Sharing the Gospel on Facebook
If you’re interested in sharing the gospel through social media, then one of the most famous and lucrative options is Facebook.
This is part of LDS.net’s Sharing the Gospel through Social Media series. Check out the introduction, for the series overview.
This article will cover the following topics:
- Decide if Facebook is For You
- Who is on Facebook
- Who is the Average Facebook User?
- What Features Does Facebook Offer?
- Friends
- Sharing
- Likes
- Tagging
- Communities and Groups
- Events
- Mobile Apps
- Facebook Places
- What Makes Facebook Unique?
- What Do People Talk About On Facebook?
- Should You Use Facebook?
- Learn About Facebook
- Getting Started
- Signing Up for a Facebook
- Finding Friends and Groups on Facebook
- Following Organizations and Other Pages
- Creating a Facebook Post
- Sharing Content on Facebook
- Terminology
- Measurements of Success
- Likes
- Talking About
- Share
- Getting Started
- Connect with LDS Facebook Users
- Who Should I Connect With
- Increasing Your Connections
- Complete Your Profile
- Add Friends
- Join Groups
- Focus on Now
- Provide Value
- Contribute the Gospel on Facebook
- Be Authentic
- Be Consistent
- Edify
- Uplift
- Be Wise
- Be Vigilant
- Don’t Steal
- Caution for Facebook’s Dangers
- Time Wasting
- Anonymity
- Psychological
- Privacy
Article Summary
Facebook is easily the most well-known and frequently used form of social media available on the internet. Established in 2004 by the independently owned Facebook, Inc. Facebook is still the most popular social media website. In 2013 seventy one percent of adults who were on the internet were using Facebook.
If you are looking to expand your Gospel sharing resources, than Facebook may just be worth a checking out.
Who is On Facebook?
There are 1.5 billion internet users who are active on Facebook at least once a month. And there are 864 million who are active on a daily basis, making Facebook the most used and most active social media website to date. Additionally, the average Facebook user spends 21 minutes on Facebook a day.
Facebook is an easy way to connect with friends, family, business associates, and acquaintances. The average Facebook user has around 130 Facebook friends all together.
Frequent Facebook users are very active in their interactions. A single user creates 90 new posts on average in a month and is connected to 80 groups, community pages, and events.
Facebook has a ton of options and a heavy user base to connect to.
Who is the Average Facebook User?
Although many teenagers use Facebook it is ultimately made up of an adult user base. In fact, three million teens have left Facebook over the past three years in favor of other websites such as Twitter or Tumblr. Additionally, users ages 18-24 have also significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the demographic of users who are 55 or older has gone up by 80%.
Overall, Facebook has the most diverse range of ages with the bulk of users being between 25 and 54.
This means that Facebook is prefect for adults. This also means the Facebook has some of the best content and sharing options available on the web.
There isn’t a conducive study on the racial demographics using Facebook, but overall it can be assumed that the spread of ethnicity on Facebook is fairly equal.
What Features Does Facebook Offer?
There is constantly new content being created and shared all over Facebook. Creating posts is less restrictive than social media websites such as Twitter. Twitter has a character limit of 140 on any tweet (or post). A post or update on Facebook allows for 420 characters.
Facebook is great for creating quality content and sharing articles, videos, or links directly from Church websites.
Friends
One main component that sets Facebook apart from other social media websites is that instead of having followers you have friends. This system makes it so users have more privacy and control over who they are connected with on website.
In order to connect with someone and become their Facebook friend is to send a “friend request.” This will send a message to the individual stating that you want to connect with them. Once they approve you they will be added to your Friends list and then their posts and updates will appear in your News Feed.
You can always accept or deny friend requests based on your personal comfort level. Each friend can also be put on a setting that marks them as a family member, close friend, or a simple acquaintance. Privacy settings are often based on your friends and you can set your page/updates to only be visible by friends, or even specific close friends.
Additionally, you can unfollow a friend so that their updates no longer appear on your New Feed, but they will still remain on your friends list.
Sharing
Updates and sharing are the core of Facebook. Once a user has created an account, their main page on Facebook.com will have a News Feed. The News Feed will feature all the content from friends, communities, groups, and other pages that you are following. From here you can share any post you like or find interesting and it will appear on your personal profile.
You can also create original content through writing an update in the empty box at the top of the news feed. You can also share pictures, videos, and links to articles around the internet.
Likes
Every post on Facebook has a little button at the bottom that says “like.” Liking a post shows how popular the post is and can increase its credibility. Likes also increase traffic to a specific post or other linked content.
Most of all, Likes help you to see who is interested in specific posts and how to effectively share related posts in the future. This can help hone your gospel sharing skills for your specific group of Facebook friends.
Tagging
When creating new content or posting a picture or video you can always tag a friend or group in the post. By simply typing a friends full name in you can select them and have them tagged in the post. This will send a direct message to them that they have been tagged in a post. This can be a good way to point out a post to a specific friend.
Facebook has also adopted the practice of hashtaging. Similar to Twitter, you can insert a hashtag (#) into your post right before a word or phrase to tag the post. This helps search engines and the Facebook search find posts more easily and categorize posts.
Communities and Groups
On Facebook you can create and join online communities and groups. These are pages that you can participate in discussion specifically with people who enjoy the same things or have the same ideals. This is also one way that you can find and add more friends to your social network.
These types of pages are a great way to create community between people with similar interests.
Events
Events are temporary pages created to sponsor or inform Facebook users of upcoming activities or gatherings. Users will often create events for marriages, graduations, baby showers, parties, and many other significant activities. It is a fast and easy way to invite people to real events in person.
These pages are also used to promote online activities and events such as contests or marathons.
Mobile Apps
As with all social media websites there are mobile apps available to help keep users updated at all times. Facebook is perfect for mobile devices. Scrolling through your news feed makes it easy to like and share the items that strike your fancy.
The mobile version of Facebook is available on most tablets and smartphones.
Facebook Places
One of the newest features on Facebook is the Facebook Places application. This feature is similar to Google Maps in helping users find locations in their nearby area. Facebook pages and businesses can add their location so users can easily search for a restaurant, store, or other business located in their area quickly and easily.
This can benefit looking for a church building or church activity which has a tagged location on Facebook.
Users can also tag their location and show up when a friend searches their area in Facebook Places and map applications.
Facebook Search
In addition with the places feature, Facebook has also enhanced the search function on the website. Facebook Search now allows users to search through posts made by themselves and their friends. This can be extremely helpful for finding services in your specific area.
For instance, if you type in the name of a restaurant will be given any posts that your friends have posted concerning that restaurant. Or if you are looking for a new doctor you can see what your friends have posted about their personal doctors and if they like them or not. These posts results act like a helpful review directly from your personal group of friends. Specific locations will also be marked in the Facebook Places feature so that it will be easy to find the location.
What Makes Facebook Unique?
Facebook is one of the earliest and most well-known social media websites. It specializes in connecting family and friends across the globe. Instead of simply following other users you have a specific agreement as friends on Facebook. This also means more intimate conversation and discussion.
The longer character limit allows for more meaningful posts such as sharing testimony or beliefs.
What Do People Talk About on Facebook?
Facebook is a fast paced and easy to access social media network. But the most common thing that people share are things that are happening in their own lives.
The most prominent topics on Facebook are related to family and relationships.
Besides family the most shared content on Facebook concerned religion followed closely by politics.
Should You Use Facebook?
Facebook is a great option for people who want to stay connected to people they already know outside of the internet. It facilitates communication between family and friends and allows for a good amount of privacy if you want it. There is less worry of people you don’t know or don’t want seeing your posts, conversations, and updates. Facebook is also great for sharing pictures and longer posts.
Facebook may not be good for those looking for a fast paced and quick social media fix. There isn’t the roll over of hundreds of thousands of likes and re-shares like you may get with Tumblr or Twitter.
Getting Started
Setting up a Facebook Account
Finding Friends and Groups on Facebook
After signing up for a Facebook account you can search for friends and family to add to your network. The easiest way to do this is to click on the button labeled “Find Friends” at the very top of the web page. The page will then show you a list of people you may know based on prior friends, education history, and places you have lived. If you see someone you want to add to your network than simply click “add friend” next to their picture and the friend request will be sent.
You can additionally use the search bar on the right side to search for friends in your area, from your high school, or from other networks.
You can also connect to communities, groups, and networks on Facebook. Many missions will have a group Facebook page to help old missionaries companions reconnect. You can search for these groups by simply typing in a keyword in the search bar at the top of the homepage. A listing of related pages and groups will show up. Just click the “join” button on each page to join the group or community.
Following Organizations and Other Pages
Searching for pages and organizations is done the same way as searching for groups. The only difference is that once the list comes up you click the “like” button to follow the page or organization instead of joining.
Creating a Facebook Post
Creating a post on Facebook is easy. Simply think of something you want to share and begin typing in the box labeled “What’s on your mind” at the top of the home page. Once you’ve finished typing your post than simply hit post to make it live on your Facebook page. You can also click the button labeled friend to filter who can see your post once it goes live.
In addition to text you can also upload photos, link yo websites and images, and show your current location simply by clicking the corresponding icon.
Sharing Content on Facebook
Facebook is the most prevalent social media network for sharing news, articles, and other online media. Almost every internet page has the a share button on it linked to Facebook. All you need to do is click this button on any content you like throughout the web and it will post to your Facebook page.
Additionally, any post you find interesting on your news feed can be re-posted to your own page simply by clicking the “share” button at the bottom of the post. You can also comment on any post to continue a conversation on Facebook.
Terminology
The following list was originally published on SproutSocial. See the original article for the full list.
Friend: Your Facebook Friends are the people you connect with (or “Friend”) and share content and updates with on Facebook. You can send Friend requests to other Facebook members. You also receive Friend requests from other members which you can accept, decline, or ignore.
Like: You can click the Like link on any Facebook update to show that you like the content. When you Like something, the action appears as an update on your Facebook Wall (see “Wall” below). You can also Like any piece of content that you find across the Internet whenever it’s accompanied by the Facebook Like button (see “social plugins”).
Messages: Your Facebook Messages are similar to private email messages. They appear in your Facebook Inbox and can include text messages, chats, emails, and mobile messages from your Facebook Friends.
News Feed: Your Facebook News Feed is the continually appended feed of status updates that appears on your Facebook Profile home page. It shows the most recent activities from your Facebook Friends and Facebook Pages that you follow.
Notes: Using the Notes feature, you can publish messages in rich-text format giving you greater flexibility than simple updates allow.
Notifications: You can set up your Facebook Profile so you receive email, mobile, or onsite updates when certain activities happen on Facebook. For example, you can be notified when an update is made to a Group you belong to or when someone accepts your Friend request.
Poke: If you want to get one of your Facebook Friend’s attention, you can “poke” him or her on Facebook. The Friend will receive a notification from Facebook letting him or her know that they’ve been poked (and by whom).
Profile: Facebook refers to your Profile as your complete picture and story on Facebook. It includes your Profile picture, biography, personal information, and more. Your Profile can be public or private. It’s your personal piece of “real estate” on Facebook.
Ticker: Your Ticker appears on the right side of your Facebook home page and is updated with your friends’ activities in real-time.
Timeline: Your Facebook Timeline shows all of your Facebook updates and activities in reverse chronological order.
Top Story: Facebook chooses the top stories that appear at the top of your Facebook News Feed. These are stories that have been published since the last time you checked your News Feed and are visibly identified with a blue corner.
Wall: Your Facebook Wall is where you can publish updates and where your Friends can post updates directly to you.
Measurements of Success
Likes
The easiest and most accessible way to measure your success on Facebook is through monitoring your likes. Every post has a “like” button. After someone has liked a post it will inform the original poster and than record that like on the post itself. By looking at any post you can see how popular a post is based on how many likes it has received.
Talking About
The “People Are Talking About This” number is more for community and business pages than for individual user pages. However, it is a good stat to see how active any page or community is. While a “like” stat shows how many people have showed interest in the page, the “People Are Talking About This” stat shows how many people are still active on a page.
This can help you share the most popular items from a page. This can be good for picking religious content to post or re-post to your own personal profile.
Shares
Each post allows users to share the information on their own page. You can see how many times someone has shared your post. While likes are people showing interest sharing is a way to see how many people are actually interacting with the information you are posting.
Who Should I Connect With?
Follow and connect with other LDS pages and communities to get a head start.
Increasing you Connections on Facebook
Facebook is slightly more personal than Twitter or Tumblr. Therefore, you won’t often end up with hundreds or thousands of connections. However, connecting with people you have real existing relationships and having an available profile for others to find is important.
Complete You Profile
Having a profile that is complete and accurate will help boost your friends and connections around Facebook. When you have all your pertinent information filled out than many users who may know you or have known you in the past can more easily find your profile.
Add Friends
The best way to add connections is to seek out people you may know on Facebook and add them to your friends list.
Additionally, you will want to connect with Member friends and Church Leaders in your area to help create and contribute to the LDS community online.
Join Groups
By searching for and joining online groups you can find friends and connections to add to your network. Groups also facilitate conversation, sharing, and debate.
Focus on Now
Facebook focuses on keeping up to date on current trends and stories around the internet. Similarly, you should share things that are current and pertinent. This includes church news stories, inspirational quotes, and talks, but also includes the things about your personal experiences. Friends want to know what is happening with you now.
Provide Value
It can be easy to post content that isn’t pertinent to your personal connections and community. Create posts and content that is easy to access and will be interesting. Sharing simple day to day events such as what you eat or what you did at work are often not as engaging as other content. Instead share significant posts such as favorite quotes during General Conference, favorite holiday traditions, or spiritual and uplifting stories from your day. Also make sure to share things from around the web that is current and applicable.
Be Authentic
When on Facebook, don’t be afraid to be yourself and share your beliefs.
Share About Yourself
Don’t hesitate to share things about yourself. Fill out your bios, hobbies, interests, jobs, and other pertinent information. Most importantly, if you are planning on sharing the gospel than include information about your Church membership and service.
Share personal spiritual experiences and testimony when feeling prompted by the spirit and when it seems appropriate.
Communicate with Others
It is important to stay connected with friends who are active on your Facebook page or posts. If someone sends you a message or comments on a post make sure to respond and to keep the conversation going.
Tag friends who you think will be interested on applicable posts. Send personal messages to friends when you want to have a more private conversation.
Be Consistent
Although you won’t have thousands of people around the internet following you, you still will want to be consistent in your posts and activity on Facebook.
Update Often
There is less stress in posting on Facebook. You won’t have unknown followers who are waiting for your next post.
However, you will still want to be active online. Staying active online means your Friends can rely on you to reply to comments and posts to continue a conversation.
When Do I Post?
The busiest time on Facebook is during 2 to 4 in the afternoon. This is when most people have finished with their days activities and are finally taking a break to look at their Facebook feed. This is the best time to make posts and begin conversations because people will reply more quickly.
Additionally, more people will be active on weekends on Facebook. This can be a good time to create a post and start a conversation about Church activities and services that happened during the weekend.
Culturally Consistent
As a member of the Church many of your friends will expect a certain type of post and activity from you. As a representative of Christ it will seem contradictory to post something from the Church website and then something that seems questionable to church doctrines.
Consistent Content and Tone
Friends will be accustomed to a type of post and tone from your page. Even in social media good communication skills are key. Make sure you are clear and concise when sharing opinions or ideas. Being consistent in these types of post will look good later on. If you contradict yourself or make a post that seems out of characters people will remove your posts form their news feed.
Edify
Facebook allows for longer posts and content than other social media sites such as Twitter. However, this doesn’t mean that quotes and religious posts should be long winded. The space allows for your content to be detailed yet concise, thus being the most effective at conveying your message.
Uplift
Many posts and content on Facebook includes profanity and other questionable content. Luckily, you can filter any person with these habits out of your news feed.
It is important to counteract these types of posts with uplifting and spiritual content. As members of the Church it is important to rise above this type of behavior.
Never say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person. Be kind to those in you network and always consider what you are sharing and how it can affect others before posting it.
Be Wise
Physical Safety
Because Facebook is so easily used through smart phones and tablets, take the same precautions with Facebook on the road you would with texting. Don’t use the Facebook app and drive at the same time.
Learn the Tool
Facebook may be the most accessible of the social media websites, but it also has its many abilities and intricacies.
This guide can help you get started but take a few days to get to know the Facebook interface. Try different elements of the program and see what Facebook is truly capable. Get to know how your personal group of friends interact on Facebook and try to understand that culture.
Connect
Facebook is a great way to connect with all sorts of services and networks around the internet. After making connections on Facebook itself through friends, groups, and community pages then try branching out.
Visit other websites around the web that you would want to connect with. Link to their Facebook pages and connect with them. Doing this with Chruch websites and organizations can help you be linked into the online LDS culture.
To find all of the Church’s current social media initiatives visit social.churchofjesuschrist.org. This site will list the various ideas the Church is currently promoting.
Be Vigilant
As with other social media websites there is little documentation or authentication of material being posted. Make sure to always re-post directly from the original source. The post will signify where you got the content from when you do this.
Also, don’t believe everything you read. Rumors and false facts are often circulated through social media. Take time to research anything before you ever re-post it or make a comment.
Also consider checking out Snopes.com for general stories and HolyFetch.com to check if LDS themed stories are true or not.
Don’t Steal
Re-posting and sharing content from others is a given when using social media. However, always make sure you do it right in order to keep others happy.
If ever you post something on your page make sure to always include the original source link or author at the bottom of the post. Facebook will often automatically link back to an original source if you are simply re-sharing within the realm of Facebook itself.
Never post any images, music, of videos without citing the original artist.
Time Wasting
Facebook is one social media website the users often find themselves getting too absorbed in. It can be easy to lose time simply scrolling through endless posts in your newsfeed. You have to learn to set limits on time spent looking through Facebook posts.
Anonymity
Remember, everyone who you are connected with can see what you post unless you change the specific post settings otherwise. Never post anything you aren’t comfortable with everyone in your friends list seeing.
Psychology
Facebook is a highly active and engaging social forum, and its easy to become over reliant on Facebook if many of your friends and family use the service. So remember to take a break, and interact with people face to face.
Facebook is intended to augment and enhance relationships, and is not intended to replace personal interaction.
Also, while it may be easy to complain about the political and religious negativity, the overwhelming majority of Facebook posts are positive about people’s lives and experiences. When we base what we know about others from these positive glimpses, we may inaccurately think our lives are worse by comparison.
This is another reason why getting to know people completely is important, because the glimpses we see on Facebook aren’t entirely accurate, and can lead to depression.
Privacy
Facebook is one social media website where you have fairly good control over your privacy. However, it is up to you as the user to be careful in sharing information. You can set any or all personal information to be hidden from the public and from Friends. With this feature on friends have to request information directly from you through Facebook. But Facebook doesn’t automatically set these privacy settings. You have to go in and decide whats the most comfortable for you.