Digital Evangelism Issues

Wisdom in the excellent TED lectures…

Susan Cain argues that introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated. Our world often prizes extroverts – but Susan makes a case for the quiet and contemplative.

Often, introverts are excellent strategics, planners, leaders – and evangelists- because they may be good at listening.

They are often great graphic designers and artists, website creators or tech people, film-makers, writers and bloggers. Recognize the introverts in your team or church, and use their gifts!

Two journalism professors from Christian universities have teamed up to make a short iPad-only book that uses interactive content to help new writers snag a byline.

“A One-Step Guide to a Byline is designed for new writers who want to know the bare minimum for writing an article for the popular press and it uses roll-over features, an interactive quiz and eight videos to help writers succeed,” says Michael Ray Smith, project director and professor from Campbell University in Buies Creek.

Smith joined Wally Metts, director of graduate studies in communication at Spring Arbor University, to make a fun, user-friendly book with enhanced content about the basics of writing. The “one-step” is finding the essential conflict that drives a good story.

“We wanted to get a guide for our friends in ministry who want an at-a-glance approach to telling a story for publication,” Smith said, adding that the guide has lots of content available at the touch. A One-Step Guide to a Byline is a free iBook availabale from Apple’s iBook store – just search for it by that name.

The book features:

• Eight how-to videos from successful writers including best-selling author Cecil Murphey (125 books) and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Manny Garcia
• The guide includes The Theology of Journalism by Arne H. Fjeldstad, internationally known for his work with journalism and ministry
• It includes pop-up boxes that give more detail when you touch them
• It provides an example of writing from the Wall Street Journal and another from the community press
• It gives relevant web links and a one-click glossary lookup

This guide is designed for new writers and journalists working in ministry. Everything in it works with the iPad touch screen. It is underwritten by a grant from Campbell University.

Smith will send a non-interactive PDF free on request to anyone who does not have an iPad. Send your request to smithm [at] campbell.edu.

Share your thoughts about this ebook in our comment section.

Book ISBN 978-0-9842766-3-9; distributed by Kadesh Press, Spring Arbor, Mich.

“Oh, no, how did I miss that?”

Unfortunately, in the eyes of many people, that grammatical error will rob your piece of writing of credibility.

OK, sure, not in Twitter; and people may cut some slack to allow for the informality of blogs. But in static websites and newsletters, frequent errors grate and irritate.

Bad grammar may also obscure or even change the intended meaning.

• More good advice from CopyBlogger
• How to check and revise
• Use a consistent house-style
• How to write like your teacher told you not to
• Daily Writing Tips come as a useful, err daily, email
• And, if you are writing for outsiders, avoid christianese jargon! And remember that storytelling communicates best.

Here’s a great graphic reminder of common errors. Add your own pet irritants here.

Infographic by CopyBlogger

Three infographics for the price of one:

• Understanding your audience, strategies to use Facebook and Twitter, what to post.
• More details on best times for posting.
• Good content engages people on social media

If you wish to engage your entire country, and it has than one timezone, concentrate on the most populous area when choosing your times to post to Facebook or Twitter. For USA, this means Eastern Time. If you are an English-language ministry with a worldwide readership, USA (and therefore its east coast) are likely to be the largest segment, and you should probably prioritize for them.

Consider also using Pinterest.

And another thing…

A new strategic book is a remarkable explanation of using social media (and other options) to spread your message as a non-profit or ministry. It is a practical step-by-step masterclass which is getting glowing reviews: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt. We give it the very highest recommendation. Any non-profit, mission, charity, or church will benefit hugely from Hyatt’s insights.

Infographic by Topnonprofits.com/posting-guide

Infographic courtesy of Raka Creative

Communication only happens when the recipient understands the message clearly.

Daily Writing Tips encourages all writers to put their copy through a readability tester| further tester. These provide Flesch-Kincaid Grade level, Reading Ease score and other results. Read more on readability and testing tools.

Readers Digest built its huge readership with a style that specifies an English level of the average 13-year-old. They also wisely communicate everything with storytelling. You may perhaps recall personalized non-fiction such as ‘I am John’s heart’.

Wesley would run all his sermons past his maidservant, and simplify the stuff she did not understand.

If we are writing for outsiders, of course an automated grader won’t pick up on jargon use. Christian writers need to be especially tuned to eliminate christianese as well as assuming zero previous knowledge.

A further factor is that any English language site is likely to attract second-language English readers from around the world. Learn how to internationalize your site.

• More writing resources including our free style guide

• Get a Daily Writing Tip by email

If you are a blogger, writer, speaker or storyteller, you may sometimes get stuck for ideas and inspiration. Copyblogger’s infographic could help you:

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

Other writing resources

Check

• our recommendations for writing books

• grammar mistakes that rob writing of credibility (great infographic) plus two free ebooks about writing

Free books

Our book competition and free ebook giveaway is still on here. If you tried to download Netcasters on Internet Evangelism Day, the link is now fixed – sorry about this.