CREATING SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Can I create a Facebook page for my ministry or department?
We do not create or allow various ministries or departments to create their own social media accounts. We would rather you funnel all your content through one social channel—the SCBC Facebook Page. We can then create Facebook Groups that link to that main account. If you feel like your ministry or department needs a Facebook Group, please contact Creative Services to discuss your options.

Why Facebook Groups over Facebook Pages?
Facebook Pages are especially hard to grow organically and can feel like less of a community. In Facebook Groups, you can easily communicate with all members on a more personal level. Facebook Pages can feel more like billboards, while Facebook Groups feel more like coffee shops. Facebook Groups can be linked to the SCBC page account. Facebook Group posts are also more likely to show up in your notifications or news feed.

For example, the SCBC has over six-thousand Facebook “likes.” If a ministry of the SCBC wants a Facebook page, then they would be starting with zero followers. Even after gaining one hundred followers, only 16% of their one hundred followers will see their message due to the way algorithms work across social media platforms. That means only 16 out of 100 followers will see their post. However, if they had shared it through the main SCBC account, then they would reach at least one thousand people, especially if the post is engaging.

Can I create a Facebook Group for my ministry?
Facebook Groups relating to the SCBC cannot be created without permission from Creative Services and must include at least one member of Creative Services as an administrator. If you would a Facebook Group created for your ministry, please contact the Creative Director.

Can I create a social media account for my ministry?
A new social media accounts relating to the ministry of the South Carolina Baptist Convention cannot be created without permission from Creative Services and must include at least one member of Creative Services as an administrator.

POSTING CONTENT
Can I post designs or videos that were not created by Creative Services on social media?
You may want to create a graphic with text for quotes, Bible verses, or engaging questions. Canva is a great, cost-effective app for creating graphics for social media. When creating graphics for social, please stick to the Creative Style Guide. Please note that usage of these graphics on the SCBC channels is at the discretion of the Creative Director.

Can I post videos that were not created by Creative Services on social media?
It is acceptable to post Facebook Live videos or Instagram Story videos that were not created by the Creative Team. If you would like to post another form of video, please make sure that it has been approved by the Creative Director. Social media content can be taken down any time by Creative Services. If you need help or have questions, please contact the Digital Content Coordinator.

What social media platforms are implemented and used by SCBC?
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube 

What social media platforms are not implemented and not used by SCBC?
TikTok, WhatsApp, Tumblr, Reddit, Snapchat, Clubhouse, Discord

Do I need to give ideas when requesting a social media post?
Ideas are ALWAYS welcomed! Even if we don’t use your specific idea, it could lead to other ideas and inspiration.

FACEBOOK BEST PRACTICES
Facebook Live
With the exception of the Annual Meeting, SCBC does not currently utilize Facebook Live.

Facebook Stories
Facebook Stories are an excellent way to get attention from your audience and encourage click-through to the main SCBC page. Stories can be text, short videos, graphics, and photos. This medium is highly encouraged by Creative Services.

Links to events or advertising events
While sharing only a link does not generate much traffic, it is possible to do so. When submitting a link for posting, make sure that you send the main page link and not a long link. 

The correct link looks like this: www.scbaptist.com/serve.

The incorrect link looks like this: https://www.sbcworkspace.com/Pub/Event/Register/55232966.

The better option for sharing events and links is to share a picture of the event from the past, or a stock image that indicates the atmosphere of a new event and combines this with an engaging caption and the link.

How to write a caption for a post
Make sure to define a clear call to action—are you sharing this event because people need to be registered by a certain deadline? Then share that!

Consider requesting an event on our Facebook page to promote the event. Keep in mind that all events hosted by Pages are public. You can also add other people’s or Page’s public events to your Page.

Submitting Images for Posting
From Facebook: We automatically resize and format your photos when you upload them to Facebook. To help make sure your photos appear in the highest possible quality, try these tips:

–     Resize your photo to one of the following supported sizes:
–     Regular photos: 720px, 960px or 2048px wide
–     Save your image as a JPEG with an sRGB color profile 

Images always work better than standalone text. It takes the brain longer to process text-based or verbal information, while the time it takes to process non-verbal, visual content is 0.25 seconds. Some sources even suggest that visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text, which explains why we often find ourselves re-reading the same sentence eight times or staring at a page and realizing we have no idea what we’ve read.

Text-based posts
We do not post to social media with only text-based posts. 

Comments
We do not sign our initials, and we respond using the words we/us/our. If we can help a commenter in the comments, and it is beneficial to the thread, we will respond in the comments. However, if the person commenting is flagrant, or stirring issues, we will message them privately if needed. If a person is repeatedly commenting on posts using harmful, flagrant, or vulgar language, their comments will be hidden or deleted. If the person continues with such content, we will request permission from executive leadership to block the person from the SCBC page.

INSTAGRAM BEST PRACTICES
Instagram Stories

Instagram stories, like Facebook Stories are an extremely effective way to get your information out there. We highly encourage that when you make a social media request, you request an addition to the SCBC Instagram stories.

Image use
It’s cool to use images in your post, but you cannot steal these images. You have to use free photos or photos you have taken yourself. Do not use images from Google image search.  

Here are some free picture sites you can use:

–     Unsplash.com
–     Pexels.com
–     Pixabay.com 

Please add text to your images sparingly if you are creating graphics for submission. Please remember that all content submitted for posting to the SCBC social media pages is subject to change by the Creative Director

What should I post to Instagram?
Photos are our primary avenue of communication to our followers. Avoid submitting photos of flyers or other similar materials that are text-heavy. Avoid over-edited photos. The more natural they look, the better. Like and comment on photos that are SCBC related.

How do I use Instagram stories?
We use the features on Instagram Stories: Boomerang, Live, Music, Type, etc. Videos can only be 15 seconds. We can post these throughout the week. Examples may look like: meet the staff, polls, behind the scenes, wallpaper. We sometimes even re-post people who tag us in their stories

Comments
We always respond in a warm and friendly tone. We do not sign our initials, and we respond using the words we/us/our. If we can help a commenter in the comments, and it is beneficial to the thread, we will respond in the comments. However, if the person commenting is flagrant, or stirring issues, we will message them privately if needed. If a person is repeatedly commenting on posts using harmful, flagrant or vulgar language, their comments will be hidden or deleted. If the person continues with such content, we will request permission from executive leadership to block the person from the SCBC page.

Hashtags
We use hashtags rarely and deliberately. We may use them to promote an event or connect with users at a conference. Do not use current events or trending hashtags. We do use hashtags on Instagram to grow our following. Please have hashtags approved before you attempt to grow their following by the Creative Director.

REQUESTING POSTS
How do I request something to be posted on social media?
Please submit a Ministry Support Form. 

Will my event be promoted every time?
We will promote most events as long as they are SCBC supported and executive leadership approved. Creative Services will come up with the best way to promote your event on social platforms. We recommend planning ahead for social media event promotion so that our team can come up with the most effective strategy for promotion.

POSTING CONTENT
Can I post my design on social media once it’s approved?
You’re free to distribute the design on your approved social media channels. However, posting on the official SCBC media channels is at the discretion of the Digital Content Coordinator. If you manage an approved Facebook Group for your ministry, you may post the design to that specific group. You are also free to post the design work on various personal platforms as long as you do not modify the original design. 

Who places my design work on my webpage?
You are responsible for updating content for your ministry/department page on the SCBC website. If you need assistance with updating to your ministry webpage, please submit a Ministry Support Form with the details of your request.

How do I get my event/ministry promoted on social media?
Please submit a Ministry Support Form.

What is allowed for posting and what is not?
We will promote most events if they are SCBC supported and executive leadership approved. We will not post your event every day for the next week. We will choose the correct way to promote your event.

What are the various ways that I can use my video?
You can use your video at an event, on your webpage, on social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.), or for internal use (Advance Rally, NETMA, email).

Who puts my video on my webpage and/or on social media?
Once a video is completed and approved by the Creative Director, Creative Services will distribute the video as requested in the Ministry Support Form. So, if you ask for the video to be placed on your webpage, we can handle that.

The only exception is social media. Social media distribution is based on a number of changing factors. You are free to post videos on your own social media channels, however not all videos that are requested to be posted on the main SCBC social media channels will be posted. 

Can I post the video on social media once it’s done?
Posting videos on the church’s social media channels is handled by Creative Services. If you would like to share the videos on your social media accounts, we’d kindly ask that you’d share the post from our social media pages vs posting the video or link yourself.

Where can I get I copy of the video for me to keep?
All videos will be provided via a Vimeo link, where there is an option to download the video for your offline keeping. Otherwise, the Vimeo link will live online. Some videos will be available on YouTube at the Creative Director’s discretion.