In 2022, on average a person is predicted to spend 100 minutes per day watching online videos making up more than 82% of all internet traffic. This amount of screen time is an opportunity for disciple making for your church.
If you are thinking about making a video to promote your ministry, here are a few things to consider:
Video Type
Technology allows you to film different types of videos, depending on your needs. Do you want a welcome video for first-timers to show them your sanctuary and members? Or should you consider a testimonial video that often provides highly emotional responses from viewers?
Audience
What type of video you make may largely be dependent on the audience? A younger audience, full of digital natives, expect a clean modern feel to their video content. Also, a younger audience may mean you consider motion graphics. An older audience might be more used to reading text on the screen.
Distribution Method/Platform
Equally important to type and audience is the consideration of how your video will be distributed. A longer video, 5-7 minutes, may work if it is hosted on your website – your viewers coming to your site are already interested in what you have to say. However, a video for social media needs to be shorter, 2-3 minutes, catching the audience’s attention and stopping their scroll.
Recording Location
Once you have made these decisions, it is time to narrow down a recording location. Keep acoustics and lighting in mind. If you are filming in a large sanctuary, you may need to pay special attention to audio and consider an external microphone. Similarly, if you are filming in a very dark area of the church, you should look into additional lighting.
Put It All Together, Authentically
Don’t make your ministry look like something it isn’t. Keep the message consistent with your ministry objectives. Does your video say what you want it to say in a way that is true, genuine, and credible?
While sometimes you need to make changes or adjustments to get the best video content, it is important to remember that the goal of video content should be to highlight and support the mission and ministry of the church always.
Wanting to make a video, but feel overwhelmed?
Work with UMC Support’s communications team to create and enhance your church’s video presence online. We can work with you to create a holistic approach to your video content creation, at an affordable price. Contact us today at ConnectionalRelations@gcfa.org or call 866-367-4232.