The Sidekick Podcast

Have you ever felt isolate and alone in your job before? Have you ever felt that no one understands the stresses of our particular position? Sure! We all have. No matter what job you are in, everyone has felt overwhelmed, underprepared and stressed out. Everyone needs a pep talk every-now-and-then. This definitely applies to Church Communicators as well.

That is why I invited Kelley Hartnett on the podcast. Kelley has been involved in Church Communications for over a decade starting off as a receptionist for her Church. She now runs the Courageous Storytellers site which is a great resource for Church Communicators, whether you are new or a veteran communicator.

Kelley also just wrote a book entitled, “You’ve Got This: A Pep talk for Church Communicators“. It’s a fantastic book that will be the perfect pep talk Church Communicators need.

* Why she wrote it

* What the #1 stressor for Church Communicators is

* Why the demands on a Church Communicator are so high

* A quick breakdown of what the book is about

* An encouragement for all Church Communicators today

* Why it is so important to celebrate the wins!

* What should Church Communicators learn to say

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! What is a pep talk you’ve needed to hear before? Share it as we’d love to hear the different encouragement people have gotten.

* If you want to connect with Kelley you can read her blog here. You can also find her on Twitter. She is very active on social media so definitely her him up if you have a question.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

Volunteer Teams are the lifeblood of any ministry. The more you have them, the better your potential is to grow your ministry and expand your reach. That is why Adam McLaughlin is back on the podcast because he just wrote a book entitled “The Pigs are on the Runway” that directly addresses how you can grow your volunteer leadership team in 9 steps.

If you don’t know who Adam is, he is a Church Communicator in Ft. Myers, Florida and has been involved in digital communications for years. In today’s episode, Adam and I discuss and

* Why did he write the book

* Step 1: Understanding the positions you need to fill

* What Core Values have to do with Volunteer Teams

* How important trust is within your team

* Why it is vital for him to be involved in the ministry, not just directing it.

* The clear expectation for each team member to __________ (find out – it’s vital!)

* What “Big Idea Nashville” is and how you can sign up.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! What has been your experiences with Volunteers and growing those teams?

* If you want to connect with Adam you can read his blog here and gets some great FREE ebooks here. You can also find him on Twitter. He is very active on social media so definitely hit him up if you have a question.

* Facebook Group! Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

Analytics are really important in any area of ministry that you are involved in. This is true of web and online ministry, as well. And, if you want to get great analytics for your Church site, Google Analytics is the best. It’s the best because Google basically rules online search so if you want your Church’s site to get discovered, you have to know what Google values as important.

As important as understanding Google Analytics is, it isn’t always easy to understand, especially if you are just getting started. That is why I brought back Adam McLaughlin to the podcast. He has been involved in digital church communications for years, has a great website and works as a Church Communicator in Ft. Myers, Florida. In today’s episode, Adam and I discuss and walk through Google Analytics from the very start.

* Why iguanas are falling out of trees in Florida right now

* What is Google Analytics and why it is important

* How to plug in the Analytics code into your site

* What is the data that Google sends you and how you can use it.

* The data Google values most

* What is the bounce rate and what that means for your site

* Why a Responsive website is great for Google

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! Are you using Google Analytics? If so, how is it going and what questions do you still have about it?  Share your experiences and stories below or on social media using #ymsidekick so we can all learn from each other.

* If you want to connect with Adam you can read his blog here and gets some great FREE ebooks here. You can also find him on Twitter. He is very active on social media so definitely hit him up if you have a question.

* Facebook Group! Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

Change happens all the time. That is why Facebook latest changes to Pages shouldn’t have us too worried. Even though Church Communicators and Ministers will have to adapt, it shouldn’t deter you from your ultimate goal of getting your Church’s content out. In fact, there are HUGE opportunities now for Churches and, in particular, ministers.

That is why Jeanette Yates is back on the podcast.  In this episode we talk about…

* how Christmas went and a really cool Text-in-Church campaign she did over Christmas at her Church

* why Facebook’s changes to Pages is not necessarily a bad thing.

* how you can use Facebook Groups for your ministry

* how you can encourage people to be advocates on social media for your Church

* why it is important for ministers to step up on social media

* why Jeanette is optimistic this change from Facebook will make the Church Stronger on social media

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! What do you think of Facebook’s change and how ministers can adapt to it? Share below or on Twitter using #ymsidekick when you post.

* If you want to connect with Jeanette you can listen to her podcast here or you can find her on Twitter. She is very active on social media, especially on Twitter so get in touch with her.

* NEW eBook! The Twitter Advantage – Some churches are giving up on Twitter and that’s a mistake. This platform has unique advantages over other social platforms and can be leveraged to bring people from your community through your church’s front door. Discover how Twitter can be one of the most effective tools in your communications tool box.

* Facebook Groups! Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

Butts in seats, that is all we care about! Have you ever heard that saying before? Or, have you ever thought that? I’m sure we all have had that desire to get butts in seats but is that the only way you gauge your effectiveness as a Campus Pastor? Do all you care about is getting people to an event or service?

Being a Campus Pastor can be hard and determining how effective you actually are can be hard. That is why Stan Rodda is on the podcast today. Stan has been a Campus Pastor for years and has participated in a relaunch of a campus before. So, in today’s episode, Stan and I talk about what does it look like for his campus to be doing well and the analytics he uses to determine that.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! How do you use Analytics as a Campus Pastor? Share below or on Twitter using #ymsidekick when you post.

* If you want to connect with Stan you can read his blog and listen to his podcast here or you can find him on Twitter. He is very active on social media so definitely hit him up if you have a question.

* NEW eBook! The Twitter Advantage – Some churches are giving up on Twitter and that’s a mistake. This platform has unique advantages over other social platforms and can be leveraged to bring people from your community through your church’s front door. Discover how Twitter can be one of the most effective tools in your communications tool box.

* Facebook Groups! Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. Also, if you are a Campus Pastor or Ministry Lead, join the Lead from Second Facebook Group.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

Analytics are important in every area of ministry we participate in. They are especially useful as you will know very quickly if you are doing something right or wrong.

Analytics are great ways of judging your effectiveness on social media as well. Thankfully, Instagram provides some within the palm of your hand that can help you determine what is working or not working in your Instagram strategy.

That is why Seth Muse joins the podcast, our go-to person when it comes to Instagram for Church Communications. In this episode Seth walks through the entirety of the analytics on Instagram. So break out your phone and go through it with Seth as you listen to what these measure and how to make sense of it all.

ACTION STEPS:

* Share your thoughts! How do you use Instagram Analytics? Share below or on Twitter using #ymsidekick when you post.

* Seth is a great resource in communications and would be happy to connect with you. You can check in on him on Twitter click here. Also, check out his his blog and podcast and as well as his Facebook page.

* NEW eBook! The Twitter Advantage – Some churches are giving up on Twitter and that’s a mistake. This platform has unique advantages over other social platforms and can be leveraged to bring people from your community through your church’s front door. Discover how Twitter can be one of the most effective tools in your communications tool box.

* Want to learn more about Instagram for your ministry? Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

This is one of my podcasts I look forward to doing each year. Its the podcast where I highlight 6 people or groups that I follow regularly that are great content creators. The is the 3rd year in which I have done this. You can check out the 2016 and the 2017 list to see who I recommended.

With this new year I have 6 new ones to follow. The criteria that I have is that they are involved in Church Communications, Social Media, Student or Family Ministry or Online Ministry. They also need to be producing great blogs, vlogs or podcasts on a consistent basis. If they do not post regularly, they aren’t one the list. I am not going recommend you follow someone if they aren’t being consistent in their postings, no matter how great their content is. And that’s it. It’s pretty simple but those are the two important aspects of my criteria.

So, in NO particular order, here are the top 6 to seek out in 2018:

Adam McLaughlin – Adam is a Church Communications guy in Florida by way of Canada. He’s a great guy who has a tremendous heart to help others learn communications skills to help Churches communicate their message to their community. He has his own blog, participates as a moderator for the Church Communications Facebook Group and has lead at the Digital Bootcamp before. If you are involved in communications, he is a must follow! You can also follow him on Twitter.

Church Communications – The Church Communications Facebook group is one of the most influential and impactful groups out there designed specifically for Church Communicators. Started as a Facebook group, it quickly grew and expanded to be an amazing resource that now has regular blog and podcast postings. Katie Allred and Darrel Girardier started and run the group and are definitely awesome to follow. 

David Maddron – David is someone I just recently met online. He’s a Children’s and Family Ministry blogger who also is apart of the Orange Blogging team. He has great insights and it is very clear through his writings how passionate he is about children’s ministry and connecting families. Definitely seek him out in 2018 and follow his blog and him on Twitter.

Nils Smith  – Nils is an Online Ministry veteran. Previously, Nils served at the Innovation Pastor at Community Bible Church overseeing the entire web presence of CBC including website, mobile app, tv apps, online church, social media, etc. Currently he serves as the Chief Strategist of Social Media and Innovation at Dunham and Company. Nils vlogs regularly about social media and online tools and is the co-host with Jay Kranda for the Social Media Church Podcast. Find him here on Twitter.

Cory Sullivan – Cory is a good friend and has a great mind for student and family ministry. He has also appeared on my podcast numerous times. He has great insights in regards to ministering to students and families as he has worked as a teacher and is currently a Youth Engagement Specialist. He also helps out in a variety of ministry roles at a Church in Rochester, NY. He is an Orange Blogger and blogs regularly about student and fa...

Cory Sullivan is back on the podcast today to talk about a balancing act ministers do. That balancing act is navigating a “professional” relationship with volunteers leaders and a “personal” relationship. In order to be successful you need both. If all you have is a professional relationship with leaders you miss a community aspect of ministry that can be so key to your ministry as a team.  However, on the flip side, if you are too personal you may miss opportunities to minister to people effectively. So you have to learn how to navigate professional and personal relationships with your leaders.

That is why Cory is back on the podcast and in this podcast we talk about:

* How things are going and what Cory is thankful for

* Why getting to know leaders personally is so important…not just for Staffers but for volunteers as well

* How do you balance a professional and personal relationships with volunteer leaders.

* What an “informal” meeting time with leaders look like

* Why do you need to have a personal relationship with your leaders

ACTION STEPS:

* As always, Cory is a great resource and you can find him blogging here.  You can also follow him on Twitter here. He’s a great resource so hit him up and pick his brain.

* Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

It has been a long time since Ben Kerns has been on the podcast…to long. But, since it is Orange Blogger Week, Ben is back to talk about some Orange stuff as well as his recent blog post, The Best Way to Ruin Your Big Plan is to Break Trust.

Trust is a big deal in life but also in ministry. So how do you regain trust once it is broken, especially in your Church? That is why Tom brings Ben Kerns back to the podcast. Ben is a regular to the podcast and writes regularly on his blogs (links below). In this episode, Ben and Tom talk about:

* What Ben has been up to lately

* What he loves most about Christmas

* What is the background of his recent post, “The Best Way to Ruin your Big Plan is to Break Trust”.

* How can you regain trust in your Church and ministry (hint: it’s a “long term” play)

Ben is a great friend and a tremendous ministry resource. If you would like to connect with Ben, you can a few different ways.  He’s on Email (sorry folks, no Twitter for him unfortunately), his blogs – Average Youth Ministry (more student ministry focused) and Benjamin Kerns (more leadership focused) with tons of great insights each week.

So what do you think?  How have you rebuilt trust with others? Share your thoughts and insights below or on social media using the hashtag #ymsidekick. 

Mentioned in the Podcast:

* The Orange Conference – sign up by the 14th and save $70

* Digital Bootcamp – FREE Facebook group training where ministers can learn digital tools to help reach more people for Christ

Also, Tom would love to hear from you about what you’d like a future topic to be. To email Tom some ideas email him here.

Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.

December is a great opportunity in the life of the Church to invite people who don’t go to Church to Church for maybe the first time. Beyond Christmas Eve and Christmas day services, a way Churches usually do this is through hosting Christmas events. Whether it is a concert, a play or even family pictures there are a variety of ways people can invite others into the Church over the month of December.

The question for this podcast centers around how you can encourage others in the Church to be inviting their friends and associates to Church then. That is why Adam McLaughlin is back on the podcast. He is a Church Communicator and blogs/podcasts regularly at AdamMcLaughlin.net.

In today’s episode, Adam and I discuss a blog post he wrote recently about Free ways to get people to come a a Christmas Concert and we broaden the topic to include all Christmas Events because it definitely applies.

* How much Adam is enjoying the warmth of Florida compared to my temperatures in DC

* What he loves most about Christmas time

* How Facebook Events play a role

* How you can create images (Adam has a great FREE resource especially for non-Computer Graphics people like me)

If you want to connect with Adam you can read his blog here and listen to his podcast here. You can also find him on Twitter. He is very active on social media so definitely hit him up if you have a question.

What do you think? What is your strategy for reaching more people for Christmas Events?  Share your experiences and stories below or on social media using #ymsidekick so we can all learn from each other.

What do you want to hear about in a future episode? Email Tom some ideas here.

Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group as we are doing a Countdown to Christmas and how you can use digital tools to expand your reach this Christmas.

Make sure you goto iTunes and subscribe to the podcast and see what cool things we do each and every week!  And make sure you rate the show, especially if you like it.