Reaching the Post-Modern Through Social Media and Personal Branding

These are my notes.

For quick reference, I mentioned the articles about my tattoo and the research I did for it that some of you have requested I repost, so here are those links:

“Inked” story of my tattoo and the symbolism it represents

“Tattoos and the Bible” the research I did about what the Bible has to say about it.

SOCIAL MEDIA FROM A NEW ANGLE

What we want to do today is to take a look at social media and look at it from a different angle. From face value, we see social networks that are great for networking, playing games, connecting with friends, photo sharing, and plenty of other viral ways to interact with each other, but could there be other things we can use social media for that actually can make a difference in the lives of people we call friends or followers?

This breakout has been titled “Reaching the Post-Modern through Social Media and Personal Branding.” This conference is built on the foundation of God reaching down to us, pulling us out of our muck and mire, and saving us from the consequences of sin.

VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE CROSS

That is the vertical perspective of the Cross. Heaven coming down to Earth. God’s reality shaping our worldview and restoring hope and destiny in Him.
The other perspective is the horizontal approach that bridged the gap between God and man. No longer was a mediator necessary for us to have relationship with God the Father as Jesus the Son became that mediator.
This bridge enabled us to have relationship, develop identity, and walk out our calling as a son or daughter of God that can be “in the world but not of the world.”

How does this relate to social media?
-  Today we are on using social media as a bridge for evangelistic outreach
What does this mean to reaching the post-modern?

POST-MODERNISM DEFINED

Post-modernism is truth is relative and contextual. cynical towards a universal truth. emphasizes the role of language, power, and personal motivations to define truth. before truth can be accepted, it must be tested, analyzing, and if able to withstand the scrutiny, then it can be accepted.
We in a culture where truth is relative and people are very leery to accept your faith at face value. The Church has lost its ability to direct the tides of culture and bring a clear definition to truth because we have become hypocritical and deferred the responsibility to influence culture in a consistent and honest manner.

PERCEPTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY

Let’s take a look at what some of these perceptions of Christianity are today:

These perceptions aren’t just held by a few:

Nearly 24 million outsiders in this country who are ages 16-29 (mosaic 1984-2002 and buster 1965-1983 generation)

6 Themes of How Outsiders View Christianity:

1. Hypocritical: (85% polled hold this view) Christians pretend to be something unreal, conveying a polished image that is not accurate
2. Too focused on getting converts: (68% polled hold this view) feel like targets rather than people
3. Anti-homosexual: (91% polled hold this view) Christians are fixated on curing homosexuals and on leveraging political solutions against them
4. Sheltered: (70% polled hold this view) Christians are old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. Not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people’s lives
5. Too political: (75% polled hold this view) overly motivated by a political agenda
6. Judgmental: (87% polled hold this view) quick to judge others, doubt Christians really love people as we say we do.

59% of people polled say their views were shaped by experiences at church
50% of people polled say their views were shaped by relationships with other Christians

The majority of these perceptions are coming from relationships with Christians and personal experiences in the Church.

How can these perceptions be changed?
How were these perceptions made?

REDEFINING THESE PERCEPTIONS

They can be changed the very same way they were formed. If they began by experiences people had with Christians, then they can be changed by new experiences people have with you.

You may be thinking that with the exception of some planned outreaches or church-sponsored events, you don’t have much interaction with outsiders. Tell my story of how I felt like I had very little exposure to outsiders and so sharing the gospel seemed like an extracurricular activity instead of a daily lifestyle like it was supposed to be.

SOCIAL MEDIA AS MY PLATFORM TO REACH THE OUTSIDERS

I used social media as a platform to build relationship and rapport with my friends.
I began using Facebook in 2006—when you still had to be a college student to join.

For a while, Facebook was simply a social network for connecting with new college friends, sharing photos, and doing what most everyone uses Facebook for.

It wasn’t until about two years ago when I started learning how social media really works and seeing the potential it has to influence and shape how people view businesses, churches, organizations, and individuals.

I began asking God how He could use my love for social media in a way that could bring Him honor and be a voice. He spoke to me and told me that the way a pastor teaches and imparts the heart of Jesus to his congregation on a Sunday morning; I was to use social media in a similar way.

My Facebook, my blogs, the variety of social sites I used were to reflect my relationship with Christ and be a pulpit to bring Him honor.

I began simply by cleaning up my Facebook—girls, comments, pictures, misleading content that didn’t line up to the purpose God gave me for using social media.
I then started a blog that connected my passions for social media, marketing, and the church in one place.

This created a bridge between Kyle at school, Kyle as a Christian, and Kyle online.
For the perception of who Kyle was to be consistent, Kyle could not be different online from what they saw at school.

Social media started changing the perception of Christianity for the people I went to school with and caused me to be aware of everything I said and did to make sure it aligned with who I am and what I want represented online.
In order to have consistency between who I am and what I wanted represented, I needed to develop a personal brand.

DEFINING PERSONAL BRANDING

Let me show you this video that defines what branding is so then I can tie in how to make it personal.

Personal branding is about making the right impression and having influence.

You can develop a personal brand by looking at what you are passionate about.
-       My personal brand is social media, marketing, and the church
-       Others brands are on art, technology, social injustices, media, etc

By developing a personal brand, you distinguish yourself as an influencer and expert on that topic of interest.
-  Social media was never something I went to school for or was trained in. It was a personal passion that became a personal brand as others saw my passion influence the way they think about social media, marketing, or the church.

Why developing a personal brand is important is because you need to know how to distinguish yourself and bring credibility to what you say and write.

This begins with creating a strategy for social media.

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY

Why do you have a Facebook or a Twitter account?
Why do you blog?

Strategy for both personal and corporate use is crucial for optimizing influence and building a following.
Now I cannot tell you what your strategy should be, but let me give you a few tips on questions to ask that will help develop your plan.

Personal Social Media Strategy:

#1 What will set you apart?
Millions on Facebook and Twitter, thousands of blogs out there. What will make someone want to return to your blog or be your follower.

In one sentence, tell me who you are.

#2 Who will your audience be?
Need to know who you are talking to, what language they use, and what are the keys that you have to questions you will be asking.

#3 What does your audience already know about you?
Take into consideration the language they speak, the relationship they have with you, and where they are coming from.

Origin determines outcome. If you ignore who your audience is, you will lose them.

#4 What is your personal brand?
Take #1 and develop it.
Don’t blog about the condition of the church and your love for puppies. Your audience is not the same. Start two blogs or two social media accounts, but don’t blend passions that aren’t meant to be mixed.

Steak and Skittles should not be put in the same blender.

#5 How will you be perceived?
Using personal blogs or social media networks gives an opportunity for people from all around the world to peek into who you are and what you are all about. This can be a good or a bad thing.

What you post determines what people think of you. Take a look at your Facebook wall. Does it accurately reflect who you are and what you are passionate about?

Church/Outreach Social Media Strategy

Take the steps above and explain them for CCK

Practically, how does CCK use social media?

Facebook: create a viral community to carry on the conversation outside of Sunday
Twitter: message highlights, livestream announcements, event invites
Blogs: insight into lives of CCK members and what they are passionate about

Where to begin with social media?

WHERE TO BEGIN

LISTEN
CONNECT
PUBLISH

Listen:
“ When we begin to listen to our city, when we begin to embody truth, things change in the atmosphere.”  Adam Peacocke

Your passion should dictate your action.

Connect:

Social networks are not one to one—they are designed to be one to many. Use them to connect with the influencers you’ve been listening to.

Publish:

Use your blogs to share your relationship with God in a practical and personal way.

“Our ability to reach out to our community is predicated on our ability to reach out to God.”

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

#1 Represent

Have your social media accounts accurately represent who you are

#2 Define your personal brand

Discover your passion and establish your voice

#3 Listen, Connect, and Publish

Join in on conversations, listen to the experts, connect with who they are, and publish good content

Reaching the Post-Modern through Social Media and Personal Branding