Communications Survival Guide Matthew Penn Penn Communications

U TXT’d Up? EM?

U TXT’d Up? P911

U TXT’d Up? BFF

U TXT’d Up? LOL

U TXT’d Up? RUMOF

U TXT’d Up? L8R

U TXT’d Up? SOHF

U TXT’d Up? AIMP

U TXT’d Up? COS

U TXT’d Up? ROTFL

U TXT’d Up? OOTD

U TXT’d Up? OTL

U TXT’d Up? IIRC

U TXT’d Up? EM? Excuse Me?

U TXT’d Up? P911 Parent Alert!

U TXT’d Up? BFF Best Friends Forever

U TXT’d Up? LOL Laughing Out Loud

U TXT’d Up? RUMOF Are You Male or Female?

U TXT’d Up? L8R Later

U TXT’d Up? SOHF Sense of Humor Failure

U TXT’d Up? AIMP Always in My Prayers

U TXT’d Up? COS Change of Subject

U TXT’d Up? ROTFL Rolling on the Floor Laughing

U TXT’d Up? OOTD Out of The Office

U TXT’d Up? OTL Out To Lunch

U TXT’d Up? IIRC If I Remember Correctly.

Communications Survival Guide The “Big Picture” Stuff –RESPECT Communication without Respect of your audience, is a waste of time. Develop Respect & Trust…Effective Communications will follow.

Communications Survival Guide The “Big Picture” Stuff –RESPECT –CONSISTENCY Are you constantly banging the drum for your YM?

Communications Survival Guide The Toolbox –The Printed Word (ink & paper) –Verbal Communications –Online World –Connected Communications

Communications Survival Guide The Printed Word –Newsletters, Postcards, Letters, Flyers, Bulletin inserts, Signage, Bulletin Boards. –Essential Q#1 – Will it pass the 10 second test? –Essential Q#2 – Is it “Fridge Worthy?”

Communications Survival Guide Resources to Have –New Visitor Letter (or packet) –Follow Up Letter –“Hey You” Cards (card stock) –Pre-printed Post Cards & Stamps –Database –Re-Purpose Common Communications

Communications Survival Guide The Printed Word –Keep in Mind…Printed Word is “Official” and sends permanent message. Verify, Proof, and 3 rd Party Test Don’t send negative or mixed messages

Communications Survival Guide DUE TO RECENT VANDALISM LOITERING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED

Communications Survival Guide DUE TO RECENT EVANGELISM LOITERING IS ENCOURAGED VIOLATORS MIGHT BE FED AND WHOOPED UP ON IN BASKETBALL.

Communications Survival Guide The Online World –Websites, , Blogs –Survey your students to see how they spend their online time. –Be careful of spending too much effort here!

Communications Survival Guide –No Longer Effective for Reaching Teens –Very Effective for Adults –So, How To Use ?

Communications Survival Guide Mass Solutions?

Communications Survival Guide Blogs – Do You Need One? –Well, yes! –Content is Reusable (RSS) –Content is Subscribable (RSS) –Free! Wordpress.com, Blogger.com, LiveJournal.com

Communications Survival Guide The Connected World –Instant Messengers –SMS Messaging –Social Networking Websites –Viral Video

Communications Survival Guide All in One IM Programs –Trillian –Pidgin MSN and Yahoo are now integrated

Communications Survival Guide JabberText.com –Bulk SMS Messaging –Upload Cell Phone database –Integrate with your Website or –Send mass SMS message to students –Today’s Group - $Free!

Communications Survival Guide Social Networking –MySpace.com –Facebook.com –Yahoo360 –Microsoft Live –Consider creating a “Group” profile

Communications Survival Guide The Survey –Every community is unique. Find your niche. –Every audience within your ministry must be treated individually.

Communications Survival Guide Our Survey Results (Students) –Half of kids are “disconnected” (no internet or cell phone) – not going to be reliable –Personal Phone Calls & Mail Important –Website is waste of time –SMS Important –Staples & Duct Tap Might help!

Communications Survival Guide The Assessment –Honest Assessment of Where You Are –Where Do You Need to Be? –How Are You Going to Get There?

Communications Survival Guide The Plan –Easier Than You Might Think! Especially when you timeline everything out. –What Happens When? –Who is Doing What?

Communications Survival Guide Gorilla Tactics –Mailing Label Puzzle –Change your IM “Display Name” –Write a letter in TXT language (wiki) –Chalk the Message –Duct Tape Flyer to Their Shirt (Seriously!)

Communications Survival Guide Gorilla Tactics –Write a “Blah” letter with a PS –Put Announcements to Music –Videotape Somebody Reading Announcements –Group Hypnosis –Headline at top of next Bulletin Insert -- “About the Carpet Stains…”