Highlights from around the web – 4/27/2010

It’s been a couple weeks, but here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or even subscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• More Than Half of Mobile Internet Time Is Spent on Social Networks [STATS]
  Posted: April 23, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  More stats to support the trend: mobile and social is where it is at.
• 3 Ways for Your Ministry to Generate Income via Live Broadcasts
  Posted: April 23, 2010
  From: ChurchCrunch
  Have you thought about live streaming different parts of your ministries? Here some good reasons to think about it.
• HOW TO: Boost Your SEO with a YouTube Channel
  Posted: April 19, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Great insights into how to use YouTube as a way to boost your search engine results.
• Global Media Outreach Hosts Webinar on Internet Impact, Mission Outreach Potential
  Posted: April 19, 2010
  From: Christian Media 2.0
  Global Media Outreach is one of the leaders in online evangelism. Join them on Wednesday for a webinar on how to use the Internet for evangelism.
• 10 SEO Myths Ministries Need to Avoid Like the Plague
  Posted: April 19, 2010
  From: ChurchCrunch
  Great set of SEO myths - which ones do you believe?
• What’s the Difference? Facebook Profiles, Groups and Pages
  Posted: April 16, 2010
  From: tonysteward
  Nice article that clearly defines the differences between profiles, groups, and pages. If you created a profile for something that should be a group or a page, now is the time to change it!
• New Study Shows the Mobile Web Will Rule by 2015 [STATS]
  Posted: April 13, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  More data to backup the move to a post-web site world.
• Non-Profit and Ministry Basic Training for Facebook Pages
  Posted: April 9, 2010
  From: tonysteward
  Another great resource for those wanting to create Facebook pages for their ministry.
• Free Webinar: Developing a Social Media Strategy for Your Church
  Posted: April 8, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog
  Live webinar on social media strategy April 14th @ 11AM EDT.
• Facebook: Your Best Primary Online Presence
  Posted: April 8, 2010
  From: tonysteward
  LifeChurch is going to make Facebook their primary online presence for their campuses. Wow. Is this a good move?
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Highlights from around the web – 4/7/2010

Here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or even subscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• BibleTech Recap #1: The First MMM Presentation
  Posted: April 5, 2010
  From: Mobile Ministry Magazine
  Here's a presentation on the next ten years of mobile...
• Creating a Facebook Page for Your Church, Part 3
  Posted: April 2, 2010
  From: ChurchCrunch
  Here is part 3 of the series on Facebook page creation for churches.
• Can the Church Learn Social Media Lessons from a Pizza Place?
  Posted: April 2, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog
  Great example of social media use. And great application for churches and ministries.
• Can the Church Learn Social Media Lessons from a Pizza Place?
  Posted: April 2, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog
  Great example of social media use. And great application for churches and ministries.
• HOW TO: Integrate Paid Search and Social Media for Better Marketing Results
  Posted: April 2, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  This is starting to become a trend...social and SEO should work together...
• Internet Evangelism Idea #1: Using CraigsList to Serve Local People in Need
  Posted: April 2, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog
  Ever thought of using Craigslist as a ministry or evangelism tool? It's not as crazy as it sounds...
• Creating a Facebook Page for Your Ministry, Part 4
  Posted: April 2, 2010
  From: ChurchCrunch
  The last in this four-part series detailing just how to create a killer Facebook page for your company (or ministry!).
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Highlights from around the web – 4/2/2010

Here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or even subscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• Perry Noble, NewSpring Church Kill Internet Campus
  Posted: March 31, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog
  Find out why NewSpring decided to shut down their Internet campus.
• Social Media Guidelines and Policies from North Point Ministries
  Posted: March 30, 2010
  From: ChurchCrunch
  Here's one church's social media guidelines. Does your ministry have one?
• Foursquare, Gowalla and More on a Google Map [Apps]
  Posted: March 30, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Ever wanted to know where people were "checking in" via location-based apps such as Foursquare? Are other churches in your area using these tools? This app could help you figure it out...
• Has Social Media Made SEO Irrelevant?
  Posted: March 30, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog
  Interesting discussion on the effectiveness of search engine optimization vs. social media "optimization". I think you need both, but you'll need to determine which is working best for you.
• Social networking: the future of denominations
  Posted: March 30, 2010
  From: Think Christian
  Here are some innovative ways that denominations are using the web. Very inspiring - check it out.
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Highlights from around the web – 3/30/2010

Here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or even subscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• Foursquare’s Growth Not Slowing Down: 725,000 Users, 22 Million Checkins
  Posted: March 29, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Foursquare keeps growing. Has your ministry considered the use of location-based techologies?
• Day Two: No One Even Attempts Hacking Chrome at Pwn2Own Competition [Security]
  Posted: March 28, 2010
  From: Lifehacker
  OK, a bit off topic, but interesting... Are you using the Google Chrome browser yet?
• Theology, Ecclesiology & Technology: Is it a Big Deal?
  Posted: March 28, 2010
  From: Christian Media 2.0
  Some great comments and questions all gathered in one place here. Take a look at this entry and answer his closing question: What do you think is the most important theological question related to using technology to carry out the functions of the church?
• CTIA 2010 in Review: Top Trends in Mobile
  Posted: March 28, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Here are top trends to be aware of. As I have said before: we are in a post-website world...
• Matrix: Evolution of Social Media Integration and Corporate Websites
  Posted: March 28, 2010
  From: Web Strategy by Jeremiah
  Here's a great roadmap for going social. It starts simple (link to your Facebook page) and ends up with full social integration. Where is your ministry on this list?
• 5 Essential Apps for Your Business’s Facebook Fan Page
  Posted: March 28, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  If you've got your fan page going, here are 5 great apps to use to make them better and more interactive. Look for some of these on my own "Lessons From Babel" fan page soon!
• 5 Ways Non-Profits Can Increase Engagement With YouTube
  Posted: March 26, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Great guide on how to utilize YouTube for your ministry.
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Evolution of social media integration

As you know, I regularly share posts I read via my Google Reader shared items. This weekend, however, I read a post that I thought should be highlighted in my blog.  One of the blogs I follow is Jeremiah Owyan’s “Web Strategy”. Yesterday, he posted an entry entitled “Matrix: Evolution of Social Media Integration and Corporate Websites”. In this post, he includes a matrix that shows an evolution of how and organization can evolve their social media strategy, starting with with “do nothing” and ending with “full integration”. But how do you get from nothing to everything? That’s the best part of this matrix: it gives you the baby steps in-between.

I am reproducing the matrix below, but I encourage you to go and read the entire post to get the full scope of how to use it.  Though it is written for businesses, ministries and non-profits can also benefit from it.

Tags: jeremiah owyang, social media, web strategy

Highlights from around the web – 3/26/2010

Here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or even subscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• Why Your Brand Needs to Be on Facebook Now
  Posted: March 25, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Still not sure about using Facebook? And yes - your ministry IS a brand.
• Creating a Facebook Page for Your Ministry, Part 2
  Posted: March 25, 2010
  From: ChurchCrunch
  More in this great series about creating a Facebook page for your ministry. Great details and examples!
• AdMob: Smartphone Usage Up, iPhone and Android on the Rise
  Posted: March 25, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  These stats show the increase in Smartphone usage. I truly believe that in the next five years (or less), all phones will be smartphones. Imagine everyone with an iPhone (or similar) device!
• Internet Ministry Research
  Posted: March 25, 2010
  From: Kingdom Strategist
  Is your ministry helping other ministries succeed? One easy way to do this is to participate in our research project. This article by Kevin Ring explains.
• Creating a Facebook Page for Your Church, Part 1
  Posted: March 24, 2010
  From: ChurchCrunch
  Absolutely great overview of creating a Facebook page...Print this out and use it to get yourself started!
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Highlights from around the web – 3/23/2010

Here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or even subscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• Mobile Benchmarks 2010: SMS w/Non-Profits
  Posted: March 21, 2010
  From: Mobile Ministry Magazine
  The future is mobile and social...here's some info on the mobile part...
• Social Networking Usage Surges Globally [STATS]
  Posted: March 21, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  More stats on social networks, this one focusing on the amount of time spent...
• Yelp for Business: 4 Steps for Success
  Posted: March 21, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  If you're a location-based ministry, consider adding yourself to Yelp! And churches, I would do this now!
• Five Free Tools for Measuring Your Search Marketing
  Posted: March 19, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog by OurChurch.Com
  OurChurch recommends these tools for measuring your success in the world of Google and Bing.
• 10 Essential Social Media Tips for B2B Marketers
  Posted: March 19, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  This is a GREAT list of "tips" for using social media. If you liked my "getting in their stream" post a while back, this is a "to do" list for doing so!
• Gowalla and The Gospel
  Posted: March 19, 2010
  From: Reaching The Online Generation
  I've been thinking for some time now that these location-based applications will be a strategic tool in the ministry toolbox. Here are some ideas on how this could be done...
• 4 Easy Ways to Engage Your Facebook Fans
  Posted: March 19, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  OK, so you've created your Facebook fan page. Now what? Here's some ideas how your ministry could engage online...
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Highlights from around the web – 3/19/2010

Here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or even subscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• Theory Meets Practice In Online Ministry
  Posted: March 16, 2010
  From: Collide Magazine
  Ben Simpson from Collide makes a great suggestion: let's move the debate about church online forward by providing examples, both "pro" and "con". I agree. And let's do some real research on this topic as well.
• Google: Mobile Query Growth “Dramatically Higher” Than PC
  Posted: March 16, 2010
  From: CMO.com
  Google lets us know that search is mobile as well.
• Five Free Tools for SEO
  Posted: March 16, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog by OurChurch.Com
  More search engine optimization info from OurChurch. This time, links to some SEO tools.
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Highlights from around the web – 3/16/2010

Here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or evensubscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• Learn Church SEO at Church Marketing Online University
  Posted: March 14, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog by OurChurch.Com
  OurChurch.com is offering a set of articles for SEO - check them out!
• SEO & Social Media ROI: Ye Have Not Because Ye Ask Not
  Posted: March 14, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog by OurChurch.Com
  Great reminder that we need to go beyond the use of search and social media and be sure we are measuring as well.
• Top 10 Social Media WORST Practices
  Posted: March 12, 2010
  From: CMO.com
  Some great ideas about what NOT to do with social media. Though written for businesses, ministries could do well to pay attention.
• Facebook To Announce Plans To Take Over The Internet With Facebook Pages
  Posted: March 10, 2010
  From: www.businessinsider.com
  Facebook wants to expand its "fan page" feature to all pages on the Internet. So now you won't need a separate page inside Facebook to get all the features of the social network. This seems like a logical evolution for Facebook - now companies won't have to maintain a separate Facebook presence.
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Highlights from around the web – 3/9/2010

I haven’t been blogging much in the past week while I was speaking at the TIEN conference in Istanbul, Turkey. I am back and should get into the blogging groove again soon. Stay tuned! In the meantime, here is my regular update from my Google Reader shared items:

Here are the latest things that caught my eye from around the web in the past few days. I subscribe to dozens of blogs and news sources via my Google Reader and share them. You can keep up with them by following me on Twitter or evensubscribing directly. I will also post them here in my blog from time to time.

• TextMarks Makes Sending Mass Text Messages Easy
  Posted: March 5, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Here is a way to set up a text message campaign quite easily.
• Understanding the Participatory News Consumer | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
  Posted: March 5, 2010
  From: pewinternet.org
  Great research about how people get news. The points made here in this research are something to consider when developing strategy for online ministry. The importance of developing online connections with people cannot be understated!
• 9 Search Engine Marketing Questions Every Organization Should Be Able to Answer
  Posted: March 4, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog by OurChurch.Com
  More search engine optimization insights...
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