Pro Church Podcast With Brady Shearer

Today, we list 15 supposed essentials for church websites. Some are unnecessary! We'll categorize them: necessary, nice to have, or nonsense. By the end, you'll know what truly matters for your site. Let's dive in.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:03 - Speed 10:08 - Live Stream Primary CTA 14:22 - Pop-Ups 20:37 - Sermon Archive 24:22 - Beliefs 30:29 - Links To Social 32:01 - 5-Star Domain Name 35:48 - Sliders 44:55 - Responsive Design4 8:02 - App CTAs 52:30 - Service Times, Address, & Contact Info 55:55 - Staff Page 59:56 - Scroll Animation 01:03:18 - Photography 01:06:42 - SEO   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Pingdom Website Speed Test: https://bit.ly/4fi7ut3 - Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/makeovers - Holy Trinity Brompton: https://htb.org/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.t

Does online church negatively impact in-person attendance? It's a debate we've been having for years, and now we finally have some great data to shed light on it. Join us as Ryan Burge from Graphs About Religion helps us untangle the insights and implications.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Who Is Attending Online Church? 17:53 - Does Going To Church Keep Youth From Drinking And Smoking? 38:04 - Are Women More Spiritual and Men More Religious?   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Who is Attending Online Church?: https://bit.ly/4fceCHe - Does Going to Church Keep High School Students from Drinking and Smoking?: https://bit.ly/4bJzPWc - Are Women More Spiritual and Men More Religious?: https://bit.ly/4bPoxQl - Generations by Jean M. Twenge: https://bit.ly/4d9PleX - Ryan Burge: https://www.drburge.com/ - Ryan Burge | Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ryanburge - Graphs about Religion: https://www.graphsabout

Rohn Starling returns to the show for a section we’re called “Rohn’s Rankings”. We're discussing trending social media sounds and sharing five church post ideas.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:58 - Trend #5: Part of me feels bad, but not that bad 12:28 - Trend #4: Not my problem 28:23 - Trend #3: Number 44, that’s me! 35:08 - Trend #2: Inside Out 2 43:46 - Trend #1: Blinking Sound   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Trend #5: Part of me feels bad, but not that bad: https://bit.ly/3LrAeli - Trend #4: Not my problem: https://bit.ly/4f2a5au - Trend #3: Number 44, that’s me!: https://bit.ly/46a2HFR - Trend #2: Inside Out 2: https://bit.ly/3LqaG8j - Trend #1: Blinking Sound: https://bit.ly/3W3lzSq - Rohn Starling IG: https://www.instagram.com/rohnstarling/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tikto

Today on the show we’re answering your questions. Questions about burn out, bilingual church social media strategies, and everything in between. Let’s dive in.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - How should bilingual churches post on social media? 4:25 - Where did you get all the wisdom for naming Alex? 7:32 - Best food in Montreal? 17:15 - After 10 years of PCT, what would you do differently as a team? 26:47 - Should we look into creating a new YouTube Channel for our podcast or do we keep it on our church’s YouTube channel? 29:52 - Heard you're going to be at SALT Conference. Excited? 32:56 - What is your daily workflow? Apps? Schedule? Integrations? 44:02 - Can you talk about burnout? 53:50 - What does a well-structured administrative team look like on a church organization chart? 59:11 - How can churches with no sermon build up content for #noweeksoff foundation material?   ============================= Show Notes: ==========================

It's our quarterly social media review. Discover changes, constants, and their impact on your church.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:10 - Assessing Our Previous Predictions  8:54 - Adult Content on X 17:40 - Church Invite Memes 23:22 - Reels Split Design 31:26 - YouTube Thumbnail A/B Testing 42:28 - Carousels Over Reels? 48:45 - Apple AI & Unplugging From Our Devices   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Our big announcement (finally): https://youtu.be/edD_Nsu3Qsg - Talking Tech and AI with Tim Cook!: https://youtu.be/pMX2cQdPubk?feature=shared   ============================= 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 June 10th, the head of Instagram made a significant statement: "____ matters most across the board." So, what is it? Likes? Comments? Watch time? Saves? None of the above. Today on the show, we're diving into the most important metric on Instagram—a metric that's not easy to find and requires some digging.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:04 - Sends per reach are one of the most important things to look at 11:23 - Most people won't like *and* send 24:51 - IG heavily preference accounts who both follow each other 32:44 - Priority notifications come with the verified badge 36:16 - Instagram focuses on creators, not publishers   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - An honest conversation with the CEO of Instagram [Colin and Samir]: https://bit.ly/3KOQUmr   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.

In today's episode, we feature a rural pastor who discovered he had more time for social media than he thought…it’s our very own Alexander Mills! This episode is packed with both introductory and advanced social media tips for churches. If you're part of a smaller church or serving in a rural area, this one's for you.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro / Alex’s Church 5:46 - Strategy for Sustainability 12:10 - High Quality Content 34:10 - Low Effort Design Tools 43:20 - Post Examples   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Life Abundant (Alex’s church): https://www.lifeabundant.info/ - Life Abundant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeabundantniagara/ - Canva: https://www.canva.com/ - CapCut: https://www.capcut.com/ - Sermon quote (carousel) - https://bit.ly/3RoZiga - Guided prayer (carousel) - https://bit.ly/3Rm8GRT - Simple story (iPhone Reel) - https://bit.ly/4bXXWRW - Simple story (CapCut Reel) - https://bi

Join us in today's episode as we tackle your burning questions! Ever wondered about the ideal time commitment for pastors on social media? Or how to navigate challenges when your social media efforts seem to fall short? Plus, discover insights on maintaining a God-centered focus in fulfilling pursuits.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:15 - What are your thoughts on church politics? Are they inevitable? 9:10 - What should we do if Facebook engagement drops but Instagram rises? 15:06 - How much time should a pastor dedicate to making content for social media if any? 20:35 - Should we honestly care what others in church think about us? 24:53 - What are the boys wearing for summer this year? 28:06 - What is the hiring process for Pro Church Tools? 31:00 - Drinks in the shower? Yes or no? 37:54 - Your view on having tattoos? Especially as a leader in the church. 46:16 - Was there a social or communication trend you didn't see coming, but really blew up

Social media changes fast! Today, we discuss these changes with church social media expert Danielle Davis. Alex, Danielle, and I each bring two topics: one exciting and one concerning trend for the future. We're here to keep your church in the know on all of the changes happening on social. ============================= 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

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/   ============================= Co

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 weath

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

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 be

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

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:

In just four years, a previously unknown church went from 0 to 100,000 YouTube subscribers. Over the past ten months, they've added another 100,000 subscribers, despite their pastor's anonymity. Their remarkable online impact, leading to significant in-person transformations, prompted us to delve deeper into their strategies, with the church generously sharing behind-the-scenes insights.   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - vidIQ: https://vidiq.com/ - TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/ - An Unfiltered Conversation With Mike Todd's Social Media Advisor: https://youtu.be/dUbVt0ec6oQ - Cornerstone Fellowship with Pastor Allen Nolan: https://www.youtube.com/@allennolan   ============================= 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