“How do I get people to engage online?” This is probably the most common question I get about church online.
Today, I want to talk about two different types of digital engagement and why they are necessary to building your followership and discipling people online – Promotional and Personal Engagement.
PROMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT:
Promotional content is content that elicits a response. In other words, promotional content are posts that drive traffic to your page and get people to. like, comment, share, and follow.
Promotional content plays the role of an invitation.
Promotional content can also provide moments of micro-learning, i.e., teaching a Bible verse.
Promotional content can be both serious and funny.
Take for example this post written by Jeremy Poland:
In 20 hours, Jeremy got 67 comments. As my friend Jeff Reed says, “Numbers matter because people count.” Without numbers we have no one to disciple; we have no community. But without personal engagement, numbers are meaningless.
PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT:
Whereas promotional engagement is one way communication, personal engagement is two-way and ALWAYS necessary for digital discipleship and community building. A wise mentor of mine, Don Ross taught me to partner every new Christ–follower with a discipleship mentor. Faith was never meant to be walked out alone.
Let us take Jeremy’s post. What do you think Jeremy should do with the 67 comments he got?
Follow-up!
Imagine if someone walked into the doors of your church and no one acknowledged their existence. Would they come back? Doubtful. It is the same online. People need to know you see them and that you are interested in their life.
Follow-up is more than a new visitor gift and a form letter from the pastor.
Follow-up needs to be personal.
Follow-up needs to be consistent.
Follow-up needs to be caring.
Follow-up needs to be prayerful.
Follow-up means staying in touch.
How are you engaging people in digital spaces? I would love to hear from you.
Join the conversations over @onlineJesus on Facebook.
I will see you there!
In life and leadership,
Angela
Photo Credit: Photo by Daniel Korpai on Unsplash
What do you think?