Short videos – a versatile and engaging format
MEDIA BYTES
By Rev. Marty Levesque
Heading into 2020 and keeping up with all the innovations in social media can seem daunting. Which emerging platform should the church engage with? How is it best to deliver our message of hope and salvation?
Before getting lost in Snapchat, TikTok or Lasso it is best to know where the overall trends are headed. And the biggest trend in social media is towards short videos, often known as ethereal content.
Video has become a major trend and the type of content people prefer to consume. In fact, it is what makes YouTube the second largest search engine in the world!
Videos are a versatile and engaging format that not only gives us a real-life picture of what is going on but also allows us to engage in a new and authentic way.
Because social media is designed for people to connect, share content and engage, videos are a perfect fit for this type of interaction.
The major platforms like Facebook and Instagram are pushing hard for videos. Instagram’s recent algorithm gives more preferences to videos when ranking content. And this is the impetus behind Instagram and Facebook stories, short videos that last for 24 hours and then vanish from the timeline.
And considering that each Christian is in effect a Brand Ambassador, or as we would normally say, an evangelist, reaching into your pocket and pulling out that phone to video part of your day, a thought about scripture or theology or even sharing devotionals is a great way to bring Christ out of the church and into your followers lives.
Rev. Marty Levesque is the diocesan social media officer and rector of All Saints’ in Waterloo.