creating a communication plan Madeline Pillow, Conference Director - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

creating a communication plan Madeline Pillow, Conference Director of Communications

objectives  Create a sense of urgency for a communication plan  Describe the core elements of a communication plan  Analyze communication needs and most effective channels in your church  Apply strengths to create a communication plan

what is a communication plan? …a blueprint for how, when and to whom specific information should be given. It also outlines what means of communication will be used to disseminate information. Photo: pxhere.com

what should communication be? Clear Intentional Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

the basics  Determine your purpose/goal  Decide your audience  Create the message  Choose the avenues (s) of communication you will use  Plan the implementation (timing/frequency)  Follow-up

communication cycle

translation  the act or process of translating something into a different language the act or process of changing something from one form to another  a change to a different substance, form, or appearance   Merriam-Webster

t ranslation, cont’d.  Example: Seminar on Translation class  Peter Jackson and The Lord of the Rings

audience

audience UMData.org (giving/income)  Demographics  Geography MissionInsite (demographics/lifestyle)  Employment  Health  Behavior  Attitudes

communication avenues  Word of mouth  Website  Social media  Newsletters  Posters, brochures, fliers  News stories (print, broadcast)  Press releases, press conferences  Outreach, presentations to community partners  Special events, open houses

barriers  Spotty internet  Too many communication channels  Communication overload  Filtering/selective perception  Misinterpretation/lack of clarity  Lack of enthusiasm  False assumptions/expectations

content

content  Let your congregation have “buy - in” (How can they be a part?)  What is your church’s core values? How can you tie this in? (ex. Marine Corps, Apple)  Tell a story (ex. TOMS)

avenues for your church  Word of mouth  Website  Social media  Newsletters  Visuals: posters/brochures, fliers Photo: remonline.com

a venues for your church, cont’d  Website (https://www.newsongumc.org/nli-older-letters.html; https://www.newsongumc.org/nli.html) (https://burkeumc.org/nli.html)  Church announcements (‘not your mother’s church announcements’)  Visibility- ‘part of the culture’ – in prayer, etc. (also in other ways: website, etc.)  Where is the ‘water cooler’ at your church? (visuals)

avenues overview  Generally want 2-3 main ways you communicate in your internal audience (cuts down on work and maximizes efforts)  Who is in charge? Who will send out communications; who is point person?  Make a timeline for communications- what needs to be said when? (helpful aid: NLI infographic)  ‘Focus group’

assess  How does your church normally send out important information church-wide? -Has it been successful? -Had a large reach?  Barriers to communication  Resources: http://www.nextlevelinnovations.org/

questions  When considering communicating to your church about NLI, what are your questions? Concerns?  What questions do you foresee your congregation having?  Communication at your church: what would you identify as barriers?

learning activity  In your peer group, share your assessment of the state of communication at your church. Provide an example.  Brainstorm ways to improve communication at your church. Create an outline of your NLI plan for your church.