunities to get oriented to the impact digital culture is having on your community, explore ways to upgrade your strategy and invest in your team’s digital leadership skills.
This can feel overwhelming, but I make it fun, exciting and very practical. In addition to group trainings, I also offer private coaching for executives. Want to discuss the possibilities? Contact me.
New Year Preview
After the New Year, look for the following:
• new stand-alone on-demand courses
• single session webinars (not subscription)
• ongoing free public LIVE VIDEO sessions
• new podcast coming out this month!
The New Year is a great time to try new strategies! This year I’d love for you to work on harnessing the power of video. In this session I share an overview of how we can use social media video to…
• Engage with your community • Facilitate conversation and spiritual exploration online • Advance your justice work • Increase attendance • and grow your membership as a result
We’ve Entered a “Video First” World
In 2016 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “Ten years ago, most of what we shared and consumed online was text. Now it’s photos, and soon most of it will be video. We see a world that is video first with video at the heart of all our apps and services.” Facebook / Fast Company
“The vast majority of Americans – 95% – now own a cellphone of some kind. The share of Americans that own smartphones is now 77%…” Pew Research Center
Video is estimated to be 80% of all Internet traffic. Wordstream.com
According to Forbes “90% of customers say video helps them make buying decisions and 64% of customers say that seeing a video makes them more likely to buy.” Adding a video to marketing emails has been shown to double to triple click-through rates. Website landing pages with videos see significant increases in their conversion rates.
Video is now expected. Use it to accompany and lead people from their first interaction with your congregation through their ongoing participation as members.
Using Video to Connect, Engage, Inspire
Through video your leaders are able to show up and be present online. Why is that important? Imagine not having any of your leaders present at the primary gatherings where people are trying to learn about your congregation? That’s what your online presence has become – the go to place to learn and connect with your congregation.
You are working to build relationships with your online community, to share your story, to inform, educate, and inspire them to take action. That action includes newcomers visiting for the first time, as well as inspiring existing members and friends to fully participate in congregational life.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you. We’re talking about using the tools of our time to be fully present and engaged with your community. The video format may be simple, but at the heart of this strategy isrelationship, leadership, and trust.
Face to Face Videos
Start using the camera from your smartphone, laptop, or desktop to film messages (you or other leaders) speaking directly to your online audience. Messages may be focused on newcomers, existing members and friends, or other audience as needed.
The best way to make great videos is to film many, many mediocre videos. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for continued improvement.
As my child’s 1st grade teacher always said, “Practice makes progress.”
Show Up Consistently
Worship leaders: Share a weekly message telling people about the upcoming service(s) but not just logistics, not just an invitation. Share what you are exploring, why you are exploring, why this matters, and invite discussion and sharing on the topic.
The Goal As a leader you are communicating why the topic matters, and why your congregation is taking time to explore it. With your members and friends surrounded by thousand of options for new learning, entertainment, and distraction on-demand, you are inspiring them to participate.
As a congregation, as religious leaders, use video to be online where people are spending their time, engage with your community, and inspire them to participate in congregational life — weekly!
Sounds like sales, but I call it leadership. You are leading them in the exploration of the theme by sharing the why, sharing stories, highlighting how it connects to what is happening in the larger world, inviting people to share thoughts via social media (online participation), encouraging people to invite interested friends (outreach), and inviting people to attend the actual service. It is digital leadership.
The Win People following your congregation via social media not only know what’s going on, but they feel the importance, the value, the connection, and choose to participate over all other options!
Overwhelmed?Consider starting by sharing a message once per month featuring a service that is of particular interest to you. You can build up to weekly.
Video Message Production Tips
The following are tips to help improve your video messages. I encourage you to join me in being an ALL STAR IMPERFECTIONIST! Don’t try to be perfect. You’ll improve over time.
1. Identify a Standard Location It takes energy and thought to share a video message. Not knowing where you are going to film is inhibiting. Whether it is an office, a living room, a space in your congregation, or out in nature, determine your default location, figure out how to film there (position, lighting, etc..) and stick with that location unless otherwise inspired.
2. Place Camera at Eye Level (Don’t Film Up the Nose) If you are using a laptop, place it on books to raise the camera to eye level. If using a smartphone, use a tripod to raise it to eye level. Invest in a smartphone mount and tripod. For Under $50 you can have a tripod and mount you can quickly attach your smartphone to. It is worth it if you are making video messages!
3. Increase Lighting for Increased Clarity Film with lots of light. This can be natural light, lights in the room you are using, and extra lights you have purchased for filming. I have four LED light panels on stands in my office. I use them fill the room with light when filming, including Zoom meetings. More light = greater clarity. If you have extra office lights around, directing the lights at the ceiling or surrounding walls can add extra diffuse light while maintaining a natural look.
4. Keep Brightest Light In Front of You and BEHIND the Camera If bright lights are behind you (included light on a wall) most cameras will auto-adjust to that brightness and you’ll look like you are an anonymous witness being interviewed by the FBI. The camera adjusting to the bright light will make you darker. Having the brightest light in front of you and behind the camera will help you look fabulous.
5. Press Smartphone Screen to Auto Focus and Auto Adjust Lighting On most smartphones, if you press and hold your face on the screen it will auto-focus and auto adjust the lighting. Holding for several seconds usually auto-focus locks on the subject.
6. Know Your Camera Orientation Before You Start Different social media platforms orient video horizontally, vertically, and square. The norms are shifting with Instagram and Facebook pushing vertical video. Look at videos on the platform where you’re planning to post. Notice what looks best, especially when viewed via mobile (majority of views). However the camera is oriented, keep it that way.
7. Check Background for Distractions Before you start filming, check to make sure there is nothing distracting in the background. Make sure your environment represents you and your congregation appropriately.
8. Frame Your Shot – the Rule of Thirds Where you are in the camera frame is important. Whether you are filming horizontally, vertically or with a square orientation, have your eyes floating just over the line between the middle and upper third of the screen. No matter how far away you are from the camera, still aim for that same line. See next page for framing examples.
In Western photography and film “an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject would.” Source: Wikipedia / Rule of Thirds.
9. Authenticity over other parameters How long should videos be? Is vertical better than square or horizontal. Do whatever works for you to show up, be authenitic – be yourself, make videos consistently, and share your enthusiasm.
If you can share a great video that feels good and covers everything you want in 60 seconds, great! If you need 3-5 minutes, do that.
10. You Can Do It! Have fun. Know it is important for your congregation. Don’t give up. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your videos improve, especially if you keep at it and reference this list of tips.
When you make and post video messages, I’d love to see them. You can tag me via social media @PeterBowdenLive on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to notify me of your posts, or email me links to videos you want to show off. Thanks!
Simple, But Challenging
Having been experimenting with this for a long time, I know this is challenging.
If you want help, I work with staff one-on-one as well as with teams and professional chapter groups. Whether individually or in groups, we can map out your video message strategy for a given span of time, figure out your video recording set up, and get you comfortable on camera.
I’m working on a related course right now. Will be taking new video coaching clients starting February 1st. If you’d like to be first in line, contact me and I’ll send you the registration link before I make it public.
On covid19, social distancing, limiting large gatherings, and your digital ministry strategy.
This is a strategy session to get your congregation thinking about the Covid19 coronavirus and your digital strategy should you face community spread and required “social distancing” such as limiting large gatherings and quarantines.
Specifically, how can we use social media, live video, and other tools to accomplish the work and ministry of your congregation without gathering face-to-face? This is something we need to be preparing for and I have strategy ideas to get you thinking.
Subscribe to The Epidemic Podcast. Epidemic is produced and hosted by Dr. Celine Gounder and Just Human Productions, and co-hosted by former Ebola czar Ronald Klain.
This will connect us via my text platform. Once we’re connected, whenever you have questions related to podcast episodes, videos, or other content, you can send me a message directly. This is NOT a group chat. It is a way for you to share questions with me one-on-one. I also send out low volume updates about live recording sessions and other opportunities to connect.
PRIVATE STRATEGY SESSIONS
I work with nonprofit and congregational leaders across the United States on community building, digital leadership, and other connecting strategies. For private executive and team strategy sessions, please email me. Once I verify we’re a match to work together, I’ll send you a scheduling link.
Congregational leaders, this is another digital strategy session to support you as we work to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. For many of you, that means moving your ministry online.
In this session, we’re talking small group ministry.
Specifically, why I want you to prioritize moving your small group ministry program online — I recommend using ZOOM video for group meetings.
If you don’t have an existing small group ministry program, that’s okay! You can simply focus on launching a digital small group ministry now.
Doing so will help with present social distancing and will likely lead to an interest in participation when you’re promoting group-based ministry at a later time.
I know how much work and energy it takes to embrace and learn new models. Many of you are accelerating your learning and experimenting at lightning speed. You can do it!
Friends, this is the recording of my Facebook Live session from Thursday, September 13th. I discuss ways we often MAKE IT HARD TO JOIN OUR CONGREGATIONS. Many UU congregation are hard to join not from a policy perspective, but due to a range of barriers we create. I cover 8 barriers in this video, 7 … Read more 7 Ways we make it hard to join UU congregations
In this Facebook Live session, I discuss UU congregational social media management and why a collaborative spirit and team approach are critical to success! This 23-minute session is for all congregational leaders including religious professionals, staff, and volunteers. Parish ministers and ministry leaders: A special message (cheer leading!) for you is included starting at 14 minutes into video. Unitarian Universalist leaders are invited to join my UU PLANET Facebook group. In this group I hold weekly live sessions on themes related to leading and growing UU congregations.
Dec 8th, 2018 I’m leading a special webinar for Canadian Unitarian congregations, sponsored by the Canadian Unitarian Council. We’re talking congregational social media strategy, outreach, and membership growth. Registration is open. If you register now, make sure to put it on your calendar. You’ll get an email reminder as well.
Grounded in core concepts from my Church Social Media and Membership Growth trainings, this webinar will be customized based on a review of CUC congregational websites and social media channels.
Sponsored by theCanadian Unitarian Council
Church Social Media and Membership Growth
Presentation by Peter Bowden, a Unitarian Universalist consultant specializing in congregational growth, outreach, and media. Peter has trained thousands of leaders across the United States and globally through his online programs.
Social media is fundamentally changing how people connect, learn, and make important life decisions. This includes how digitally oriented people are trying to connect with, research, and join congregations. This challenges us to integrate social media with our membership development efforts. On December 8th, Peter Bowden is offering a free webinar for Canadian Unitarian Council member congregations based on his popular Church Social Media and Membership Growth trainings. Peter is a Unitarian Universalist consultant specializing in congregational growth, outreach, and media. Over the past 15 years he’s trained thousands of leaders across the United States and globally via his online trainings. This program will include a 45-minute presentation followed by 30 minutes for questions. Everyone who registers will receive a link to the recording of the presentation.
Join us for this free webinar for CUC congregational leaders!
Known for his work with congregational growth, outreach, and media, Peter is a popular Unitarian Universalist speaker, trainer, and coach. He has lead trainings across the United States and globally through his online programs. In addition to his work with congregations, Peter frequently consults with denominational leaders, nonprofits, and independent justice leaders.
SAVE THE DATE: Dec 8th I'm leading a special webinar for Canadian Unitarian Council congregations, sponsored by the @uuCanada. We're talking social media strategy and membership growth. https://t.co/u0tiFA96q2
In this UU Planet Facebook live session, I share a brief case study on tweaking congregational website text to help people have that “these are my people!” experience.
Recently I visited two UU congregational websites back to back. The difference between them was staggering.
One was “Eh….” The other? I was instantly drawn in, inspired, and had a deep sense that “Ahhhhh, these are my people….”
There are lots of little adjustments we can make online which can impact whether people stay on your website or immediately bounce. We don’t want potential visitors bouncing off your site, we want them to stay, to learn, to connect, and eventually, to visit.
In this session, I’m joined by the Rev. Dr. Debra W. Haffner, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston, Virginia. We discuss her congregation’s incredible membership growth — 101 new members over the last 2 years! Recorded Oct 31, 2018 via Facebook live in my UU PLANET Facebook group for UU leaders.
More notes from our conversation coming after Halloween!
In this Facebook Live conversation with Laura Beth Brown and Peter Bowden we discuss “Embracing Family Ministry” based on Laura Beth’s popular workshops and role as Director of Family Ministry at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation is Summit, NJ.
We discuss how her congregation’s approach to family ministry is drawing inspiration from the book “Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age” by Juana Bordasand what some of the resulting changes look like.
From my discussion with Laura Beth in preparation for our interview, I learned that she leads workshops related to volunteer/stewardship strategy and creating a spirit of generosity and therefore, sustainability in our congregations.
Scroll down for more on Laura Beth Brown and links mentioned in this video.
GUEST INFORMATION
Laura Beth Brown is a 500-hr Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, an amateur grill chef, and the Director of Family Ministry at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Summit, NJ.
She is primarily a vinyasa and prenatal yoga instructor with a therapeutic yoga lens and has certifications in Prenatal, Children’s Yoga, and Off The Mat Into the World (the bridge between yoga, self inquiry, and effective community action). As a singer/song-leader and harmonium player, she also leads call-and-response community singing known as kirtan, a form of Bhakti yoga, or the yoga of devotion.As a yogi, Laura Beth leads workshops in Bhakti Yoga, Prenatal yoga, and Conscious Activism.
In role as a religious educator, Laura Beth has led 12-hr workshops on Embracing Family Ministry with her Ministerial Supervisor, the Rev. Emilie Boggis, at this year’s Center Institute for ministers, and then again on Star Island for religious educators. Just last month, she presented at LREDA Fall Conference as well. She also leads workshops on volunteer strategy called Stop Recruiting, Start Retaining as a means of collective sustainability for congregations.
Friends, here’s the first part of my recent webcast on Social Media and Membership Growth presented to Candadian Unitarian congregations, sponored by the CUC.
Unitarian Universalists leaders in New England, join me at First Parish in Needham, MA on Saturday, Feb 2, 2019, for my next Social Media and Membership Growth day-long training. We’re going to give your approach to outreach, welcoming & hospitality, and membership development a serious upgrade! You’re going to love it.
Happy Friday friends. Facebook LIVE office hours (1/18/19) answering some of your questions about digital culture and congregational membership development. See below for 3 upcoming events, 2 Boston area, one online!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Wed, Jan 23 – Metro West RE Cluster – “Spiritual Life in the Digital Age”
I’m leading program for our local cluster of religious educators exploring how digital devices are disrupting spiritual growth and development. After my presentation, we’ll discuss the impact on parenting, family interactions, etc… Email or FB Message me if you’re an area religious educator and didn’t get the email through your network.
Sat, Feb 2 – UU Social Media and Membership Growth in Needham, MA
Social media, smartphones, and constant access to the internet is fundamentally changing how people form relationships, consume information and make important life decisions. This has significant implications for congregations, especially with regard to how we share our news and announcements, and how we invite people into membership. Learn More and Register
Wed, Feb 13 – Leading Congregations Monthly Live online training. February’s session is going deeper into Facebook Strategy, including report back from my review of how the fastest growing churches in the United States are using Facebook. Learn more.
Missed Leading Congregations Monthly January Video Bootcamp? The recording is in the member area. Join us to participate in live monthly sessions and access all previous sessions and handouts.
Leading Congregations Monthly in March will be focused on small group based congregational growth strategies. One of my favorite topics!
NEW ENGLAND SNOW STORM
Stay safe everyone!
T-SHIRT
Today’s t-shirt “Providence: Weird Since 1636” is brought to you by my sister, a member of my home congregation, the First Unitarian Church of Providence.
Friends, on Friday, March 1st at 1:00pm EST I’m going live with the Rev. Naomi King to discuss using social media for spiritual practice, setting intentions for how we digital tools, and more! If you are interested in the intersection of social media and spirituality, I think you’ll love this conversation. Join us! Use the attached Youtube player to watch, chat, and share your questions.
The Rev. Naomi King is a Unitarian Universalist minister who teaches spiritual practices in person and online. Connect with her and her teaching via the following links.
Many congregations that want to grow get stuck small because they don’t have the relational structures in place to allow for growth.
That’s why my March Leading Congregations Monthly live training is focused on small group growth strategies. If you want to grow your congregation, I hope you’ll join us.
Family-sized congregations (up to around 50 people) are often kept small by their close relationships, with members not wanting to disrupt intimacy. They like knowing everyone, they like being a family.
Pastoral-sized congregations (up to around 150 people) tend to stay small because the minister serves as the hub of everything. If you draw a map of relationships in one of these congregations, it looks like a hairball. I have colleagues who call this the “hairball ministry” model.
You can want to grow, but unless you change the structure, after a certain point, there just isn’t the capacity to grow. That’s where growth oriented small group ministry comes in.
Small group ministry, when designed and implemented correctly, offers the vision, leadership, and relational capacity congregations need to grow.
That’s what we’re discussing in next week’s Leading Congregations Monthly live training: Small Group Growth Strategies. Learn More.
Some of you might not know that small groups are how I got into working with our congregations nationally.
After successfully using small group ministry with youth, young adults in my home congregation, I launched the UU Small Group Ministry Network in 2001 and in 2004 relaunched it with colleagues as a nonprofit and affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
That effort helped establish the popular approach to small group ministry used in Unitarian Universalist congregations.
While small group ministry is common now, what isn’t as widely known is what you need to do to grow small groups and use small groups as engines for congregational growth.
After helping to popularize small group ministry, I stepped away for a time to help pioneer our use of social media in our congregations. Both are ways to connect people with our congregations, which is my passion.
I have led weekend retreats in which I’ve shared the deeper growth strategies, but I haven’t offered this content through online training.
But that’s changed thanks to Leading Congregations Monthly which is helping more leaders access my training.
This month I’m going to share core strategies you can use to grow your group leaders, grow your groups, and grow your congregation.
This is a 90-minute live training happening Wednesday, March 13th at 7pm EST.
All of our Leading Congregations Monthly trainings are RECORDED with video recordings with CLOSED CAPTIONING and HANDOUTS available in the program MEMBER AREA.
If you’re committed to growing your congregation and don’t have a thriving small group system actively supporting the health and growth of your ministry, this is an important training for you.
Click here to get all the details about Leading Congregations Monthly including the benefits, how you can include teams, and bonuses if you join. Bonuses will be available in your library immediately after you join Leading Congregations Monthly.
This month’s bonuses are:
• Relational Volunteer Recruitment with Peter Bowden (mini-course)
• Social Media and Membership Growth with Peter Bowden (full course)
Thank you for your leadership and let me know if you have questions.
A training update for Unitarian Universalist congregational leaders and friends, plus a Facebook Live session on Friday!
Today it is hard to separate MINISTRY + MEDIA + COMMUNICATION. I’m constantly talking with leaders and no that the communication demands on congregations are significant. You don’t have to figure this stuff out alone.
Over the next three months my Leading Congregations Monthly trainings as well as this Friday’s Facebook Live session are on communication and ministry themes.
Here’s what’s on the schedule:
This Wednesday, May 8th at 7pm EST – 90 Minute Training 5 Essential Twitter Strategies for Congregations!
Twitter is my favorite social media platform and is a powerful tool for outreach, sharing our voices and values, and leading on the issues of our time. Our focus will be on strategies to support outreach and membership development, connecting with your local community, and bringing visibility to your advocacy and witness efforts.
Friday, May 10th at 12:30pm EST – 20 Minute Facebook Live The Future of Facebook and Meaningful Community
This Friday I’m going live in my UU Planet Leaders group to discuss the implications of Mark Zuckerberg’s recent presentation on the future of Facebook. I’ll discuss their intensifying focus on Facebook groups and helping people connect with “meaningful communities” online. Preview on my take: We need to be countercultural and use digital spaces to get people into face-to-face communities, like your congregation. And we need a clear digital path to do so. Here’s the link to Friday’s Facebook Live video stream player. I’ve already scheduled it. You can go to that link then click the button to be notified when I go live.
Know someone else who would appreciate this conversation? Forward this message to them.
Leading Congregations Monthly Summer Schedule
REMINDER: All sessions are recorded and available on demand in our member area. When you subscribe you can join the live sessions and watch recordings. Learn more.
Wednesday, June 12th at7pm EST Congregational Communication Audits
What are they, why they need to be conducted, strategies, resources
Wednesday, July 10th at at 7pm EST The Ministry of Communication
Staffing, coordination, and collaboration
Wednesday, August 14th at at7pm EST Training Greeters (Sunday Greeters)
What they need to do, know, how many to have, other considerations
Have ideas for trainings or Facebook Live discussions I can offer to support you and your congregation? I’d love to hear from you. Contact me.
Does your congregation use Facebook? If so, you need to be tracking changes to Facebook that are going to impact your strategy. I discussed the announced changes and the implications in my UU Planet Leaders Facebook Group. The recording is below.
Make sure to subscribe to email updates so you can join the live conversation! Not on Facebook or just want recordings? Subscribe to my Youtube Channel.
What did Zuck say to promp this conversation? At the F8 conference, Mark Zuckerberg shared a vision for the future of Facebook including an intensified focus privacy, encryption, ephemeral content, and connecting people with “meaningful community” via Facebook groups. The group focus is already rolling out. You’ve seen the changes if you updated your app.
As Facebook works to drive people into groups, we need to make sure your congregation has a Facebook strategy that takes advantage of this group focus and helps people successfully connect with your congregation offline, face-to-face.
Tracking these changes and discussing related strategies is something I’ll continue to discuss via social media and in my Leading Congregations Monthly trainings. If you’re interested in this topic, make sure you subscribe to my email newsletter so you get notifcations for live chats, video releases (like the one above), and training topics.
There’s so much going on with the climate and some awesome UU events and opportunities coming up! That’s why I’m going LIVE with Aly Tharp of the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth to share a quick briefing to share highlights. Please watch and share!
Live UU CLIMATE JUSTICE briefing for May 24, 2019 with Aly Tharp, Program Manager of the UU Ministry for Earth, and Peter Bowden. In under 10-minutes we discuss timely news, info, and opportunities related to Unitarian Universalist climate justice efforts!
It is time to prepare, and if this is your first time, make sure to checkout these tips for having a great conference. If you aren’t attending the conference on-site, learn how to participate off-site.
This collaborative post and “survival guide” features tips and reminders for attending the annual General Assembly conference of the Unitarian Universalist Association. I’ve been collecting tips and compiling since 2011.
Have a tip or resource to add? Share it in a comment at the end of this post or share via Twitter and tag your tweet with #UUAGA and my username @UUPLANET.
Follow the UU World’s Coverage:
The staff of the UU World does an amazing job covering General Assembly. Their GA blog and social media channels are the go to source for in-depth and breaking General Assembly news.
The official hashtag for the UUA’s General Assembly conference is #UUAGA. There is NO year in the tag. Every year a handful of UUs get stuck following the wrong hashtag because someone tweeted the hashtag and inserted the year. There is no year. The hashtag is #UUAGA.
Are you going to the @UUA General Assembly conference this June? If so, make sure to tweet with the official hashtag #UUAGA!
Do NOT insert a year in the hashtag. Your tweets will be lonely if you do.
The UUA GA Mobile App is fantastic. If you have a smartphone, make sure to install it. It will significantly improve your GA experience. It serves as a conference specific social media platform. Don’t see people posting about GA on Facebook or Twitter? Yeah, that’s because much of it goes into the app.
Get it now! People are already posting. And plan on exploring and testing the app before you arrive. There are a lot of features. You can choose to follow posts by other attendees, share your own posts tagging which event you’re at, and much more. The week leading up to GA, try opening the app each day.
Before You Go
Plan your life at General Assembly assuming you will not be able to access wi-fi in the convention center. Internet access is always and issue. Bring critical information and contact numbers with you. If access is good, enjoy! But be prepared.
Convention centers, especially the main halls, are usually freezing! Bring a layer you can easily take on and off so you’re okay going from outside to hallways to the general session/plenary ice box.
Hydrate! Bring a water bottle. If you’re flying, bring an empty one to fill at a water fountain after you go through security. You can usually buy a reusable bottle in the Exhibit Hall.
If you are a delegate, READ related business materials before you come. You are deciding our future. Visit the UUA’s page with information for delegates.
GA is amazing for network and learning. Bring business or personal cards so that you can give your information to others.
Consider leaving a copy of critical email, social media, and other passwords / pins with a family member or trusted friend. If you lost your smartphone and had to login to email via a public computer, would you be able to?
Be sure that someone from your congregation is bringing the banner for the banner parade.
Plan out what workshops you want to go to. Have a tentative choice made for all time slots in advance. You’ll need time between schedule blocks to take care of biological needs, talk to people, and change rooms. You won’t have time to pick as you go.
Pick a 2nd workshop for each time slot. You may find that when you arrive at your first choice it’s not what you expected and it will be good to know exactly where to go to get to your 2nd choice.
Pack comfy shoes.
Bring a bag you can carry comfortably with you at all times, like a shoulder bag or light backpack.
“Last year I had a binder where on the back cover I had a map of the area in the plastic cover thing, the front with my delegate card and other really important info, and inside my travel info, the program book, the business resolutions, etc. It really helped me stay organized throughout. Put in paper to take notes on, bring pens, etc. I had that with me in my laptop bag and it was great.”
Talk to people in your congregation to find out about resources you can scout out and bring home. There is an amazing collection of resources available in the exhibit hall, including books from the UUA Bookstore.
Use General Assembly as an opportunity to connect with leaders in congregation near you. You can use the GA App to network. You might even reach out to your neighboring UU congregations in advance.
If you can’t walk more than a mile easily, you will want to rent a scooter through GA Accessibility Services. If you often use hearing assistive devices in crowded settings, you will want to use GA Accessibility Services. Better to reserve equipment you turn out not to need than arrive & be blocked from participating because no extra equipment is available. GA Accessibility Services.
If you have special dietary requirements, scout out the food vendors before departure and plan well ahead. Make reservations at places that will accept them. Pack extra food if you have really specific needs. It isn’t uncommon to have to wait at GA area restaurants for a long time, or to have relatively few places that can accommodate vegans, folk who need to eat gluten-free, or even offer acceptable fast alternatives for diabetics.
Plan a check-in breakfast/lunch/dinner with some people you know at some point. Even if you’re the independent or introverted type, GA is really overwhelming in the sheer mass of people and having a drink with some familiar faces can be really nice
If you don’t know anyone going to GA, start making connecting with people via the GA app and on Twitter. For example, on Twitter you might tweet “Looking forward to _____ at this year’s #UUAGA conference.” Fill in the blank with what you’re excited about. By including the #UUAGA hashtag we can find your tweet on Twitter. On the GA App you can share posts with photos. You might share a photo of yourself and share what you’re looking forward to and what leadership role(s) you have in your congregation.
If you really want to spend time with someone you haven’t seen in ten years, email them now and ask to get together. You don’t need to finalize plans now, but many people plan how they are using meals in advance. When you ask they will either say “yes” or “I’d love to talk to you for a minute at some point, but my schedule is totally booked.”
Prepare your Unitarian Universalism elevator speech. Local folks ask questions; be prepared to answer. What’s a Unitarian Universalist? What’s your conference about?
While you’re at General Assembly
Now that you’ve arrived, remember to HYDRATE! And take time to eat and pace yourself. GA is a marathon.
You don’t have to go to everything. And that’s ok. I ended up skipping things last year, including the Ware Lecture, because I needed a breather. And dinner. Besides it will be online.
You need to eat. You’ll need to schedule that in.
Attend the orientations, from GA for First Timers to your regional/district ones. They help.
Avoid picking up paper – use digital notes whenever possible (they’re tending toward less paper).
Say “Hi” to people & don’t be shy to tell them that you’re a first timer.
A great way to meet people is to introduce yourself to people when you sit down in a workshop. You already know you have a common interest. Say hello and strike up conversation.
Whatever you do, go to the Service of the Living Tradition, the Ware Lecture and the Sunday morning service.See program highlights.
Don’t miss the Synergy Bridging Service! We’re the only denomination that honors the transition from youth to young adulthood at our annual assembly.
Having a meal with other UUs from across the country can sometimes be more valuable than going to a workshop. Prioritize relationships.
I was told this by my congregation and it really made a difference for me. During a general session (previously called plenary) , if you aren’t sure what you’re about to vote on, don’t hesitate to ask for a point of clarification from the procedure microphone. Because if you don’t know what you’re voting on, at least 100 other people there don’t know either.
There’s this GA tradition that I don’t fully get – getting as many possible ribbons from booths to hang from the bottom of your nametags. When you check in, at least last year, you even got some “coupons” to take to certain booths to get certain ribbons. I just followed the crowd on that one.
Wear comfy shoes.
GA volunteers are often wearing specific shirts or pinnies that identify them easily. They’re there to help you. GA is really possible because of the kindness and support our volunteers give.
If you are in need of emotional or spiritual assistance, if you experience any kind of harassment, talk to any shirted GA volunteer and ask them to help you be connected with either the Right Relations Team or the chaplains.
You are an ambassador of Unitarian Universalism! Many people in and around the convention center will be meeting their first Unitarian Universalists. While at General Assembly, bring your best self and make living our values an intentional practice. Sore feet because you forgot your comfy shoes is not an excuse. Be kind. Be generous. Smile. Pick up trash. You are not a tourist. You are not a business conventioneer. You are an ambassador of our faith.
Twitter and General Assembly
GA is a great time to get on Twitter! There are so many amazing things to tweet about and thousands of people on hand to give you tips. Sign up at Twitter.com. It is quick and easy.
You can choose a username that you want to just for now as you get get started or one you plan on using long term. You can change your username any time.
Make sure to add some information to your bio before you start following lots of people. People are more likely to follow you back if they know who you are or what you are tweeting about. I follow anyone back who follows me provided I can tell they are interested in Unitarian Universalism or self identify as a UU.
Once you have your account created, follow me at @uuplanet as well as the @UUA, @UUWorld, and the @UUSC. Once you follow the four of us, Twitter will start giving you UU recommendations for other UU accounts to follow.
Hashtags are words or phrases (with no spaces) included in tweets starting with a hashmark #. These become active links you can click and use hashtags to follow public conversations. Check out the UU Hashtag Directory for ideas of hashtags you might use.
I want you to use hashtags like a UU Twitter Ninja at #UUAGA! To help, the video above is an excerpt from a recent Twitter Strategy session for my Leading Congregations Monthly program members. The strategies in the video can be used throughout the year, as well as General Assembly.
Have a tip or related resources to share? Comment on this post. Thanks! Peter
Hey friends! My upcoming training is on a much requested topic – assessing communications and communication audits!
Who wants to waste massive amounts of time, energy, and resources on communications that aren’t having an impact?
Assessing communications is more important than ever given the number of channels we have, and the ongoing impact of smartphones and other digitial devices!
In this session I’ll cover what communication audits are, why they need to be conducted, how to conduct one in-house, and other considerations and resources.
Details below!
Topic: Congregational Communication Audits
Presenter: Peter Bowden
Date and Time: June 12th at 7:00 pm EST
Duration: 90 minutes including presentation and Q&A
Where: Live via Zoom Webinar with the recording posted in our Leading Congregations Monthly member area after the training. Login to our member area and you’ll see the live session information highlighted front and center.
Video: I’m on camera, you’re not. You can watch in your pajamas if you want.
Registration: This training is part of my monthly training series. Here are all the details. The Zoom access info is waiting for you in the member area. You’ll see it as soon as you log in.
If you want to join for THIS SESSION ONLY, join the program and then after the training go to your PayPal account and to manage to your subscriptions payments. You don’t even have to contact me to cancel.
You’ll have 30 days access to the entire member area and training archive including all past sessions – see below – and bonus content.
Peter Bowden. Screenshot from May Leading Congregations Monthly training
UPCOMING TRAININGS
The Ministry of Communication
Wednesday, July 10th at 7pm EST
With a focus on digital communication and congregational life, we’re talking staffing, coordination, and collaboration.
Training Greeters (Sunday Greeters)
Wednesday, August 14th at 7pm EST
Getting ready for the Fall, we’re talking greeter training. Fromn what they need to do and know to how many to have and other considerations.
NOW ON-DEMAND
Session 1: Video Message Bootcamp
Social video is huge! Every major marketing guru I get emails from has been writing for the last few years that video is where its at. This session focuses on helping you use simple video messages to engage with newcomers, members and friends. If you aren’t using video to communicate yet, this is for you!
Session 2: How the Fastest Growing Churches in the USA Use Facebook
How are the fastest Christian churches in the United States using Facebook? They are using Facebook to show newcomers exactly what it is going to be like when they visit and cheerlead them every step of the way with lots of exlamation points, emojis, and compelling “we’re nice people” photos and reminders that life isn’t meant to be lived alone. We look at examples of specifc Facebook posts and talk strategy.
Session 3: Small Group Growth Strategies
Interested in congregational growth? Using small groups to intentionally grow is one of my favorite strategies! Drawing on my years of small group experience, proven success growing small groups, and years of training as the founder of the UU Small Group Ministry Network, I’ll tell you how to using small groups for growth.
Session 5: Twitter Strategy Essentials for Congregations
I share my top Twitter strategies for congregations, when I call essentials. From promoting participation in your services to rockin’ hashtags and amplifying your impact at social justice events. On Twitter? You’ll love this! Not on Twitter? This may make you want to sign up!
BONUS CONTENT
Whether you join just for this month’s training or remain a member, you get access to this bonus content while you are enrolled.
A new COMMUNICATION AUDIT module has been posted in our Leading Congregations Monthly member area complete. Learn more about this module and my monthly training program for congregational leaders.
In this session we’ll explore the vital role of digital communication in ministry today! I’ll share why we need to approach congregational communication as a core component of our ministry and then cover specific logistical and strategy considerations below.
• The Ministry of Communication
• Collaboration between clergy, staff, and volunteer communicators
• Building your media capacity
• Coordinating your team’s work
• Frequently asked questions
Have questions on our topic? Submit your questions in advance or live during this session. Members, submit questions via the link in this post. Thanks!
The goal of this session is to help you take your congregation’s communications to a new level!
Specifically, I’m talking about placing your media and communication efforts at the heart of your ministry — love it or hate it, that’s where it needs to be given our increasingly digitally oriented society.
After my opening challenge and cheerleading, we’ll cover the practical considerations listed below.
• Welcome and Introductions
• Upgrading your ministry-communication mindset!
• Collaboration between clergy, staff, and volunteer communicators
• Building your media capacity
• Coordinating your team’s work
• Thoughts on Communication Staff
• Closing Q&A
• Program Announcements
Friends, here’s information on my next training for Unitarian Universalist leaders:
Personal Invitation Made Easy
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Time: 7pm EST Duration: 60 minutes Where: Online / Zoom Webinar access provided to program members
Monthly program members have access to all session recordings (starting January 2019) in our program member area.
Personal invitation is the #1 outreach and growth strategy of all time! What do you need to do to get your existing members and friends to invite others to attend your congregation? We’ll cover practical strategies to build a positive culture of invitation.
I should mention that it is VERY common for members to resist when told to invite people to church.
There are reasons for this which we will address. September is a great time to get rid of the barriers and empower your members and friends to invite away.
This session is part of my monthly training program.
Join for a year or a single month. When you are ready to leave, end your subscription via your PayPal account. You don’t even have to contact me. Just go to your account’s pre-approved payments and manage it there. Easy!
Many people thinking about visiting a congregation make it to the congregation’s website, but never follow through with a visit.
Thinking about visiting a congregation is very stressful, let alone actually visiting.
You can help people interested in your congregation follow through with a visit by helping them decide to visit RIGHT THEN AND THERE when they are on your website and considering it.
Don’t let people linger in an anxious, tentative, “maybe I’ll visit someday” state.
To help them commit to a visit and move forward requires understanding their state of mind, shifting your website’s language, and what you are asking them to do.
Instead of saying, “Oh, visit anytime,” you ask them to RSVP for an upcoming service. You proactively help them plan their visit and send them clear instructions, resources, and support.
The best part?
You can automate this process with automated emails sending visitors who RSVP the information they need, prompting them to ask if they have additional questions, as well as notifying your team that they are coming.
By doing this you shift when you collect information from when they visit in person to when they plan to visit online. Instead of trying to figure out who newcomers are as they come in, you’re proactively connecting with them in advance.
Can you tell I love this strategy?
I’m watching this strategy being deployed across the church world. All the rapidly growing congregations I follow are shifting to this approach.
If you aren’t using this strategy on your website and membership development process, consider joining us for this session!
You can join my monthly training program for congregatioanl leaders and leave at any time via your PayPal account. To join for this session, enroll, and then end your subscription via PayPal once the session is complete. You’ll have a full month of access to our program member site.
Many people thinking about visiting a congregation make it to the congregation’s website, but never follow through with a visit.
Thinking about visiting a congregation is very stressful, let alone actually visiting.
You can help people interested in your congregation follow through with a visit by helping them decide to visit RIGHT THEN AND THERE when they are on your website and considering it.
Don’t let people linger in an anxious, tentative, “maybe I’ll visit someday” state.
To help them commit to a visit and move forward requires understanding their state of mind, shifting your website’s language, and what you are asking them to do.
Instead of saying, “Oh, visit anytime,” you ask them to RSVP for an upcoming service. You proactively help them plan their visit and send them clear instructions, resources, and support.
The best part?
You can automate this process with automated emails sending visitors who RSVP the information they need, prompting them to ask if they have additional questions, as well as notifying your team that they are coming.
By doing this you shift when you collect information from when they visit in person to when they plan to visit online. Instead of trying to figure out who newcomers are as they come in, you’re proactively connecting with them in advance.
Can you tell I love this strategy?
I’m watching this strategy being deployed across the church world. All the rapidly growing congregations I follow are shifting to this approach.
If you aren’t using this strategy on your website and membership development process, consider joining us for this session!
You can join my monthly training program for congregatioanl leaders and leave at any time via your PayPal account. To join for this session, enroll, and then end your subscription via PayPal once the session is complete. You’ll have a full month of access to our program member site.
I just had a great conversation with a ministry team about membership, digital culture, and staffing. For these leaders — staff and membership volunteers — it was eye-opening.
I want you to have the same experience. I hope this 10 minute-ish video helps inspire you to update your strategy!
We need to meet people WHERE and WHEN they are making decisions about our congregations — that’s online for a huge percentage of potential visitors and new members.
We need to welcome them online.
We need to inspire, educate, and orient them online.
We need to bring a branch of the path to membership online.
How do we do this? First, acknowledge the fact that the world, our technology, and human behavior requires a shift. Once you do that you can seek out specific support.
I also lead a new LIVE and ON-DEMAND training for congregational leaders every month. This is through my Leading Congregations Monthly program. Learn more.
Zoom Video Presentations
As noted in this video, I also offer Zoom video consultations. This inlcudes one-on-one and team consultations, as well as remote video presentations for professional groups, seminaries, and conferences across the United States.
Congregations, Harness The Power of Your Podcast! Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 7pm EST
60 Minutes • Presented by Peter Bowden
Many congregational leaders fear audio podcasts keep people from visiting. The opposite is true!
Audio podcasts are frequently used to evaluate congregations, including deciding to visit and ultimately join. Podcasts also help existing members and volunteers stay engaged.
With podcasts and smart speakers growing in popularity, your audio ministry is more valuable than ever! We’ll discuss using podcasts for outreach, education, membership development, and stewardship.
NOTE: If you hold weekly services that include a sermon, you should be recording audio of these talks. If you do, distributing this content as a podcast is a must!
Congregations, Harness The Power of Your Podcast! Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 7pm EST
60 Minutes • Presented by Peter Bowden
Many congregational leaders fear audio podcasts keep people from visiting. The opposite is true!
Audio podcasts are frequently used to evaluate congregations, including deciding to visit and ultimately join. Podcasts also help existing members and volunteers stay engaged.
With podcasts and smart speakers growing in popularity, your audio ministry is more valuable than ever! We’ll discuss using podcasts for outreach, education, membership development, and stewardship.
NOTE: If you hold weekly services that include a sermon, you should be recording audio of these talks. If you do, distributing this content as a podcast is a must!
Harness The Power of Your Podcast! Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 7pm EST 1 Hour Session Presented by Peter Bowden
Many leaders fear audio podcasts keep people from visiting. The opposite is true! Audio podcasts are frequently used to evaluate congregations, including deciding to visit and ultimately join.
Podcasts also help existing members and volunteers stay engaged. With podcasts and smart speakers growing in popularity, your audio ministry is more valuable than ever!
We’ll discuss using podcasts for outreach, education, membership development, and stewardship.
This session is part of my Leading Congregations Monthly training program.
To attend this session only, join the program and cancel your subscription after this training is over via your PayPal account. Easy!
Next week I’m offering my “2020 Future Cast” to my 2019 training program for congregational leaders. This is our final session in the series. We’re discussing top tech and communication trends that are shaping your community, your congregation and the context within which you are doing ministry today.
To my nonprofit and religious professional colleagues, I’m now booking professional chapter group and staff team strategy sessions for 2020. That includes remote Zoom sessions across the United States.
This is a great time to plan opportunities to get oriented to the impact digital culture is having on your community, explore ways to upgrade your strategy and invest in your team’s digital leadership skills.
This can feel overwhelming, but I make it fun, exciting and very practical. In addition to group trainings, I also offer private coaching for executives. Want to discuss the possibilities? Contact me.
New Year Preview
After the New Year, look for the following:
• new stand-alone on-demand courses
• single session webinars (not subscription)
• ongoing free public LIVE VIDEO sessions
• new podcast coming out this month!
Next week I’m offering my “2020 Future Cast” to my 2019 training program for congregational leaders. This is our final session in the series. We’re discussing top tech and communication trends that are shaping your community, your congregation and the context within which you are doing ministry today.
To my nonprofit and religious professional colleagues, I’m now booking professional chapter group and staff team strategy sessions for 2020. That includes remote Zoom sessions across the United States.
This is a great time to plan opportunities to get oriented to the impact digital culture is having on your community, explore ways to upgrade your strategy and invest in your team’s digital leadership skills.
This can feel overwhelming, but I make it fun, exciting and very practical. In addition to group trainings, I also offer private coaching for executives. Want to discuss the possibilities? Contact me.
New Year Preview
After the New Year, look for the following:
• new stand-alone on-demand courses
• single session webinars (not subscription)
• ongoing free public LIVE VIDEO sessions
• new podcast coming out this month!
Friends, for the New Year I’ve launched a new podcast. It is live and ready for you to subscribe to wherever you listen to podcasts.
Why a podcast?
We have a growing need for community builders who understand how to promote connection and build meaningful relationships wherever they are.
We need more opportunities to come together to explore the issues of our time, with this promoting civic engagement and action.
We also need community leaders to embrace the growing digital context of our lives and learn how to use digital tools to connect, engage, and inspire.
Through this podcast I’m sharing my work with connection, community building, nonprofit and congregational life, small group organizing, social media, digital leadership, and more!
Please subscribe for audio from my trainings, keynotes, guest interviews, Q and A sessions, podcast-only conversations, and audio masterclasses.
With the New Year people are looking to connect with organizations, from visiting a local congregation to joining a fitness club or getting involved in the climate movement.
Social media and digital culture are changing how people research and connect with these organizations.
In this episode, I share ways leaders and their organizations can support the digital side of this process to help more people successfully connect.
The New Year is a great time to try new strategies! This year I’d love for you to work on harnessing the power of video. In this session I share an overview of how we can use social media video to…
• Engage with your community • Facilitate conversation and spiritual exploration online • Advance your justice work • Increase attendance • and grow your membership as a result
We’ve Entered a “Video First” World
In 2016 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “Ten years ago, most of what we shared and consumed online was text. Now it’s photos, and soon most of it will be video. We see a world that is video first with video at the heart of all our apps and services.” Facebook / Fast Company
“The vast majority of Americans – 95% – now own a cellphone of some kind. The share of Americans that own smartphones is now 77%…” Pew Research Center
Video is estimated to be 80% of all Internet traffic. Wordstream.com
According to Forbes “90% of customers say video helps them make buying decisions and 64% of customers say that seeing a video makes them more likely to buy.” Adding a video to marketing emails has been shown to double to triple click-through rates. Website landing pages with videos see significant increases in their conversion rates.
Video is now expected. Use it to accompany and lead people from their first interaction with your congregation through their ongoing participation as members.
Using Video to Connect, Engage, Inspire
Through video your leaders are able to show up and be present online. Why is that important? Imagine not having any of your leaders present at the primary gatherings where people are trying to learn about your congregation? That’s what your online presence has become – the go to place to learn and connect with your congregation.
You are working to build relationships with your online community, to share your story, to inform, educate, and inspire them to take action. That action includes newcomers visiting for the first time, as well as inspiring existing members and friends to fully participate in congregational life.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you. We’re talking about using the tools of our time to be fully present and engaged with your community. The video format may be simple, but at the heart of this strategy isrelationship, leadership, and trust.
Face to Face Videos
Start using the camera from your smartphone, laptop, or desktop to film messages (you or other leaders) speaking directly to your online audience. Messages may be focused on newcomers, existing members and friends, or other audience as needed.
The best way to make great videos is to film many, many mediocre videos. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for continued improvement.
As my child’s 1st grade teacher always said, “Practice makes progress.”
Show Up Consistently
Worship leaders: Share a weekly message telling people about the upcoming service(s) but not just logistics, not just an invitation. Share what you are exploring, why you are exploring, why this matters, and invite discussion and sharing on the topic.
The Goal As a leader you are communicating why the topic matters, and why your congregation is taking time to explore it. With your members and friends surrounded by thousand of options for new learning, entertainment, and distraction on-demand, you are inspiring them to participate.
As a congregation, as religious leaders, use video to be online where people are spending their time, engage with your community, and inspire them to participate in congregational life — weekly!
Sounds like sales, but I call it leadership. You are leading them in the exploration of the theme by sharing the why, sharing stories, highlighting how it connects to what is happening in the larger world, inviting people to share thoughts via social media (online participation), encouraging people to invite interested friends (outreach), and inviting people to attend the actual service. It is digital leadership.
The Win People following your congregation via social media not only know what’s going on, but they feel the importance, the value, the connection, and choose to participate over all other options!
Overwhelmed?Consider starting by sharing a message once per month featuring a service that is of particular interest to you. You can build up to weekly.
Video Message Production Tips
The following are tips to help improve your video messages. I encourage you to join me in being an ALL STAR IMPERFECTIONIST! Don’t try to be perfect. You’ll improve over time.
1. Identify a Standard Location It takes energy and thought to share a video message. Not knowing where you are going to film is inhibiting. Whether it is an office, a living room, a space in your congregation, or out in nature, determine your default location, figure out how to film there (position, lighting, etc..) and stick with that location unless otherwise inspired.
2. Place Camera at Eye Level (Don’t Film Up the Nose) If you are using a laptop, place it on books to raise the camera to eye level. If using a smartphone, use a tripod to raise it to eye level. Invest in a smartphone mount and tripod. For Under $50 you can have a tripod and mount you can quickly attach your smartphone to. It is worth it if you are making video messages!
3. Increase Lighting for Increased Clarity Film with lots of light. This can be natural light, lights in the room you are using, and extra lights you have purchased for filming. I have four LED light panels on stands in my office. I use them fill the room with light when filming, including Zoom meetings. More light = greater clarity. If you have extra office lights around, directing the lights at the ceiling or surrounding walls can add extra diffuse light while maintaining a natural look.
4. Keep Brightest Light In Front of You and BEHIND the Camera If bright lights are behind you (included light on a wall) most cameras will auto-adjust to that brightness and you’ll look like you are an anonymous witness being interviewed by the FBI. The camera adjusting to the bright light will make you darker. Having the brightest light in front of you and behind the camera will help you look fabulous.
5. Press Smartphone Screen to Auto Focus and Auto Adjust Lighting On most smartphones, if you press and hold your face on the screen it will auto-focus and auto adjust the lighting. Holding for several seconds usually auto-focus locks on the subject.
6. Know Your Camera Orientation Before You Start Different social media platforms orient video horizontally, vertically, and square. The norms are shifting with Instagram and Facebook pushing vertical video. Look at videos on the platform where you’re planning to post. Notice what looks best, especially when viewed via mobile (majority of views). However the camera is oriented, keep it that way.
7. Check Background for Distractions Before you start filming, check to make sure there is nothing distracting in the background. Make sure your environment represents you and your congregation appropriately.
8. Frame Your Shot – the Rule of Thirds Where you are in the camera frame is important. Whether you are filming horizontally, vertically or with a square orientation, have your eyes floating just over the line between the middle and upper third of the screen. No matter how far away you are from the camera, still aim for that same line. See next page for framing examples.
In Western photography and film “an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject would.” Source: Wikipedia / Rule of Thirds.
9. Authenticity over other parameters How long should videos be? Is vertical better than square or horizontal. Do whatever works for you to show up, be authenitic – be yourself, make videos consistently, and share your enthusiasm.
If you can share a great video that feels good and covers everything you want in 60 seconds, great! If you need 3-5 minutes, do that.
10. You Can Do It! Have fun. Know it is important for your congregation. Don’t give up. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your videos improve, especially if you keep at it and reference this list of tips.
When you make and post video messages, I’d love to see them. You can tag me via social media @PeterBowdenLive on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to notify me of your posts, or email me links to videos you want to show off. Thanks!
Simple, But Challenging
Having been experimenting with this for a long time, I know this is challenging.
If you want help, I work with staff one-on-one as well as with teams and professional chapter groups. Whether individually or in groups, we can map out your video message strategy for a given span of time, figure out your video recording set up, and get you comfortable on camera.
I’m working on a related course right now. Will be taking new video coaching clients starting February 1st. If you’d like to be first in line, contact me and I’ll send you the registration link before I make it public.
The New Year is a great time to try new strategies! This year I’d love for you to work on harnessing the power of video. In this session I share an overview of how we can use social media video to…
• Engage with your community • Facilitate conversation and spiritual exploration online • Advance your justice work • Increase attendance • and grow your membership as a result
We’ve Entered a “Video First” World
In 2016 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “Ten years ago, most of what we shared and consumed online was text. Now it’s photos, and soon most of it will be video. We see a world that is video first with video at the heart of all our apps and services.” Facebook / Fast Company
“The vast majority of Americans – 95% – now own a cellphone of some kind. The share of Americans that own smartphones is now 77%…” Pew Research Center
Video is estimated to be 80% of all Internet traffic. Wordstream.com
According to Forbes “90% of customers say video helps them make buying decisions and 64% of customers say that seeing a video makes them more likely to buy.” Adding a video to marketing emails has been shown to double to triple click-through rates. Website landing pages with videos see significant increases in their conversion rates.
Video is now expected. Use it to accompany and lead people from their first interaction with your congregation through their ongoing participation as members.
Using Video to Connect, Engage, Inspire
Through video your leaders are able to show up and be present online. Why is that important? Imagine not having any of your leaders present at the primary gatherings where people are trying to learn about your congregation? That’s what your online presence has become – the go to place to learn and connect with your congregation.
You are working to build relationships with your online community, to share your story, to inform, educate, and inspire them to take action. That action includes newcomers visiting for the first time, as well as inspiring existing members and friends to fully participate in congregational life.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you. We’re talking about using the tools of our time to be fully present and engaged with your community. The video format may be simple, but at the heart of this strategy isrelationship, leadership, and trust.
Face to Face Videos
Start using the camera from your smartphone, laptop, or desktop to film messages (you or other leaders) speaking directly to your online audience. Messages may be focused on newcomers, existing members and friends, or other audience as needed.
The best way to make great videos is to film many, many mediocre videos. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for continued improvement.
As my child’s 1st grade teacher always said, “Practice makes progress.”
Show Up Consistently
Worship leaders: Share a weekly message telling people about the upcoming service(s) but not just logistics, not just an invitation. Share what you are exploring, why you are exploring, why this matters, and invite discussion and sharing on the topic.
The Goal As a leader you are communicating why the topic matters, and why your congregation is taking time to explore it. With your members and friends surrounded by thousand of options for new learning, entertainment, and distraction on-demand, you are inspiring them to participate.
As a congregation, as religious leaders, use video to be online where people are spending their time, engage with your community, and inspire them to participate in congregational life — weekly!
Sounds like sales, but I call it leadership. You are leading them in the exploration of the theme by sharing the why, sharing stories, highlighting how it connects to what is happening in the larger world, inviting people to share thoughts via social media (online participation), encouraging people to invite interested friends (outreach), and inviting people to attend the actual service. It is digital leadership.
The Win People following your congregation via social media not only know what’s going on, but they feel the importance, the value, the connection, and choose to participate over all other options!
Overwhelmed?Consider starting by sharing a message once per month featuring a service that is of particular interest to you. You can build up to weekly.
Video Message Production Tips
The following are tips to help improve your video messages. I encourage you to join me in being an ALL STAR IMPERFECTIONIST! Don’t try to be perfect. You’ll improve over time.
1. Identify a Standard Location It takes energy and thought to share a video message. Not knowing where you are going to film is inhibiting. Whether it is an office, a living room, a space in your congregation, or out in nature, determine your default location, figure out how to film there (position, lighting, etc..) and stick with that location unless otherwise inspired.
2. Place Camera at Eye Level (Don’t Film Up the Nose) If you are using a laptop, place it on books to raise the camera to eye level. If using a smartphone, use a tripod to raise it to eye level. Invest in a smartphone mount and tripod. For Under $50 you can have a tripod and mount you can quickly attach your smartphone to. It is worth it if you are making video messages!
3. Increase Lighting for Increased Clarity Film with lots of light. This can be natural light, lights in the room you are using, and extra lights you have purchased for filming. I have four LED light panels on stands in my office. I use them fill the room with light when filming, including Zoom meetings. More light = greater clarity. If you have extra office lights around, directing the lights at the ceiling or surrounding walls can add extra diffuse light while maintaining a natural look.
4. Keep Brightest Light In Front of You and BEHIND the Camera If bright lights are behind you (included light on a wall) most cameras will auto-adjust to that brightness and you’ll look like you are an anonymous witness being interviewed by the FBI. The camera adjusting to the bright light will make you darker. Having the brightest light in front of you and behind the camera will help you look fabulous.
5. Press Smartphone Screen to Auto Focus and Auto Adjust Lighting On most smartphones, if you press and hold your face on the screen it will auto-focus and auto adjust the lighting. Holding for several seconds usually auto-focus locks on the subject.
6. Know Your Camera Orientation Before You Start Different social media platforms orient video horizontally, vertically, and square. The norms are shifting with Instagram and Facebook pushing vertical video. Look at videos on the platform where you’re planning to post. Notice what looks best, especially when viewed via mobile (majority of views). However the camera is oriented, keep it that way.
7. Check Background for Distractions Before you start filming, check to make sure there is nothing distracting in the background. Make sure your environment represents you and your congregation appropriately.
8. Frame Your Shot – the Rule of Thirds Where you are in the camera frame is important. Whether you are filming horizontally, vertically or with a square orientation, have your eyes floating just over the line between the middle and upper third of the screen. No matter how far away you are from the camera, still aim for that same line. See next page for framing examples.
In Western photography and film “an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject would.” Source: Wikipedia / Rule of Thirds.
9. Authenticity over other parameters How long should videos be? Is vertical better than square or horizontal. Do whatever works for you to show up, be authenitic – be yourself, make videos consistently, and share your enthusiasm.
If you can share a great video that feels good and covers everything you want in 60 seconds, great! If you need 3-5 minutes, do that.
10. You Can Do It! Have fun. Know it is important for your congregation. Don’t give up. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your videos improve, especially if you keep at it and reference this list of tips.
When you make and post video messages, I’d love to see them. You can tag me via social media @PeterBowdenLive on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to notify me of your posts, or email me links to videos you want to show off. Thanks!
Simple, But Challenging
Having been experimenting with this for a long time, I know this is challenging.
If you want help, I work with staff one-on-one as well as with teams and professional chapter groups. Whether individually or in groups, we can map out your video message strategy for a given span of time, figure out your video recording set up, and get you comfortable on camera.
I’m working on a related course right now. Will be taking new video coaching clients starting February 1st. If you’d like to be first in line, contact me and I’ll send you the registration link before I make it public.
People I know and people I haven’t’ met yet will spontaneously say, “Hey, I love your pin.”
When they do, I share how I feel about climate, affirm our need to take action, mention how I’m involved with climate movement, and ask if they’re connected to any climate groups. If they are not, I recommend some groups.
When possible, I ask if I can email them information about some great groups like Mothers Out Front, 350, Citizens Climate Lobby, Extinction Rebellion, etc…
I bought 4 or 5 of the pins mentioned in this video via Amazon, but any pin you can wear all the time is great. I checked and Etsy has many options – see below.
We’re entering a “video first” world with video dominating social media and your audience’s attention. In Episode 5 of my podcast, I share strategies to help bring your leadership online.
These are strategies drawn from my training, coaching, and consulting work with nonprofits, congregations, and independent justice leaders.
To listen to this 55-minute audio master class, subscribe to my podcast and go to episode 5.
New podcast episode! Leading in a VIDEO FIRST world. This is a 55-minute audio masterclass on video strategy for community leaders. Listen and subscribe at https://t.co/YGgNUbZ5Qhpic.twitter.com/yZH6pWXJCy
On covid19, social distancing, limiting large gatherings, and your digital ministry strategy.
This is a strategy session to get your congregation thinking about the Covid19 coronavirus and your digital strategy should you face community spread and required “social distancing” such as limiting large gatherings and quarantines.
Specifically, how can we use social media, live video, and other tools to accomplish the work and ministry of your congregation without gathering face-to-face? This is something we need to be preparing for and I have strategy ideas to get you thinking.
Subscribe to The Epidemic Podcast. Epidemic is produced and hosted by Dr. Celine Gounder and Just Human Productions, and co-hosted by former Ebola czar Ronald Klain.
This will connect us via my text platform. Once we’re connected, whenever you have questions related to podcast episodes, videos, or other content, you can send me a message directly. This is NOT a group chat. It is a way for you to share questions with me one-on-one. I also send out low volume updates about live recording sessions and other opportunities to connect.
PRIVATE STRATEGY SESSIONS
I work with nonprofit and congregational leaders across the United States on community building, digital leadership, and other connecting strategies. For private executive and team strategy sessions, please email me. Once I verify we’re a match to work together, I’ll send you a scheduling link.
On covid19, social distancing, limiting large gatherings, and your digital ministry strategy.
This is a strategy session to get your congregation thinking about the Covid19 coronavirus and your digital strategy should you face community spread and required “social distancing” such as limiting large gatherings and quarantines.
Specifically, how can we use social media, live video, and other tools to accomplish the work and ministry of your congregation without gathering face-to-face? This is something we need to be preparing for and I have strategy ideas to get you thinking.
Subscribe to The Epidemic Podcast. Epidemic is produced and hosted by Dr. Celine Gounder and Just Human Productions, and co-hosted by former Ebola czar Ronald Klain.
This will connect us via my text platform. Once we’re connected, whenever you have questions related to podcast episodes, videos, or other content, you can send me a message directly. This is NOT a group chat. It is a way for you to share questions with me one-on-one. I also send out low volume updates about live recording sessions and other opportunities to connect.
PRIVATE STRATEGY SESSIONS
I work with nonprofit and congregational leaders across the United States on community building, digital leadership, and other connecting strategies. For private executive and team strategy sessions, please email me. Once I verify we’re a match to work together, I’ll send you a scheduling link.
Congregational leaders, this is another digital strategy session to support you as we work to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. For many of you, that means moving your ministry online.
In this session, we’re talking small group ministry.
Specifically, why I want you to prioritize moving your small group ministry program online — I recommend using ZOOM video for group meetings.
If you don’t have an existing small group ministry program, that’s okay! You can simply focus on launching a digital small group ministry now.
Doing so will help with present social distancing and will likely lead to an interest in participation when you’re promoting group-based ministry at a later time.
I know how much work and energy it takes to embrace and learn new models. Many of you are accelerating your learning and experimenting at lightning speed. You can do it!
Congregational leaders, this is another digital strategy session to support you as we work to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. For many of you, that means moving your ministry online.
In this session, we’re talking small group ministry.
Specifically, why I want you to prioritize moving your small group ministry program online — I recommend using ZOOM video for group meetings.
If you don’t have an existing small group ministry program, that’s okay! You can simply focus on launching a digital small group ministry now.
Doing so will help with present social distancing and will likely lead to an interest in participation when you’re promoting group-based ministry at a later time.
I know how much work and energy it takes to embrace and learn new models. Many of you are accelerating your learning and experimenting at lightning speed. You can do it!
In response to the COVID19 coronavirus, we are moving our worship, ministries, and congregational life online at lightning speed. As we do so, many congregations are reporting an increase in first-time visitors. They just happen to be ONLINE visitors. This increase in online visitors is something we should expect and plan for!
I’ve spoken frequently about congregations creating a digital path to membership. Previously that was to connect those exploring online with our mostly offline congregations. Now we need to create a digital path to membership to connect people successfully with our primarily online congregations.
In this session, I share some of the key strategies from my “Digital Path to Membership” workshop, share thoughts on adapting established best practices for our present context, and answer questions for the remainder of the hour.
Friends, in this session I share foundations of the strategy I’m recommending congregations implement to thrive in these times.
I also preview the training programs I’m rolling out to support you. They include strategy and skill training in three primary areas:
• Video for ministry leaders • Small group ministry • Social media strategy
A few key points from this session
VIDEO SKILLS: Religious professions need to become highly proficient in creating and using video content in their ministry. That content, live and recorded, is the foundation of a DIGITAL FIRST ministry. That’s the context of our ministry with other gatherings to be integrated as we are able.
SMALL GROUPS: Small groups translate beautifully to an online Zoom meeting environment and are the first kind of groups that we’ll be able to phase in — small groups in controlled spaces with people we know. If you plan to accomplished your ministry through small group ministry, you can knock it out of the park.
SOCIAL MEDIA: If ever we’ve needed to rock social media, now is the time. But not just random social media. We need to use it with integrity and purpose! I recommend using social media to deliver video content that engages people in the life of the congregation — worship and small groups – and expands the reach and impact of your ministry.
If you weave these three pillars together, I believe any congregation that was successful pre-covid19 can thrive in these times. If you didn’t have a strategy before COVID19 and social distancing, these strategies can serve you.
I’m launching three training programs corresponding to the areas.
First video, then small groups, then social media.
Friends, I have a new VIDEO MINISTRY training launching shortly! The invitation is going out to my email list first and then will be shared online. Subscribe to get be first to receive the invitation. Enrollment is going to be limited. ~ Peter
Video was important pre-COVID19.
Now showing up and leading online using video is essential.
That’s why I’m launching a new training program to help clergy, staff, and other congregational leaders skill-up and rapidly integrate video into their digital ministry efforts.
This new training program is called VIDEO MINISTRY ACADEMY. It is a video skill training and strategy masterclass for ministry leaders.
Registration is going to open tomorrow, Friday, May 14th, with the program starting (and registration closing) Monday, May 25th.
It is going to help you do the following:
1) Rapidly skill-up and start producing video content with ease using computer webcams or smartphones. Video is the heart and engine driving my recommended strategy right now.
2) Implement a video-driven approach to engaging people in congregational life. You need to use video to lead online, maintain relationships, keep people invested in the mission of your congregation, and, if interested, scale your ministry.
3) The above includes the critical task of developing a digital path to membership producing supporting video. Online visitors want and need all your intro and orientation content online and on-demand.
We have much to do!
My goal is to give you the essential video training and strategy you need as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Here’s how it is going to work
• Every Monday of the five-week Video Ministry Academy program, I’ll release a new on-demand module within the course site.
• Each module will include video presentations, handouts, and video assignments. They’ll be practical exercises designed to move you rapidly forward.
• Each week, I’ll do member-only Facebook live sessions to answer questions on that week’s module as well as answer questions from previous weeks. Exact details are being finalized now.
• Participants will share their recorded video assignments in our program member-only Facebook group or complete the assignments by going LIVE in the group.
• Within the Facebook Group, I will offer video feedback, cheerleading, and other coaching.
I know this is a challenging time.
That’s why I’m committed to helping leaders like you learn the skills and strategies they need to succeed.
Look for my email tomorrow with your official invitation to enroll.
It will include details on cost, what the five modules are, etc…
I’ll be sharing more about the program on video – of course! – and answering questions over the coming week.
WWUUD stream 
