Convincing teens to RSVP for events may seem all but impossible. While yes, passing out a youth group newsletter on neon green paper with a deadline in BOLD certainly may not be a complete and total waste of time (that’s debatable), there are some other routes to go that might be a better use of the overworked youth pastor’s time in getting announcements out and finding out who is actually going to show up. Here are a few tips:
1. Create Facebook events to promote youth group happenings. If you work in youth ministry, you’re aware that teens are online a lot. But did you know that teens spend 90 minutes every single day on Facebook? Every event your youth ministry produces should have a web presence. Not only should it be mentioned on the church’s website, but it should have its own Facebook event page. Also, take a cue from the Ticketmaster application and urge your students to let their friends know what events they are planning to attend through Facebook status updates.
2. Use Twitter hashtags to generate excitement for your upcoming event. With hashtags like #1stBaptistMission2012 students can show their support and excitement for a cause. It also gives them an opportunity to feel included in a group and a part of something.
3. Move all your event ticketing to an online box office. ServiceU offers event ticketing software that makes signing up for events easy. When students see that your ministry is tech-savvy, that gives you just one more legitimacy credit in their minds--whether they are cognizant of that or not.
What other ideas do you have to reach teens online?
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