Social media comes of age

I spent yesterday at the Marriot Hotel in Mayfair sitting in a fascinating conference entitled "Social Media Influence".

The speakers included names from big global brands like Pepsi, Starbucks and Dell. Among the delegates (paying incidentally nearly £800 a head) were representatives of such British household names as Waitrose and Marks and Spencer.

I felt this demonstrated that social media was now seen as a force to be reckoned with as companies are  prepared to put some serious money and equally serious people behind their efforts.

Jemina Gibbons was blogging live from the conference and it is well worth looking at her notes here.The organisers have also distilled a (I know, I know) "Ten Commandments of  Social Business" which provides a neat summary of some of the main points.

There are just a couple of points it may be worth picking up for future use within the church.

Firstly using social media will require real commitment in terms of resources and creativity. Because we as individuals use social media as a leisure time activity that doesn't mean that our input has to be simply during leisure time. There is a real job of work to be done.

Secondly, social media is exactly that - social. The heavy sell won't work. It is about building relationships. This is where friendship evangelism must flourish. However we have to think very carefully how we leverage those relationships beyond being mutual friends or followers on Facebook and Twitter.

Thirdly, social media is expanding exponentially. In the UK we are at a tipping point where the MAJORITY will be linked to various forms of social media.

Fourthly, Facebook and Twitter are set to overtake Google as the search page for many activities. Is your church or cause on Facebook? Can they find you? It costs nothing to put up a church page.

Fifthly, within two or three years the majority of social media activity will be on hand held devices. Those of us exploring the use of SMS text messaging are already on the right track.

Sixthly, "fish where the fish are". Don't work on the basis that you have a church website and that is it. Go to whatever format of social media is emerging. Myspace has faded, Facebook is here, for now. Get on Facebook but get ready for the next innovation.

Finally, don't leave up ghost town blogs, websites or Facebook pages. Up date and keep fresh.

We can use social media to win friends and influence people