Online Workshop: Church Communications – During Covid-19 and Beyond

Online Workshop:  Church Communications – During Covid-19 and Beyond

Dates:  Thursdays, October 8, 15, 22, and 29, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EST (Note: This online workshop is a four-part series).

Led by:  Christen Kinard, Founder, Digital Congregations

Workshop Description: This 4-part webinar is designed for church leaders—from pastors to communications managers—to learn to more easily and effectively navigate their church’s communications during the pandemic. Touching on a range of important and practical topics, this course includes the four live lessons (along with their recordings), a take-home communications roadmap, and weekly office hours with workshop leader, Christen Kinard, for specific questions and concerns related to your own ministry context. Each session will be one-hour long with a Q&A.

Part I: Thursday, October 8 | 10 A.M. EST

Livestreaming: A Clearer Picture 

You began livestreaming your service as soon as lockdown occurred. Now it’s time to reflect on and possibly revise what you’re doing and how. We will review:

• best livestreaming practices & the tools you’ll need
• whether your church is a “production” or a “broadcast” church
• what to anticipate in a post-pandemic transition

Part II: Thursday, October 15 | 10 A.M. EST

Beyond the Live Stream

Your social media channels are for more than just livestreaming. They can help you foster engagement and community digitally and create active participants in your workshop, ministry, and outreach. We will review:

• creative ways to use social media for community-building
• how to understand and learn from social media channels’ analytics
• tags and hashtags: how to use them and why they are important

Part III: Thursday, October 22 | 10 A.M. EST

How to Increase Online Giving

Those who support your church should be able to give easily on your website (without an account) and through a mobile app or test to give option. Your church should receive at least 50% of donations via online giving. We will review:

• specific action items to increase online giving
• which online giving tools are most effective
• how to better communicate your church’s needs

Part IV: Thursday, October 29 | 10 A.M. EST

Virtual Curb Appeal

Your website is now your front door. (It was before the pandemic, too.) If your members on the fringe or virtual visitors can’t find the information they’re looking for about your church and its offerings, then it’s easier to look elsewhere or stop looking altogether. Changes you make to your website now will continue to have an impact long after this crisis is over. We will review:

• three participating church websites to assess wins and identify gaps
• recommendations on updating navigation and content throughout your website without starting from scratch
• an introduction to SEO (search engine optimization)

Leader bio: Christen Kinard has spent a decade as a professional in communications and marketing. She has helped businesses and organizations as diverse as high-end retail stores and independent schools develop and implement efficient and impactful communications strategies. Digital Congregations sits at the intersection of her desire to do meaningful work, her belief in the importance of faith communities, and her talents and experience. Christen has a MA in Peace and Conflict Resolution from Norwich University and a BA in International Relations and French Literature from the University of South Carolina.

Online Format: This four-session workshop will use Zoom technology to meet online in order to allow for presentations by the leader as well as interaction among participants. Participants will need an electronic device equipped with a reliable Internet connection, built-in or external microphone, and a built-in or external webcam.

Cost: Both individual and group registration options are available; group registration consists of 2 to 4 individuals from the same church or organization.

$100 per individual, if register by September 30, 2020. (Note: Beginning, October 1, individual price increases by $25. Register early and save!).

$125 per group (2-4 participants from the same church/organization), if register by September 30, 2020. (Note: Beginning October 1, group registration price increases by $25. Register early and save!).

CEUs: .4 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for this event. Note: CEU certificates can be generated upon request at the time of the event.

Registration: Online registration is open. Click here to REGISTER. Registered participants will receive a Zoom meeting link the week prior to the event’s first meeting.

Waiting List: Space is limited. Register early to reserve your spot. Once event reaches capacity, a waiting list will be started.