Are you a church creative for a traditional church that steers clear of social media trends? Or perhaps you work at a modern church and find yourself caught between staying authentic and jumping on the latest trends?
Well, if you relate to either, are somewhere in between, or just want to learn more about this topic, I’m happy you’re here!
I’ve spent the past two years as the student graphic designer and social media manager for my college ministry, and I’ve also had the opportunity to intern at a new church in Eugene, Oregon. Through these experiences, I’ve slowly learned a lot about the ins and outs of church media, often turning to industry experts like Brady Shearer, who helps churches navigate the digital space.
So, on the topic of authenticity and trends, here are a few things that have been on my mind!
1. Don’t run from new trends
It’s important to understand that trends aren’t inherently bad. Are some really cringey? Yes. (in that case maybe don’t use them 😉 ) BUT, they can be a really great opportunity to not only engage with your current church body, but also reach new people. Take note of the trending sounds, audios, or reels that you can implement in your feed.
This can also be true for the graphic designers and artists of the church. As designers, we get inspiration everywhere – from other creatives, branding, trending color pairings, fonts, and more. Don’t shy away from incorporating some of those into your sermon series graphics or your instagram feed, as long as they are serving a purpose.
Remember to welcome these trends in with discernment. Does this trend align with your values? Will it connect to your audience in a meaningful way? If so, it can give a freshness to your content while also engaging existing members and potentially drawing new ones in. If not, it’s okay to pass on it even if you see the trend all over your feed. You don’t need to chase every viral moment – stay true to your brand!
2. Establish your brand
Speaking of brands – I think something I wish I would’ve spent more time on when I first started out was sitting down and writing out what the feed should look and feel like. Your church’s brand is more than just its colors and logo; it’s the tone in your captions, the warmth or coolness of your photos, the people you feature, how often you post, and so on. Your brand should be a true reflection of your church’s values and mission.
Consider these questions when thinking about your church’s brand:
- Are your photos warm and inviting, or do they lean toward cool, sleek tones?
- Do you capture candid moments of people connecting, or are your shots more polished and staged?
- Is your feed filled with aesthetic shots, or does it also showcase real emotions and genuine interactions?
These elements, while subtle, play a crucial role in how your church is perceived online.
For example, if your church values diversity, is that reflected in your social media presence? If your church is focused on reaching all generations, is that evident in the content you share?
Dig into your church’s values and mission and brainstorm the ways you can visually display it through social media!
This can also be an area where you can see the downside of chasing viral trends. It’s easy to stray from your brand by participating in a new trend, which can leave your audience feeling confused or disconnected from the personality your church has established through its brand.
I’ve also seen churches on my explore page who are doing all the trends (cringey or not) and sometimes it’s hard for me to get a vibe or feel of their church through the socials. I think this is a missed opportunity — take advantage of the tool that social media is for reflecting your church atmosphere and, in turn, making them want to visit!
3. Consistency over perfection
When establishing a brand, it’s easy to get caught up in making everything perfect. While it’s important to maintain a cohesive look across your feed, it’s also important to remember that consistency is often more valuable than perfection. Delivering consistent, quality content builds trust with your audience, provides engaging and helpful posts, and also contributes to the overall look and cohesiveness of your feed.
For example, if you post a carousel of photos from the Sunday service every week, your feed will gradually fill with photos of real people having real interactions at your church. Whereas if you’re someone who is trying out a new trend every week, it can make your feed look disorganized.
I’ve definitely been there. Saving all of the trendy reels I see other ministries doing then editing my own reel and posting it. But then I’ll look back on the feed and there is no consistency, no cohesiveness — it looks disorganized. You might be doing all the right things, but in the wrong way. It’s perfectly fine to sprinkle in trends , but balance them with your consistent, authentic content.
People value regularity in design, tone, and posting frequency over perfectly curated posts or overly staged content.
4. Know your audience
Each ministry within the church, whether it’s youth, college, or community-focused, has unique audiences. It’s crucial to understand what resonates with them. For example, youth ministries may benefit from fun, fast-paced reels or trends that tap into trending music or challenges. A college ministry might also benefit from trendy reels, while also relying on design trends to catch viewers’ eyes on socials. Community-focused ministries can emphasize more relatable, real-life moments captured in photos and short clips.
Plan your goals and social media schedule based on the ministry’s objectives.
Social media is a powerful tool, let’s learn how to use it well together in a glorifying way!
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