The Pro Church Tools Show with Brady Shearer

Latest Episodes:

Welcoming New Visitors with Redemption Church: Coaching Edition #022 Nov 16, 2017

Show notes

Redemption Church is a mobile church run out of a middle school in Oklahoma. This being the case, they have a lot of new visitors, but their team is concerned that they don't have a great infrastructure in place when it comes to guests. Brady sits down with their communications team to put a plan in place.

Meet The Church Being Coached

Church Name: Redemption Church OKC
Church Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Church Age: 3 years
Church Size: 250 - 350
On the coaching call: Heidi Clarke - Communications Director, Chris Clarke - Worship & Arts Pastor

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

3 Instant Takeaways

Balance the line between quality and quantity. With connection cards if you ask for too much information you'll receive less responses, but at the same time you want to collect enough information for it to be helpful for your team. You'll need to balance the line between asking too much and not enough so that people will fill out the card and hand it in.
Incentivize. Any healthy relationship needs to be reciprocal so when a new visitor attends your church they've already given so much. They've given their time and stepped out of their comfort zone. To then ask them to give their personal information - it can come across like a big ask. By giving something in return for them filling out a connect card you help even out the give and take of the relationship.
Be genuine. Incentives and connect cards can come across as gimmicky, so find ways to communicate them authentically. Tie them into who you are as a church. Give an incentive that means something and is valuable. Show your visitors that they matter.

Find the full transcript for this session of the Pro Church Podcast at http://prochurchtools.com/welcoming-new-visitors-redemption-church/.

188 - The 27X Video Framework with Brady Shearer Nov 14, 2017

Show notes

http://prochurchtools.com/188 - I went and studied 100s of almost identical Facebook posts to discover what really worked (and more importantly, what really didn't) when it came to growing engagement.

What's In This Session?

Defining the case study (6:54)
The video guarantee (10:13)
The statistics (11:20)
Why a share is important (12:14)
The case study results (21:25)
Real life examples (30:03)
Storytape pricing (44:40)

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

3 Instant Takeaways

Video out performs text and photo based posts on Facebook. This makes sense because video will keep our attention on a single platform and post longer. Due to this prolonged attention Facebook is prioritizing video, meaning that video posts are more likely to be seen by your audience.
Viewers retain more of the message when watching a video compared to text. Even if the retention rate is only an extra 50%, this still means that your audience is still means that your audience is still capturing more of your message when you put it out in video form than when you use a text and image combo.
Add captions. A high percentage of videos on social media are viewed without sound. By adding captions you allow this large portion of your audience to still engage with you content. You make it accessible.

Find the full transcript for this session of the Pro Church Podcast at http://prochurchtools.com/pcp188/.

Leaders Shutting Down Creativity, Church Directories & Google My Business | #AskBrady Episode 41 Nov 11, 2017

Show notes

Watch the video version of this episode of The #AskBrady Show here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ProChurchTools

#TIMESTAMPS: 1:06 - Worship backgrounds: motions or stills? 3:05 - Everything I try to do creative or new gets shut down by my lead pastor. Do you have any advice or ideas as to what I should do? 17:03 - I'm being asked about offering an online church directory and looking for some insights as to whether that's still something worth doing. 21:54 - Any suggestions on how to use the 300 character limit status update for our church's Google Business page? Brady Shearer is the CEO of Pro Church Tools Inc., a company helping churches communicate better. Through weekly videos, podcasts, and articles, Pro Church Tools reaches more than 25,000 churches every month. Brady is the host of The #AskBrady Show, a church communications focused Q&A video show and podcast, as well as the Pro Church Podcast, a weekly interview audio podcast. Follow Me Online Here: Instagram: http://instagram.com/bradyshearer Facebook: http://facebook.com/prochurchtools Website: http://prochurchtools.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/bradyshearer

Expanding A Creative Team with Connection Church: Coaching Edition #021 Nov 09, 2017

Show notes

Connection Church knows the importance of great digital and social media content, but right now they don't have someone to head it up. They're not sure what they needr in the person they hire. Brady sits down with their communications team to discuss the type of person they should look for.

Meet The Church Being Coached

Church Name: Connection Church
Church Location: Canton, Michigan
Church Age: 75 years
Church Size: 2,600 - 3,000
On the coaching call: Austin - Youth/Tech/Communications, Jared - Youth Intern

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

3 Instant Takeaways

More is not always better. If your social media strategy is struggling, don't try to fix it by adding more channels. Instead take the time to figure out why your strategy is not working and how to improve. Learn how to go deep on your most popular social channel before taking on more.
Look for a practitioner. Because social media is constantly changing so quickly, there is no formal education system for how to become a church communicator. This makes it important to find someone who is already applying the qualities in their own life. They are active on social media. They understand the platforms.
Manage expectations. When it comes to creative projects make sure the other people on staff are aware of the timeline required. Put deadlines in place. This will help make sure their expectations line up with what is possible, as well as with the other members of your team.

Find the full transcript for this session of the Pro Church Podcast at http://prochurchtools.com/expanding-creati…onnection-church/.

187 - Capturing Stunning Abstract Video Footage with Tristan Persaud Nov 07, 2017

Show notes

http://prochurchtools.com/187 - Tristan is the creative mind behind a large percentage of the abstract footage available on Storytape. He joins us to discuss what it takes to orchestrate and film an abstract scene.

What's In This Session?

The origins of Storytape (8:07)
Executing a reverse bet (10:15)
What it takes to orchestrate an abstract scene (14:20)
Filming abstract clips using fire and flames (16:04)
Why a macro lens is the key to great abstract footage (20:27)
Building an abstract scene around a broken speaker (22:35)
How to bounce back when a video shoot fails (26:05)
Adding visual effects to abstract footage in post-production (41:00)

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

3 Instant Take Aways

Draw inspiration from the work of others. Tristan remembers seeing clips of paper burning, and later used this to inspire a sequence of clips of fire and ember. Write down the things that inspire you, as well as things you want to try in the future.
Use a macro lens. A macro lens allows you make small things appear large. This combination can turn even normal, everyday objects into unrecognizable, abstract shots.
Don't be afraid to fail and try again. Part of creating is coming up with things that haven't been done or seen before - or at least not your way. Sometimes it will take a couple of shots to get something just right. Don't allow it to discourage you. Come back with new and better ideas.

Find the full transcript for this session of the Pro Church Podcast at http://prochurchtools.com/pcp187/.

Promote Your Church For Free, Sharing Stories About Your Kids & Your Website | #AskBrady Episode 40 Nov 04, 2017

Show notes

Watch the video version of this episode of The #AskBrady Show here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ProChurchTools

#TIMESTAMPS: 1:05 - How do I reach people, apart from Facebook ads, how can I reach people within our own city? 7:38 - Is it better to have all of your registrations in one place, or is better to keep people on your website? 12:40 - Do you have any ideas on how to deal with the practical realities of posting stories about your kids on Facebook? 17:02 - If apps are going away, what is the solution we can use that would have the necessary functions like secure giving, joining groups, signing up for teams… all the church app perks? Brady Shearer is the CEO of Pro Church Tools Inc., a company helping churches communicate better. Through weekly videos, podcasts, and articles, Pro Church Tools reaches more than 25,000 churches every month. Brady is the host of The #AskBrady Show, a church communications focused Q&A video show and podcast, as well as the Pro Church Podcast, a weekly interview audio podcast. Follow Me Online Here: Instagram: http://instagram.com/bradyshearer Facebook: http://facebook.com/prochurchtools Website: http://prochurchtools.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/bradyshearer

Diversifying A Congregation with OneHeart Ministry: Coaching Edition #020 Nov 02, 2017

Show notes

OneHeart Ministry has recently moved into their permanent location, whose demographic is vastly different than their previous mobile location, and now they're looking to grow both in numbers and diversity. Brady chats with their creative team about strategies to fit their community & culture.

Meet The Church Being Coached

Church Name: OneHeart Ministry
Church Location: Sydney, Australia
Church Age: 8 years
Church Size: 50
On the coaching call: Josh Wyatt - Creative Ministry Leader, Hang - Social Media Manager, Blair - Photography & Website, Emily - Film & Photography, Allison - Lyric Operator

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

3 Instant Takeaways

Be patient. Starting in a new place means that it will take time and consistency to see relationships built with your community. Don't allow your natural inclination to want immediate results discourage you. Don't be afraid to give the process time.
Depth & reach - you need both. You may notice in your metrics that certain posts get a lot of engagement, but very little reach and vice versa. The key is to include both types of post. This way you continue to reach a wide audience while still building a relationship with your core social media audience.
Use a templatized systems to include new and inexperienced volunteers. People want to be included and contribute to their community, but sometimes don't have the preexisting skills you need. Templates allow them to be part of the team without compromising standards. Then you can expand their training from there if you want.

Find the full transcript for this session of the Pro Church Podcast at http://prochurchtools.com/pcp184/.

186 - Becoming A Pro Drone Operator with Alexander Mills Oct 31, 2017

Show notes

http://prochurchtools.com/186 - Alex is one of the certified drone operators here at Pro Church Tools. He discusses drone laws and operation when it comes to filming.

What's In This Session?

The 3 phases of worldwide drone laws (8:38)
The best countries to fly your drone in legally (11:16)
Becoming a certified drone pilot (21:38)
Flying a UAV commercially in America (25:14)
The difference between flying "commercially" and "recreationally" (30:22)
Best practices for capturing stunning aerial videography (32:48)
Why flying your drone slower is always better (36:23)
Drone footage at golden hour (39:59)

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

3 Instant Takeaways

Be educated. Before flying your drone, make sure you understand the rules for the country and region you're playing in. Knowing basic laws about airspace and using common sense when choosing where you fly will help keep everyone safe, and your drone intact.
The government sees almost no drone flying as recreational, even though you might. As soon as you're flying a drone with a camera attached the government views it as a commercial flight because you could film, create a video, post that video on YouTube and the video could be monetized. Even if this isn't your intention, because of the possibility of monetization, your flight could be categorized as commercial flying.
Fly slower. Create a cinematic feel by flying slow enough to allow the scene to unfold rather than creating scenes that feel rushed.

Find the full transcript for this session of the Pro Church Podcast at ">http://prochurchtools.com/pcp186/.

The End of Church Apps Update, Mevo Cameras & Prayer Requests Online | #AskBrady Episode 39 Oct 28, 2017

Show notes

Watch the video version of this episode of The #AskBrady Show here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ProChurchTools

#TIMESTAMPS: 1:09 - I've done a variety of Facebook Live videos, and one of the challenges I have had is having an inconsistent internet connection. Is that a common problem, or if it's just me? 8:23 - Just wondering if you guys have an opinion on the Melo camera for Facebook Live or Live streaming? 12:36 - When it comes to online prayer requests, is it better to respond in a timely way that maybe lacks some thoughtfulness? Or to respond in a thoughtful way that might lack some timeliness? 16:28 - Can you provide a link for the announcement by Apple that they will be removing Subsplash apps from the App Store? Brady Shearer is the CEO of Pro Church Tools Inc., a company helping churches communicate better. Through weekly videos, podcasts, and articles, Pro Church Tools reaches more than 25,000 churches every month. Brady is the host of The #AskBrady Show, a church communications focused Q&A video show and podcast, as well as the Pro Church Podcast, a weekly interview audio podcast. Follow Me Online Here: Instagram: http://instagram.com/bradyshearer Facebook: http://facebook.com/prochurchtools Website: http://prochurchtools.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/bradyshearer

Becoming Community Focused with Grace Church of Napa Valley: Coaching Edition #019 Oct 26, 2017

Show notes

Grace Church of Napa Valley is a family. Close knit and friendly, they've done a great job building their internal community. Now they're ready to extend that relationship further into their city. Brady talks with their team about how to overcome apathy and shift their focus.

Meet The Church Being Coached

Church Name: Grace Church of Napa Valley
Church Location: Napa Valley, California
Church Age: 42 years
Church Size: 400
On the coaching call: Justin Nune - Jr. High & High School Director, Nathan - Director of Media & Communications, Jake - Worship & Discipleship Pastor

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

3 Instant Takeaways

Assess where you're at. Be honest with yourself about why you want to see your church culture change. Is it about the number? Is it about the call of God? Is it about finances? And then be honest about your flaws - as a leadership team, as a church - what is going on that could be holding you back from moving forward.
Use storytelling to motivate change. Expectations in the form of rules or guidelines aren't necessarily bad, but they aren't compelling either. Instead share stories. Stories can create emotional reactions and empathy toward the people you want your church to begin to reach out to..
Over communicate. People are forgetful which is why it's important to reiterate your church's purpose over and over and over again. It's like when a worship team begins to feel like they've heard a song a million times. It's usually at that moment the congregation is finally starting to know it.

Find the full transcript for this session of the Pro Church Podcast at http://prochurchtools.com/pcp184/.

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