Live streaming has become an essential tool for churches to reach their congregation and beyond. However, many churches struggle with low viewership. Let’s explore the key reason why your live stream might not be capturing your audience’s attention.
- Who is Your Audience?
Graeme Spencer talks about the three types of audiences you could have. Maintenance, Ministry,
and Missional.
Maintenance – Those are the folks who your regular people who are part of your church
Ministry – People in your area that don’t know you but might be looking for a church.
Missional – This would be reaching people all over the world.
I believe you need to choose one of the three, you can’t do all three.
2. Things to consider defining your target audience:
- Demographics:
Who are you trying to reach with your online and digital ministry? (Age range, location, family situation, etc.)
- Spiritual Background:
What is the current level of spiritual engagement in your target audience? Are they new believers,established Christians, or somewhere in between?
- Online Habits:
Where does your target audience spend their time online? (For example, on social media platforms, streaming services, faith-based websites, etc.)
- Needs & Challenges:
What are the biggest challenges your target audience faces in their spiritual life?
How can your online ministry address those needs and provide support?
- Content Preferences:
What kind of online content resonates best with your target audience? (Examples include sermons, short devotional videos, interactive Bible studies, etc.)
- Call to Action:
What is the desired outcome for someone engaging with your online ministry? (Deeper faith, connection with a community, attending in-person services, etc.)
By answering these questions, your church can understand who you’re trying to reach online and tailor your digital ministry to be more effective and engaging. Your live stream needs to be engaging and purposeful.
3. Ask yourself:
- Is the content compelling and relevant for my target audience?
- Are you making the service feel interactive?
- Do you provide clear instructions for online viewers?
- Are you treating online attendees as important as in-person congregants?
Yes, there are other factors to consider like technical quality, your presentation, promotions, engagement, etc.. But an understanding of your audience is crucial for impactful online ministry.
For help in this area and more, we recommend taking the Digital Ministry Assessment here
We at StreamingChurch.tv are also available to help out. Check out our numerous resources.
We’ve been serving ministries since 2001 and are always eager to help, just reach out to us at StreamingChurch.tv today.