One Instagram Feature Every Church Should Use
- Mitchell Mueller
- Aug 1, 2023
- 4 min read
Why pinned posts in Instagram can be used as an amazing way to connect with people outside of your church:
The 'pinned post' feature on Instagram is one that I haven't seen many churches use but can be so effective for attracting new people to your profile and your church. For a long time, if people clicked on your profile they'd see your most recent posts. But a little bit ago Instagram added a feature where you can 'pin' a post so that it stays at the top of your profile. That way people can see exactly what you want them to see first. You can add up to 3 pinned posts, so the whole first row of posts can be curated to be seen first by a potential new follower. So how do we use this to our advantage as churches? Here are what I would do as the 3 pinned posts:
#1: Welcome to _______ church
Make a reel/video welcoming people to your church! Shoot it as if you were talking to someone who has never been to your church, who's interested in coming next Sunday. Talk to them about what your values are as a church, maybe a bit about what you believe. Tell them where the church is located and what time the Sunday service is. Edit in some b-roll video clips of worship, a pastor speaking and congregation members connecting in the lobby to show what church is like as you're talking about it. This is an amazing way for people to get acquainted with your church just by clicking on your profile.
#2: A virtual tour of your church
Film another reel/video of your lead pastor going around and talking about your church building. Tell a newcomer where to park, and show them where the main doors are. Then show them the way to where your main sanctuary is. Again, as you move through these areas, if you can, show some video of worship, speaking, and connection happening while you voice-over it. Make it a point to show people where the washrooms/restrooms are as that is important to many people. Show your kids and youth areas if you have them as young families would love to see where their kids will be during the service. (Mention that you have childcare during the service!). If you feel like putting where the offices are, or the prayer room, or anything else that's of value to a newcomer do it! By doing this, people can see exactly what your church looks like, where they should go, and just what to expect when they walk through the doors of your church.
#3: A video with your next-gen team
Every church says they want to attract young families, so show that by posting a video with your kids and youth pastor(s)! Use this as a time to personally introduce the people who oversee the kids and youth ministry. Tell the parents about the vision of what they do and why it's so important to them. Get into more details as the video goes on, like showing young families how to check in their children during the service, showing your youth/kids rooms, and telling the viewers about any mid-week programming you offer. This will allow parents to see that you care about their kids and can provide a safe and fun environment for them to learn and build relationships with one another.
By shooting and editing these videos, you now have strategically created an amazing first impression of your church. Anyone that clicks on your profile can see in under 3 minutes what your church is about, what it looks like, and that you care about the next generation. These videos will stand out from the crowd as the most watched and potentially most valuable posts that you put on your profile. Here are some quick tips to make these videos as effective and engaging as possible:
The video NEEDS to be vertical - These videos are made specifically for social media, so shoot them vertically, not horizontally, it'll be way more engaging and look much better
Shot properly with optimal video/audio equipment and edited well - Consider hiring someone or renting equipment for a day if you can't do it well with what you have
Make good thumbnails - Use bold white/black text on a coloured background. The simpler the title, the better (5-10 words total)
Put captions on the video - There are so many ways to do this, whether right in the editing app, an AI website, or a phone app
Use other footage/photos of your church as b-roll while you are talking - Having other footage engages the viewer better and shows what your church actually looks like during a Sunday service (NO STOCK FOOTAGE)
I hope this gave you at least one thing to think about as you move on, as I believe that these videos can bring in more guests into your church ready to hear the Gospel! Let me know if you have any questions or comments about this and be sure to share this with other pastor's if you found it helpful.
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