Internet Toolbox for Churches » Podcast Episodes

ITC 54 | Audience Internet Ministry Q&A

Dave Hakes — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 12:00:58 +0000

This Internet Toolbox for Churches podcast episode answers questions about internet ministry and social media submitted by ITC audience members.

We’ve got great questions about

Setting up social media profiles as the pastor or the church
Whether the pastor should be the one doing internet ministry
Practice Facebook Pages
How to use social media for outreach
How to make a church’s Facebook Page more interactive

Don’t forget to visit internettoolboxforchurches.com/start if you’d like to help your church start or grow its internet ministry!

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 19:31)

Reviews and rankings in iTunes helps other churches discover this podcast and gives me valuable feedback. Please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes. Thanks for your time!

ITC 53 | Questions To Ask Before Starting A New Internet Ministry

Dave Hakes — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:00:59 +0000

This episode of the Internet Toolbox for Churches podcast offers a set of questions that churches ought to ask themselves before starting a new internet ministry.

The questions can also be used before expanding or to help evaluate an existing internet ministry. They’ll provide focus, identify potential issues and help the church zero in on just what it hopes to accomplish with its online ministry.

Don’t forget to visit internettoolboxforchurches.com/start if you’d like to help your church start or grow its internet ministry!

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 14:47)

Reviews and rankings in iTunes helps other churches discover this podcast and gives me valuable feedback. Please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes. Thanks for taking the time!

ITC 52 | Starting a Church Podcast

Dave Hakes — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 11:00:44 +0000

This episode is all about church podcasts, why you’d want one (or more) and what’s involved, demystifying the topic for your church.

It’s not a technical discussion at all. In fact, we deliberately keep discussion at a basics level, looking at the “big picture” so you’ll have an easier time getting started.

We dive into aspects others seem to never touch, such as episode outlines, the roles needed (including volunteer opportunities), the types of tools and online services you’ll need, and more.

Items mentioned:

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 25:05)

Reviews and rankings in iTunes helps other churches discover this podcast and gives me valuable feedback. Please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes. Thanks for taking the time!

ITC 51 | Empathy And Your Internet Ministry

Dave Hakes — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 11:00:55 +0000

This episode looks at why you want want to have empathy as a core part of your church’s internet ministry, regardless of whether that ministry consists of a website, Facebook Page or another online presence (or a combination).

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 11:30)

Reviews and rankings in iTunes helps other churches discover this podcast and gives me valuable feedback. Wouldn’t you please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes? Thanks for taking the time!

ITC 50 | How to Create a Social Media Strategy for Both Church Members and Visitors

Dave Hakes — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 11:00:41 +0000

This episode (number 50!) is my response to a question submitted by a listener who asked how to create a social media strategy for his church that will help them to reach both church members and those outside the church.

It’s a question common to many churches.

We look at what needs to be considered for a strategy to work for these two very distinct audiences.

If you have a question you’d like to submit, please leave a comment below.

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 19:10)

Reviews and rankings in iTunes helps other churches discover this podcast and give me valuable feedback. Wouldn’t you please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes? Thanks for taking the time!

ITC 49 | Email and Your Internet Ministry

Dave Hakes — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 11:00:43 +0000

Websites, Facebook Pages, podcasts and other forms of social media seem to get all the attention when it comes to churches reaching people via the internet.

Is there still room for email in churches’ internet ministries?

After all, email has been around so long now that many people regard it as a relic. Even those that don’t still find their Inboxes cluttered up by spam…often to the point where it seems not worth it to even check for email anymore.

I make the case the email is still worthwhile and should not be ignored in a church’s attempts to reach people online.

It can be quite useful and we look at some of the ways your church can use email as part of its online “inreach” and outreach.

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 13:22)

ITC 48 | Stretching Your Church’s Posting Topic Ideas

Dave Hakes — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 11:00:04 +0000

In this episode, we discuss how churches can get the most from their list of ideas for website post topics.

Why limit yourself to a single website post per topic when you can often get more than one post out of an idea?

It’s often already difficult enough to create posts for the website, but is especially so when you’ve exhausted your list of ideas for things to post about. Or are afraid you’ll exhaust your list once you start using them.

While this episode focuses on stretching the ideas you currently have, you also may simply need more. This is a topic we’ve covered before:

We also touch on the importance of making your your web ministry is sustainable (from a people and workload standpoint). This is also a topic we’ve previously covered:

Podcast Episode 36: An Internet Ministry Your Church Can Sustain

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 15:25)
“Stretching Your Church’s Posting Topics Ideas” transcript

Please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes, which helps other churches discover the podcast and helps me make it useful for you. — Thanks for taking the time!

ITC 47 | What To Do About Church Websites That Don’t Work

Dave Hakes — Tue, 13 May 2014 11:00:21 +0000

In this podcast episode, we look at what a church can do to turn around a website that just doesn’t seem to be working.

This is a continuation of the previous episode (episode 46), where we explored the reasons a church website might not live up to expectations.

Your church can’t be expected to automatically know what the problem is or how to fix the site, even when it’s obvious that it’s not working.

Some may instinctively leap to the conclusion that a new site is needed (possibly an expensive new site).

But that simply isn’t always the case.

Other churches give up on the idea of a web ministry.

In reality, the key to a website that’s effective at reaching people may be closer and easier to achieve than you think!

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 21:34)

“What To Do About Church Websites That Don’t Work” transcript

Please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes, which helps other churches discover the podcast and helps me make it useful for you. — Thanks for taking the time!

ITC 46 | Reasons Many Church Websites Don’t Work

Dave Hakes — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 11:00:42 +0000

In this podcast episode, we explore the many possible reasons a church might find its website not living up to expectations.

Having a church website that doesn’t work seems to be a common occurrence.

Some of the reasons are predictable. Others get to the core of what it means for a church to do successful internet outreach via the web.

But if your church is in this situation, with some careful thought, you should now be able to identify what the problem is and start working on fixing things so that your website can do what it was meant to do: Get your message out.

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 17:40)

“Reasons Many Church Websites Don’t Work” transcript

Quick video version of “Reasons Why Many Church Websites Don’t Work” on YouTube

Please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes, which helps other churches discover the podcast and helps me make it useful for you. — Thanks for taking the time!

ITC 45 | How To Put A More Human Face On Your Church’s Online Ministry

Dave Hakes — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 12:00:17 +0000

In this episode, we look at ways a church can put a more human face on its internet ministry, so it can make stronger connections with people and be more effective at spreading its message.

This podcast presents 6 ways (plus plenty of tips) to help your church’s online ministry be more effective.

In the Workshop segment, I’ve got tips to help you with your church website’s blog.

Church blogging tip sources mentioned in this episode

Get the episode now

Download the episode here (MP3, 28:04)

Watch “How To Put A More Human Face On Your Church’s Online Ministry” on YouTube video (Coming soon)

“How To Put A More Human Face On Your Church’s Online Ministry” transcript

Please consider ranking or reviewing this podcast in iTunes, which helps other churches discover the podcast and helps me make it useful for you. — Thanks for taking the time!