Social Media Is Not A Fad

Want proof? Check out these statistics... I think this video should not only motivate us to think differently about the next generation and how the Church can reach them, but this can also help to birth new ideas on how to use social media. Enjoy!

Social Networking in Purchases

I'm sure you've seen "user ratings" on many on-line shopping sites. If you like the product you purchased, you write about it. If you didn't like it, you write about that.

For an example, check out my review of a ceiling fan at Costco.com. (Search for "RobPDX".)

It feels very empowering to be able to give that feedback.

Notice that the fan's "home page" at Costco.com lists the rating above the price. Also above the price is the ability to "Share this Product".

Gary Hamel recently wrote in his blog at The Wall Street Journal:

The Internet has produced a dramatic shift in bargaining power — from producers to consumers. Armed with near perfect information, customers are able to batter down prices on just about everything. For many companies, well-informed customers are now a bigger threat to margins than well-armed competitors.

How can we use this idea of "customer ratings" to enhance our outreach? Is this completely a retail idea?

Interesting website and service style

I found this and thought it was extremely interesting from 2 vantage points...

1) They are using the internet and social media as a key tool for reaching new people, as seen by the prominent placing of links on their website.

And...
2) They have a unique vision of mixing new, modern worship style and group discussion with a very liturgical tradition (Scripture reciting and weekly communion).

Here's the link - http://www.theuptownchurch.org/

-Curtis

RSS feed error

Hey Rob (i'm asking it on the blog in case anyone else has this same question/problem/challenge),

i thought i had correctly put this blog into my mac mail account for RSS feeds - it does show as the only thing in my RSS folder of my mac mail account - but it hasn't updated itself since 8/7, so i figure i must have messed up something when i set it up. Also, my gmail account is not getting notified when there is a new post on the blog. i don't have a problem just checking the blog to see what's new, but was hoping at least one of my email accounts would be notified when there are changes. If i have not muddled this further with my explanation, let me know if there is anything you can suggest. Thanks Techno-Man!

in Christ,

tad

Twitter Comic from Pastor Mark

"go primitive"

Today's entry for Urban Dictionary's word-of-the-day: "go primitive"

Instead of keyboarding or texting a long and detailed story someone suggests a phone call as a more direct way to have the conversation.

Dude, I'm good with texting but this is giving me carpel tunnel, let's go primitive. I'll call you tomorrow at 8.

A quote right up our alley...

"The question confronting the church today is not any longer whether the man in the street can grasp a religious message, but how to employ the communications media so as to let him have the full impact of the Gospel message." - PJP2