Should I Blog My Ministry Updates?

Using a blog for updates can be incredibly useful.  In this post, we’ll consider the merits of blogging as a means of communicating with supporters or anyone interested in your ministry.  This post will assume that your blog focus will be to provide updates on you, your family and/or God’s activity in your neck of the woods.  (Like any tool, blogging may not be right for everyone and you should ask a few key questions as you consider it.)

A blog is generally free to get started and provides several advantages as a ministry communication tool.  Naturally, there are also a few cautions.  These follow at the bottom.

1. Blogs are accessible from anywhere there is an internet connection.  This means you can post an update from whatever random computer you’re having to use while traveling … without having to wait until you have your email list handy.  Let’s face it, even if you have a laptop we all know there are times when you don’t have access to your own stuff, esp if you’re in ministry.
2. Did I mention blogs are accessible from anywhere there is an internet connection? Yes, I just repeated myself.  This advantage goes both ways.  Not only can you keep updates flowing from anywhere, your supporters can stay up-to-date from anywhere.  This means less chance your email is set aside after a vacation or any other time the person is in email-catch-up land.  It also means the person can immediately share your story with those interested without having to go home and forward a specific email (assuming they still have it).  Which brings me to the next point…
3. History. Blogs provide a history that can be reviewed and re-read easily.  Posts are automatically archived by date or topic (or both) and you can provide links from one post to another as I did above.  Thus, as you update the status of a project, event or person, the reader can reference the original information if forgotten.  This functionality is invaluable and will help the reader relate more deeply to your updates (and you).
4. Playing catch-up. For many, it is much less tedious to catch up on someone’s updates via blog than email.  The reasons are outside the scope of this post but suffice it to say, backlogs due to vacation or work demands are more likely to get read from a centralized location.
5. RSS Feeds. RSS feeds are ubiquitous and busy people like them.   Your goal is readership and the very nature of RSS feeds assist that.  RSS feeds are standard fare for blogs and many people receive the feeds on their phone which means they can catch up on your life and ministry while standing in line at the grocery store or even lying in bed at night.  The usefulness of RSS deserves its own discussion and you may want to read this post if you would like more information.
6. Interactivity. Readers can quickly comment and you can reply.  This is a good means for both parties to feel part of each others life.  I know people who have made friends with people they would have never met othwewise simply via blog comments.  Yes, you can reply to email but you’ll just have to trust me that it’s not the same and comments really can be relational.
7. Saves email lists management. I’m not saying you won’t ever have to send an email again, but the days of exhausting mass updates could be almost entirely gone. Thus, your list management – particularly for those who may or may not have a real interest – can be greatly dwindled.  Instead of email sign-up sheets at speaking engagements, you can simply direct folks to your blog site.  Email address swaps with those to whom you’re close and those interested in knowing more will still occur naturally.
8. Statistics. Blogs come with the ability to track the numbers of people visiting your site and, if you desire, the location from which they visited.  This can provide a sense of your readership and can be particularly useful for those on support.  I’ll write more on that in another post.
9. A Blog can become a website of its own. You might be amazed at how much can be done on a blog site – including the free ones.  From photo galleries to calendars to pages about yourself or the kids.  If you don’t need glitz and glam, this may be all you need and you can save your website money for other things.  At minimum, it’s a good place to start to see if you’d use more features before paying for it.
10. Storage and backups. Instead of managing, storing and backing up all of your email updates, you are able to keep them online and let someone else do it.  You may decide you want an offline copy of your posts and that’s fine.  I think you’ll still find managing your posts as a Word doc or some similar format to be easier than email.
11. Quick hits allowed, yea even expected. Often we feel the pressure of making email updates count.  We don’t want to bombard people with too many, but there is too much to say to send only one paragraph when they do go out.  Blogs can act as online journals allowing you to write a quick-hit post very naturally.  Feeling a little off one day?  Had a really cool encounter on the street?  You can share those moments succinctly (and personally) without feeling it must be couched as an update.  There’s no need for detail (think texts, Twitter or Facebook Status).  This means more frequent interaction with those interested in your ministry and better relationship building.  It also feels more real and personal as we feel part of your everyday life.

THERE ARE SOME CAUTIONS THOUGH…

By default, most blog services make your blog public and available to search engines.  This means anyone on the internet can read it if they find it (though there are thousands of blogs so it’s not as if you’ll be the first Google hit.).  Most people want this exposure.  You may not.

1. You CAN choose to make your blog private and available only to those to whom you give the information.  You can also limit search engine accessibility.  Simply make sure your blog service offers these options.
2. Obviously, if you’re in a sensitive area blogging may not be right for you.  If you decide to give it a go, I’d still recommend writing your posts the same way you’d write an email or public newsletter.
3. Because it’s public, anyone can read it (and comment).  I know I said this already but it’s worth repeating.  The upside is that you might just gain some new readership (and potential prayer supporters).  The internet opens us to relationships and people we would almost surely not meet if a physical meeting was required.  The downside … well, I’m hoping the downside is obvious.

I don’t think the cautions are worthy of not doing a blog.  I think for most people in normal situations, a blog can be an incredible time-saving and relationship-building tool.  But do consider your situation and keep these items in mind.  It may not mean you shouldn’t blog; it may just mean you need to think as you post.

Related Post: Blogging for Connection

Filed under: Communication Tools, Your Ministry Updates, Blogs, Your Ministry Updates