The May 2024 Mailbag Bro Church Tools

Today we’re welcoming back to the show, for the second time, former Life.Church photographer - Benjamin Suter. We get to follow along a live demonstration of his photo editing process. We'll cover exposure, white balance, sharpening, grain, and preserving skin tones under stage lighting. Plus, he shares his custom presets, available as a free download in the show notes.   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Adobe Lightroom: https://lightroom.adobe.com/ - Benjamin J Suter Presets: https://benjaminjsuter.com/presets - Pro Church Tools Presets: https://prochurchtools.com/presets   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Today we’re discussing 15 social media aspects often deemed crucial - but which you might be surprised to learn otherwise. We’ll be categorizing them into ‘necessary’, ‘nice to have’, or ‘nonsense’ so by the end of this episode you’ll know what is actually worth your time on social. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Personality 7:00 - Hashtags 11:12 - Using A Social Media Scheduler 16:05 - Vertical Video 18:27 - Deleting Posts 22:46 - Post Timing 26:16 - Trending Sounds 36:02 - Experimenting With New Post Formats 38:26 - Comment Moderation 43:42 - DM Automation 49:21 - Grid Aesthetic 53:42 - The Same Handle Across All Social Platforms 55:37 - Re-Using Content 59:19 - No Weeks Off 01:03:12 - DM Auto Replies   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Levi Lusko Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5vldC0Ov4K/ - Vista Social: https://vistasocial.com/ - Manychat: https://manychat.com/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Today on the show, we have a former Life.Church photographer joining us. We discuss preparing shot lists, favorite gear, and photographer etiquette. Plus, we share creative ideas for capturing baptism photos without damaging our cameras - hint: think fish tank!   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - SocialSermons: https://socialsermons.com/ - Bravingbird: https://www.bravingbird.com/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Today, we're tackling your questions: How to handle new church issues? Does a small-town setting alter social media strategies? This is The May 2024 Mailbag.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:55 - What is your opinion on Sora's impact on church content? 10:03 - What do you do when you face a new problem? 18:27 - Advice on creating backup posts for emergencies? 24:03 - Hardest thing about entrepreneurship? 32:40 - Advice for a social team with an IG account that is blowing up.  36:49 - What do you say to Christians who lack critical thinking? 51:37 - How to enhance sermon clips with limited resources? 56:05 - What's going to be your summer fragrance this year? 01:10:30 - Why did Cornerstone Church create a second YouTube channel? 01:13:40 - Ninja Creami; what recipes have worked for you? 01:21:09 - Advice for a workplace balancing religious advocacy and vocational responsibilities. 01:30:00 - What are the fashion trends you're rocking for warm weather this year? 01:41:37 - Does town size effect tech adoption?   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Sora | OpenAI: https://openai.com/sora - CRTVCHURCH: https://www.crtvchurch.com/ - Growing Young: https://bit.ly/4aNJb3z - How Churches Are Really Reaching Young People with Dr. Kara Powell: https://youtu.be/v6O0USRnwbY - Modern Church Connection Cards Examples (With Template): https://prochur.ch/44oIwTZ   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Who is behind the successful podcasts of Tim Ross and Lecrae? Join us as we chat with the Creative Director of B-Side App, the studio behind these hit shows. Learn about their episode ideas, set design, and the gear they swear by.   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Hector Guerrero IG: https://www.instagram.com/hectoralexguerrero/ - B-Side App: https://www.bsideapp.com/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

There is a step-by-step plan that has already brought 10,000 new people to churches this year. How did that happen? We’re joined by paid ads expert Brady Sticker to demystify online advertising for your church and learn how this happened. We talk about ad targeting, creative, budgeting, and more.   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - ChurchCandy: https://churchcandy.com/ - Brady Sticker IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradysticker/ - ChurchCandy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bradysticker/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

The most religious cities in America are places you might suspect. However, there’s a weird addition here - a city in California where nearly 30% are monthly attenders. What city is that? And which cities are the least religious in the country? To help us break it all down we have the preeminent source on data and faith - Ryan Burge from Graphs About Religion.   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= Which Cities are the Least Religious? | Ryan Burge: https://prochur.ch/3Q0xTk5 From Bible Belt to Sunbelt | Darren Dochuk: https://prochur.ch/3vPaivS The End of White Christian America | Robert P. Jones: https://bit.ly/3UcK7IK Canadian Social Survey: https://bit.ly/4awUQ6A David Speed | The Religious Studies Project: https://bit.ly/3vDWnZH Ryan Burge: http://ryanburge.net/Ryan Burge | Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ryanburge Graphs about Religion: https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

On today's episode, we're answering your questions about improving your church’s photography when faced with less than enthusiastic expressions and whether each ministry requires its own branding. Additionally, we'll touch on our reflections on the recent Elevation episode and its online impact. This is The April 2024 Mailbag. Let’s dive in.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:57 - Can you post too many Reels? 7:39 - Thoughts on the reaction to your Elevation episode? 32:28 - Favorite recent tech trend? 41:31 - Tips for how to do social as a worship night ministry? 47:25 - How do you get more diversity in your photos on Sundays? 50:22 - Is it worth changing our church website domain? 56:27 - Why are we getting low views on our Instastories? 58:21 - Average time for church tech tasks? 01:00:39 - Where to place faith formation/religious education on a site? 01:07:59 - How do you maintain a singular visual identity? 01:10:28 - Should church doctrinal beliefs be on a website?   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Social Media Trends 2024 | Hootsuite: https://bit.ly/3xpoxbk   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

It's our quarterly look at the social media landscape. What's changing, what's staying the same, and how does it affect your church? One specific design trend is cooking in Spring 2024. Church sermon clips are showing no signs of slowing down - and there's one reason for this that you've probably never thought of. Plus, a new Instagram trend taking the platform by storm. Let's dive in.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Vertical video: Same specs, diverse platform cultures. 9:57 - Churches' 'fly on the wall' perspective is becoming more valuable 17:30 - SEND IT BACK: Stop adding audio and decorative trim to your sermon clips 19:56 - High contrast, simple text branded carousels keep winning 30:00 - TikTok's global impact beyond potential bans 36:00 - DM Automation 40:56 - The definition of social media expanding: the old era is dead 47:03 - Social feeds for education 55:04 - CALL YOUR SHOT: Summer Prediction   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Start your 30-day free trial (no credit card required) of Nucleus here: https://www.nucleus.church/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Gen Z, also known as Zoomers, born between 1996 and 2010, are the first generation to grow up in the smartphone era. Here are 10 stats about Gen Z that churches shouldn't ignore.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:04 - Bringing Back 90s And Early 00s Fashion Trends And Listening To The Era’s Tunes 6:24 - Interest In Environmental Issues Has Decreased 11% Year-On-Year 13:13 - On Track To Be The Best-Educated Generation Yet 17:26 - Roughly 20% Of The U.S. Population 20:07 - More Racially And Ethnically Diverse Than Previous Generations 27:07 - Least Religious Generation in American History 31:48 - Becoming Less Religiously Identified As Each Year Passes 34:07 - Spends 24-48 Hours Per Month On Tiktok 49:16 - More Likely Than Other Generations To Report Having A Mental Health Condition 58:54 - 98% Of Gen Z Worldwide Own A Smartphone   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= Gen Z and Religion in 2022 | Religion in Public: https://bit.ly/3vY3VWS What We Know About Gen Z So Far | Pew Research Center: https://pewrsr.ch/4abDzQr U.S. population share by generation 2022 | Statista: https://bit.ly/3x669Uw 24 Gen Z Statistics That Matter to Marketers in 2024 | Hootsuite: https://bit.ly/4auUmgX Gen Z | GWI: https://bit.ly/4cxUbTQ The State of the Culture | Ted Gioia: https://bit.ly/43DgfIY   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast