“The HACK to Online Growth” is a sponsored post by Clint Rogers, founder of Pro MediaFire. Pro Media Fire is a creative digital agency committed to helping mission-based organizations amplify their reach.
In today’s high-speed world, we are all yearning for the ability to get where we want to go quickly and more efficiently.
Although there is a place for 4-year universities and extended training programs, our “need for speed” motivates us to look for other alternatives for education and learning. We look to the endless archives of YouTube, online courses, and even individual coaching.
What we want is not just a quick solution but a simplistic way of learning without jumping through endless hoops. Who says that cutting corners is a negative thing? If you do it with intentionality, it can help you in the long run!
If you’re looking for growth digitally, you don’t need to spend hours upon hours learning a thousand techniques to stimulate online growth.
We want to offer you a simple framework that will help you on your digital journey and teach you to reach more people online: The HACK method. We believe that if you follow this simple method, it will enable you easily create digital content and ultimately ignite growth for your mission
1) H – HEART
Think of the most compelling song you’ve listened to. Let your mind wander to the musical swells and emotional highs and lows of its melody. A good song can leave your heart soaring, move you to tears, and even make you burst out with laughter.
Like all good art, music can be a powerful tool to touch our humanity. But there is so much more to this art than cool instrumental breaks and brushstrokes.
It is powerful because it was made from the heart.
Without the element of the human heart involved, all art would be stale and lifeless.
In a like manner, the content you create and share makes the most impact when it’s created from the heart. Why is this the case? Because when something is made from the heart it tells a unique story that often goes beyond words.
The questions you have the opportunity to answer for your audience are these: How do I fit into this grand story? Why am I an essential part of this organization’s mission?
When your content speaks a story from the heart it will invite others to want to learn what part they have to play.
Communication from the heart opens the doors to who you want to reach.
Communication from the heart opens the doors to who you want to reach.
2) A – AUDIENCE
We don’t share content for the sake of content; we share content to reach particular people. While the message of Jesus, in particular, is meant for all people, the language we use to convey this message differs depending on the person we are trying to reach.
Consider the Apostle Peter. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he was miraculously empowered to speak in tongues to the crowds surrounding him. He spoke to each individual at once yet was able to speak in their precise language.
Our message and mission are meant for all, but we need to understand our audience well to reach them more effectively. The question is: Are you speaking your audience’s language? (And we don’t just mean literally!)
Are you speaking to their need? Are you speaking to their heart? Are you addressing their concerns and wants? Are you acquainted with their cultural context? These questions must be answered in order to reach your audience well.
In addition to this, consider the different “digital languages” you can use to communicate. Graphics, videos, web copy, and newsletters are just a few of the different “languages” you can utilize to communicate with your audience.
While it takes time to learn the audience’s language and employ these different methods, you must know your audience to reach your audience. This is how you will see lasting results.
You must know your audience to reach your audience.
3) C – CREATE
Speaking from the heart and understanding your audience well is the key to maximizing your impact. Without these two necessary steps, you won’t be able to have the best possible impact on those you want to reach.
Once you have done these two things, now comes the time to create! You may think you should just create some cool content and hope for the best, but we must first have this foundation for our creation.
We had the honor of helping a pastor launch a new campus with a focus on the under-30 crowd. Knowing our audience we created an entire media campaign focused on the unchurched for YouTube and Instagram.
Though we shot the media commercials with actors, the content so resonated with the hearts of the young adults, that the first service was packed to capacity and filled two overflow rooms. It all started with our team creating from the heart to speak to the audience.
The beautiful thing about creativity is that it is malleable. It is not some rigid rock unable to be moved — it is more like a mound of clay able to be shaped and formed. When you approach this “clean slate” with your heart and a heart for your audience, the creativity will be influenced and even happen naturally!
4) K – KAPTIVATE
Did you stop in your tracks when you saw the word “Kaptivate”? That is the point! This is far from a spelling error here but is rather a demonstration of the power of unique content.
Captivating content stops the scroll and serves as a conversation starter. This is exactly where growth begins!
Speaking to your audience through heartfelt, intentional, and creative content is where the rubber meets the road and you have captured their attention. Once you’ve done this, you can now begin a true journey of growth together.
This online growth will be measured differently and look different for everyone. But whether you want to bring them to a moment of transformation in Christ or sell them a product, it begins with this moment of captivation.
Many people have stumbled upon this method accidentally by simply sharing from their hearts… and they went viral! When you create and share content intentionally, it has the power to reach more people and help you make a huge impact online.
About Pro MediaFire
Pro MediaFire exists to help churches and faith-based nonprofit organizations reach more people online by becoming your creative and digital team. Whether you are looking for a communications director, creative director, social media team, or web team – with Pro MediaFire you get an entire team of professionals for less than the cost of a staff hire.
Want to learn more about how to HACK your Digital Growth?
Click the image above or go to promediafire.com/hack.
