Looking to revitalize your church’s digital presence for the new year? In this episode of MyCom, host Ryan Dunn shares practical strategies and insider insights to help you grow your ministry and foster authentic connections online. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming to level up your church’s social media, you’ll learn actionable tips for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube—with special focus on creating engaging content, leveraging platform algorithms, and tailoring your message for specific audiences.

Discover how to:

• Build a welcoming and knowable digital church identity
• Turn your congregation into brand ambassadors for greater online reach
• Create share-worthy content that gets noticed in algorithm-driven feeds
• Use stories, reels, and long-form videos to deepen engagement
• Optimize your church’s video and search strategy for lasting impact

Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction: New Year, New Social Media Strategy 02:25 — Ryan Dunn’s Journey: From Ministry to Digital Communications 03:31 — Setting the Table: Goals for Churches on Social Media 05:01 — Best Practices: Being Knowable & Engaging Online 06:25 — The Golden Rule: Serve the Platform and the Audience 08:06 — How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Ministry 09:02 — Facebook: Empowering Brand Advocates & Targeting Current Members 11:27 — Key Content Metrics: What Really Drives Sharing 13:06 — Instagram: Reels, Stories, and Engaging Younger Audiences 15:26 — Making Stories Work: Tips & Tricks 18:00 — Avoiding Story Overload & Measuring Success on Instagram 20:06 — TikTok: Reaching Young People, Search Trends, and Strategy Limitations 23:17 — Hashtags, Personal Accounts, and Maximizing Reach on TikTok 25:50 — YouTube: Video Search, Long-Term Value, and Organizing for Seekers 28:29 — Platform-Centric Content: The YouTube Approach 29:18 — Four Trends for 2025: Search, Long-Form Video, Quality, and Personal Approach 32:45 — Final Encouragement & Resources for Ongoing Growth

Find more episodes and resources for your ministry: ResourceUMC.org/MyCom-Podcast

Unlock the power of data in your church communications with this episode of "MyCom Church Communications and Marketing" Lauren Miers, Senior Communication Specialist of the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church, joins host Ryan Dunn to explore practical, actionable ways data can transform your ministry’s messaging and outreach. Whether you serve in a local church or a conference office, you’ll learn how to use both qualitative and quantitative data to make smarter decisions, reach the right audiences, and give your congregation what they truly need.

In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction & Why Data Matters in Church Communications 02:01 – Lauren Miers’ Background & Journey 03:54 – Defining Data Driven Communications 06:11 – Measuring Value & True Impact with Data 08:41 – Matching Content to the Right Platforms 10:07 – Communication Planning & Feedback Loops 14:40 – Workflow: Building Habits for Reviewing Data 21:00 – The Tools Behind Effective Data Collection 23:01 – Postmortem Data: Pivoting Your Ministry Plan 26:26 – Pet Data Points & What They Reveal 29:00 – Using Data to Truly Know Your Audience 30:50 – Easy Ways to Start Implementing Data Practices 33:27 – Bringing Others on Board with Data Insights 36:19 – Final Thoughts & Open Source Resources

If you want your ministry to work smarter and have a bigger impact, watch this episode and discover how data can help you connect, adapt, and grow. Don’t forget to subscribe for more practical episodes on church communications and marketing! Episode notes and more: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

This episode mentions these partner links: United Methodist Higher Education Foundation: www.umhef.org United Methodist Communications Giving Tuesday: www.umcom.org/GT2025

With endless digital content competing for our focus, let's explore the impact of technology on church engagement, share practical strategies for creating meaningful connections online, and invite churches to become sanctuaries for attention—places where people's presence is honored rather than exploited. Whether you're a church communicator, leader, or just curious about ministry in the digital age, this episode offers thoughtful ideas and actionable tips for making your church story stand out with purpose and peace.