Brad Abare of Church Marketing Sucks and Center for Church Communications taught a morning session at The Internet Ministry Conference today titled “A Matter of Message.”

Here are my live blogging notes:

RECAP ON BRAD’S MINISTRYCOM TALK 

The description and prescription for how we should communicate: Matthew 5:13-16 & Matthew 10:5-10

1. Be salty (Pursue more of God.)
2. Be transparent (Open up to others so that they will open up to God.)
3. Think local (Pursue others.)
4. Keep it simple (We are the equipment.)

GIANT MISTAKES ONLINE 

David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)

1. What is your giant?
   Identify the problem. The giant was the same for everybody.
2. Who is fighting?
   Identify who will solve the problem. David was the one who was ready to fight. An example of a leader (Saul) supporting others (David). An example of a generation (Saul) allowing the next generation (David) to take on the challenge.
3. What are your five smooth stones?
   Identify what methods should be used. The methods did not come first.

9 Common Communication Mistakes

1. We confuse the 3 M’s (Message, Method, & Movement)
   Understand what your message is.
   Understand what is the movement that you want to happen.
   Understand what method will make it happen.
2. We assume that people get it.
   Not everything that communicates works.
3. We assume that we are credible.
4. We copy others methods.
   When we just copy the methods, we forget what the message was in the first place.
5. We forget how to develop a plan and how to measure it.
6. We underestimate our boringness.
7. We speak Christianese.
   We need to pay attention to how our message is being translated.
8. We choose the easiest or cheapest method versus the right method.
   It does not mean that easy or cheap is bad, but when it is at the expense of the right method, it is bad.
9. We forget that design matters.

9 Tips for Better Communication Online

1. Lower the drawbridge.
   One entry point.
2. The call to action.
   What is it that we actually want people to do?
3. RSS is our friend.
   It is not just for blogs.
4. Cute, Clever, & Cool (via 37signals)
   Understand them as ingredients, and understand their place. These are spices that enhance the dish. Avoid too much spice or two little.
5. Remember the 2 second rule.
6. Understand that printed content does not equal web content.
   It is easy to control who receives print. Online is a much broader audience.
7. Blogs for me.
   Blog for me not the audience. The more we are transparent, the more the audience connects.
8. Let’s not reinvent the wheel.
9. Share.
   How can you help others?