Social Media Evangelism, the New Normal during a Pandemic
https://admateacademy.blogspot.com/2020/11/social-media-evangelism-new-normal.html
The Church, without exaggeration, is one of the most affected by the corona virus pandemic, so much that many feared it was a conspiracy against the Church or some kind of persecution of the body of Christ, and understandably so, because the Church was regarded as the epicenter of the spread of corona virus. During the lengthy and excruciating lockdown periods, it was the Church that experienced the most lockdown, and when eventually, the government started to ease up the lockdown, more stringent corona virus protocols were introduced that made gathering in the church even more cumbersome.
Pains of the Lockdown
For the entire period of the lockdown, evangelism seized in most churches,
except for a small number of them that were responsive to global
digitalization campaigns preceding the pandemic. Digitalization has become an
acceptable global phenomenon in all sectors of human endeavour. Existing
traditional processes have given way to innovative methodologies, which have
introduced technological transformation in government, the military, medicine,
banking and finance, business, religion, just to mention a few.
The Church in Transition
Nine months into the spread of corona virus, many organizations and institutions are still adamant about digitalization. Presumably, they are waiting for normalcy to return. Taking such a position at this time is dangerous, because it is tantamount to self-destruct. A new corona virus protocol now guides our everyday co-existence, as either an individuals or an enterprise. These protocols have made it mandatory for people to keep safe distance from each other and reduce personal contact as much as possible.
Digital Transformation
Nine months into the spread of corona virus, many organizations and institutions are still adamant about digitalization. Presumably, they are waiting for normalcy to return. Taking such a position at this time is dangerous, because it is tantamount to self-destruct. A new corona virus protocol now guides our everyday co-existence, as either an individuals or an enterprise. These protocols have made it mandatory for people to keep safe distance from each other and reduce personal contact as much as possible.
Digital Transformation
These new protocols are now the foundation upon which we must
relate with one another and do business in a safe and acceptable manner.
Hence, coming to terms with technology and deploying existing innovative
tools in various areas of our endeavour, has become the new normal.
There is no room for delay or reluctance, if we must forge ahead with
life.
Digital Tools for Social Engagement
Digital transformation is not a new concept, it has been with us for decades, but the urgency of its deployment in the present time, is consequent to the corona virus pandemic, which has plagued the entire world. We have several innovative tools that allow us to share ideas, content and precious moments, of which all the tools are Internet-based. These tools come either as hardware or software, or in combination of both. Some of the hardware include computers, mobile devices, projector, camera, smart TV etc. Whereas in the areas of software, we have social media, teleconferencing applications, Cloud Computing, eLearning software and several others.
For an organization to fully digitalize its communications, it has to make available the required hardware and software tools.
Hardware Tools
Devices such as smartphone, camera, TriPort, computer and projector are some of the essential tools, which every organization must have to run an effective digital marketing campaign. For live video streaming on social media, a smartphone, camera and TriPort or a computer must be available. A projector may be required for presentation purposes during meetings or conferences.
Software Tools
Some of the software tools such as Social Media is the most used digital marketing channel and one of the most effective for customer engagement. These platforms allow users to share various types of media content quite easily, especially, via mobile devices or desktop computers. It is also the most effective medium for gathering feedback from members of the public.
There are various social media platforms and the most popular among them, particularly, for live video streaming, are Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Blogs are also great social media apps for promoting text content, illustrations, photographs, animated GIF, cinemagraph, infographics etc. Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Facebook are some of the popular and most effective content sharing social media platforms.
Teleconferencing software have become an essential tool and indeed, one of the most effective channel of modern day communications, especially, since the beginning of the corona virus pandemic in February/March 2020. These platforms have provided a place for meetings, eLearning and conferences and it is a must have by every organization. There are a number of teleconferencing software in the market and popular among them are Zoom Meetings, Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, GoToMeeting etc.
Every new technology has an introductory phase. There is always a period of culture shock whenever an innovative technology takes the place of existing traditional models, and digital transformation is not an exception. Organizations and individuals must learn to understand the workings of these new technologies and adapt within a reasonable period. Behavioral changes are a crucial part of any new technology. This reformative process of people old mindset is majorly, through the dissemination of information, training and application.
Acceptability is always difficult and slow at the early stages when there is an innovative technology. This phenomenon is quite common and we all experience it at one time or the other. Organizations owe their employees and members the duty to continually train and inform them of such new technologies. The Church no doubt is not an exception, as it has a fair share of its own culture shock, but accepting to information its members and train those who will lead the change process, is a significant first step and the right one indeed.
Conclusion
The Church is grappling with the corona virus, as it frantically tries to adjust to what has become the new normal in the face of stringent corona virus protocols rolled out by government in the face of a global threat of a second wave of the virus. World Health Organization have warned that the corona virus pandemic is not going away so soon. Reports of countries such as India, which is experiencing a third wave of the infection, points to the fact that all necessary measures must be in place to ensure that the Church continues to carry out its all-important functions of evangelism and saving souls.
Resources:
1. Social Media 101: Dos and Don'ts
2. Social Media Abuse and Governance
3. Social Media Boom, New Money Spinner
4. Social Media and Web Optimization Algorithm
5. Bait Advertising and the Menace of Fake News on Social Media
6. The Role of Social Media in Ecommerce
7. Six Common Mistakes to Avoid on Social Media
8. The Role of Social Media in Business
9. Social Media Glitches, the Legal Implications
10. Anti-Social Media Policy: A Bad Corporate Strategy
11. Social Media Policies Detrimental to Digital Marketing
12. Social Media: Clash between Business and Pleasure
13. Digital Economy and the COVID-19 Pandemic
14. COVID-19 and the Emerging New Normal
15. Five Essential Tools for Business During a Pandemic
Digital Tools for Social Engagement
Digital transformation is not a new concept, it has been with us for decades, but the urgency of its deployment in the present time, is consequent to the corona virus pandemic, which has plagued the entire world. We have several innovative tools that allow us to share ideas, content and precious moments, of which all the tools are Internet-based. These tools come either as hardware or software, or in combination of both. Some of the hardware include computers, mobile devices, projector, camera, smart TV etc. Whereas in the areas of software, we have social media, teleconferencing applications, Cloud Computing, eLearning software and several others.
For an organization to fully digitalize its communications, it has to make available the required hardware and software tools.
Hardware Tools
Devices such as smartphone, camera, TriPort, computer and projector are some of the essential tools, which every organization must have to run an effective digital marketing campaign. For live video streaming on social media, a smartphone, camera and TriPort or a computer must be available. A projector may be required for presentation purposes during meetings or conferences.
Software Tools
Some of the software tools such as Social Media is the most used digital marketing channel and one of the most effective for customer engagement. These platforms allow users to share various types of media content quite easily, especially, via mobile devices or desktop computers. It is also the most effective medium for gathering feedback from members of the public.
There are various social media platforms and the most popular among them, particularly, for live video streaming, are Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Blogs are also great social media apps for promoting text content, illustrations, photographs, animated GIF, cinemagraph, infographics etc. Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Facebook are some of the popular and most effective content sharing social media platforms.
Teleconferencing software have become an essential tool and indeed, one of the most effective channel of modern day communications, especially, since the beginning of the corona virus pandemic in February/March 2020. These platforms have provided a place for meetings, eLearning and conferences and it is a must have by every organization. There are a number of teleconferencing software in the market and popular among them are Zoom Meetings, Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, GoToMeeting etc.
Acculturation
Every new technology has an introductory phase. There is always a period of culture shock whenever an innovative technology takes the place of existing traditional models, and digital transformation is not an exception. Organizations and individuals must learn to understand the workings of these new technologies and adapt within a reasonable period. Behavioral changes are a crucial part of any new technology. This reformative process of people old mindset is majorly, through the dissemination of information, training and application.
Acceptability is always difficult and slow at the early stages when there is an innovative technology. This phenomenon is quite common and we all experience it at one time or the other. Organizations owe their employees and members the duty to continually train and inform them of such new technologies. The Church no doubt is not an exception, as it has a fair share of its own culture shock, but accepting to information its members and train those who will lead the change process, is a significant first step and the right one indeed.
Conclusion
The Church is grappling with the corona virus, as it frantically tries to adjust to what has become the new normal in the face of stringent corona virus protocols rolled out by government in the face of a global threat of a second wave of the virus. World Health Organization have warned that the corona virus pandemic is not going away so soon. Reports of countries such as India, which is experiencing a third wave of the infection, points to the fact that all necessary measures must be in place to ensure that the Church continues to carry out its all-important functions of evangelism and saving souls.
Resources:
1. Social Media 101: Dos and Don'ts
2. Social Media Abuse and Governance
3. Social Media Boom, New Money Spinner
4. Social Media and Web Optimization Algorithm
5. Bait Advertising and the Menace of Fake News on Social Media
6. The Role of Social Media in Ecommerce
7. Six Common Mistakes to Avoid on Social Media
8. The Role of Social Media in Business
9. Social Media Glitches, the Legal Implications
10. Anti-Social Media Policy: A Bad Corporate Strategy
11. Social Media Policies Detrimental to Digital Marketing
12. Social Media: Clash between Business and Pleasure
13. Digital Economy and the COVID-19 Pandemic
14. COVID-19 and the Emerging New Normal
15. Five Essential Tools for Business During a Pandemic
