Faith and Social Media 2012 - The Year Ahead

Welcome to 2012! It's slated to be an exciting, eventful year - what with the Summer Olympics in London, and presidential elections in France and the United States,just to mention a few! And it's also expected to be an exciting year for social media and faith, as well!

As you begin the journey into the new year, its critically important to know where you're going, and have a good roadmap or GPS to help get you there. Advanced planning is vital for social media success in 2012!

Do you have your new Facebook Timeline profile ready or activated? What is your social media strategy for this year? How does it differ from last year's? Do you have LinkedIn or Google+ strategies for your ministry or church? Have you established daily, weekly, and monthly social media schedules? What are your S.M.A.R.T. social media goals for the year ahead?

Right out the gate, here are some of the major trends to look for in 2012: 1) An increased usage of mobile devices, especially smart phones and tablet computers (like the iPad 2) - Make sure your website is mobile friendly! ;  2) Social networking will remain huge- Can you believe Facebook will surpass one billion (with a "b") registered users this year?; 3) Expect to see increased usage of short videos; 4) Social media will continue to play a major role in social and political mobilizations and movements; 5) Trust, transparency, and respect will become even more important; and 6) Look for an increased adoption of social media by non-profits, churches and other faith based organizations.

As you engage your social networks in 2012 remember to listen and learn from them. They have a lot to teach you! Harvest insights and share them. Use smart metrics to measure your social media effectiveness (ROI). Always seek to be helpful and to add value to the individuals in your networks. Your vision is your compass. And remember, your focus should always be on Jesus! The challenge is adapting digital technology and social media to share the Gospel more creatively and effectively, both locally and globally! And finally, don't neglect in person fellowship!

The following are examples, suggestions, tips, and tools that, hopefully, you'll find helpful on the social media and faith journey ahead:

[Infographic] The SMB Social Media Cheat Sheet - ReadWriteWeb, David Strom
4 Community Management Predictions for 2012 - Mashable
10 Tips For Christians in Social Media - Faith, Media+Culture
50 Ways to Use Social Media - Jeremiah Owyang
60 Best Church Website Designs - Visual Swirl
2012 - Digital Opportunities In The Year Ahead - Digital Evangelism
Build Your Own Platform/ Start - Chris Brogan
Build Your Social Media Schedule for 2012 - Social Media Today
CES 2012 - CNET
The Church App - Subsplash
Facebook Timeline Customization: 5 Tools for Killer Cover Photos - Mashable
Facebook Timeline: The Complete Guide - Mashable
Going Beyond Ministries - Priscilla Shirer
Google+ The Complete Guide - Mashable
How to Upload a Video to YouTube - YouTube Video
Joel Osteen Ministries
John Maxwell On Leadership - John C. Maxwell
Mars Hill Church - Mark Driscoll, Founding Pastor
MobileAdvance - Mobileadvance.org
New Breed of Social Networking Sites w/ Mario Armstrong - YouTube Video
Non-Profits and Social Media: Planning for Success - Neal Schaffer
Productivity Tips for 2012 - Copyblogger
Social Media and Ministry - Rev. Dr. Kenneth Lillard
Social Media for Churches - UMCom.org
Social Media: What to Expect in 2012 - Social Media Today 
Social Media Strategy Map - WeAreMedia 
Ten Social Media Strategies to Define a Successful 2012 - Brian Solis
The Potter's House - Bishop T. D. Jakes
Top Five LinkedIn New Year's Resolutions for 2012 - Social Media Today

What are your social media goals for 2012? Wishing you success, prosperity, and all the best in the year ahead!

Until next time,

Stay Blessed!

Kenneth Lillard









 

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