Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter

Be heard: 5 tips for terrific church videos 

  • March 21, 2022
  • Mark MacDonald
  • Church Resources, Featured, Latest News, Ministry Tip, Online tools, Technology

Be heard: 5 tips for terrific church videos 

By Mark MacDonald
Church branding strategist and consultant

Pastor, videos may be the solution you didn’t know you needed.

Often social media popularity helps us see what attracts and holds people’s attention. A 2021 Pew Survey revealed the social media channel that dominates: YouTube (an online collection of videos about everything-under-the-sun including church) has captured 81% of Americans (95% of 18-29 year olds) who regularly visit the site.

So, want to be heard more? Most users prefer short-form video — another reason to try it! Use relevant church video content on social media, in your services and even on your website.

Let’s talk about some tips for church videos so your congregation and your community will want to watch them. My quick overview tip? Make sure they’re relevant. Make the content about something viewers are Googling. Then post it on your YouTube Channel in addition to wherever you’re originally using it. If people are indeed searching for what your video is about (and it’s properly titled with a great metadata description), Google will direct them to your church content. Remember, Google owns YouTube.com.

Get more views

Want to make your church video watched even more? Here are 5 simple tips:

  1. Make it about your church’s thread. We tend to pursue social influencers known for a narrow path of needed content. Be a social influencer for Christ! Discover your thread boundaries so you deliver content your congregation and community can rely on and anticipate.
  2. Get to the point quickly. Capture your audience within the first 3 or 4 seconds. Get to the point fast — or do something unexpected so they want to watch more. Then reward them for paying attention: give them exactly what they’re needing.
  3. Say their name or speak their pain. Start videos by saying who it’s for, or what need, concern or goal it’ll solve. This engages them. Sure, they may not be able to remember your solutions; but because you’re known for a controlled thread of content, they know where to find it again when they need it.
  4. Provide captions. We consume digital content in places that don’t allow our volume to be up. Rev.com is a great online service to create them. It takes longer to produce but allows more people to enjoy content in a bathroom stall or coffee shop (where a lot of content is consumed).
  5. Keep it short. One of the best tips for church videos? Edit a script and resist rambling. For the first few it’s best to have a teleprompter to keep you on point. There also are apps (e.g., PromptSmart) that allow the script to scroll with your voice as you do a selfie video. Oh — and never waste anyone’s time. That’ll help them trust your videos. Be known for great video content.

Editor’s note — MacDonald is communication pastor, speaker, consultant, bestselling author, church branding strategist for BeKnownforSomething.com and executive director of the Center for Church Communication, empowering 10,000-plus churches to become known for something relevant (a communication thread) throughout their ministries, websites and social media. His book, “Be Known for Something,” is available at BeKnownBook.com.

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Latest News

  • Lass Words — A Song for a Soul
    Lass Words — A Song for a Soul
    October 4, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Crisis church communication: 4 tips to maintaining trust, unity and integrity
    Crisis church communication: 4 tips to maintaining trust, unity and integrity
    October 4, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Dozier Baptist welcomes interim pastor
    Dozier Baptist welcomes interim pastor
    October 3, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Lass Words — A Song for a Soul

October 4, 2023

Church music leaders take heart — your ministry through song is an invaluable and irreplaceable part of worship.

people watching concert during night time

Crisis church communication: 4 tips to maintaining trust, unity and integrity

October 4, 2023

Whether you’re addressing a crisis within your church or community, effective communication is essential to maintain trust and unity. Here are 4 tips that can help.

Dozier Baptist welcomes interim pastor

October 3, 2023

Eugene Meadows is the interim pastor of Dozier Baptist Church.

Sulphur Springs Missionary Baptist holds final meeting

October 3, 2023

Sulphur Springs Missionary Baptist Church, Hillsboro, held its final meeting as a congregation July 30.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
The Alabama Baptist
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 The Alabama Baptist, Inc.
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thealabamabaptist.org

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service

Log In

Lost your password?

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel