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

What is the most streamlined way to use this blog?

(did you all hear my accent in that title?)

: )

I am signed into this blog with my gmail account, but i was really hoping to change that to either of my other two more regularly-used email accounts. Either way, even my gmail account has not been getting email alerts when blogs are posted...or is that, "posts are blogged?", so i'm still trying to feel around as to what is the best way to use this thing. Should i/we just keep the blog as a favorite on our web browsers? Should we subscribe to the RSS feeds? On that note, i haven't seen a way to do that subscription on my Comcast email account webpage (on my Mac), but with my mac.com email account there is a place for RSS feeds...and yet that email address (bigya@mac.com) is not the email account i use to log into the blog page....so there is a bit of confusion.

Also, i have not found the "BlogSend Address" list and the "Comment Notification Email"

as mentioned in an earlier post here.

My apologies as i know i have used vowels, and consonants, and too many of each, but hopefully my questions make sense and will also help someone else.

We're in!

Hey, after working on this for hours I think we are finally in! Maybe we will become technology savvy yet. See you guys in a few minutes.

Dick and Carolyn

New to Me!

This is all new to me, but I am anxious to learn whatever I can from all the experts I am surrounded by. Please be patient with my learning curve.....Pastor welcomed me to join this group, so here goes......

A Use for Twitter

Mark read this from USA Today:

JetBlue and United airlines are offering their Twitter followers first dibs on some discounted fares, using the uber-trendy form of messaging to quickly connect with customers and fill seats on flights that might otherwise take off less than full.

Go to http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-08-02-jetblue-united-twitter-airfares_N.htm?POE=click-refer to read more.

Good Definition for Twitter

I found this definition of Twitter from the International Children's MinistryInsight E-Mag - August 2009. Ryan Frank, Children's Pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Sweetser, Indiana explained it this way:

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service (no, I didn’t use those terms with the grandparents). Here’s how I explained it to them. Instead of sending a dozen e-mails or text messages, you send one message to your Twitter account, and it goes to all your friends (or followers). You could also explain it as a service that functions like a giant bulletin board where anyone can stick a short note. (by Ryan Frank, Children's Pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Sweetser, Indiana)

He goes on to give 10 reasons ministry leaders should Twitter. If you want to read the whole article, follow this link http://www.incm.org/resources_insight_0809_twitter.html