With our social media-driven age, churches have expanded from giving the message to a few dozen people in church pews to getting hundreds, if not thousands, of views on videos a week. Thanks to social media, the message can be spread, streamed, and shared on various online platforms to allow the message to reach a far broader audience.
There’s a reason why some sermons are popular on social media: the audience feels inspired, uplifted, and connected to the message. When they feel connected to the message, they feel inclined to share it, which can start a chain reaction. So what actually makes a sermon clip share-worthy? To make the most out of social media with your sermons, you need to better understand the science behind engagement so you can better change your approach. Below, we break down what makes sermons work on social media and the science of engagement.
Capture Your Audience From The Beginning
Did you know there’s a three-second rule? According to Marketing Essentials Lab, the three-second rule states that “the first three seconds of your video needs to have the hook to keep your audience interested. Research shows that it takes only three seconds for your viewers to decide if they’ll continue to watch or scroll past your video in their social channel’s feed.” Since three seconds isn’t long, you need a catchy phrase or something from the very beginning of your sermon that captures people’s attention and pulls them in. You could start with a question to the audience, a quote, or a statement that makes people stop and reflect on what you just said.
Don’t Drag Out The Message – Keep It Short And Sweet
When scrolling on social media, you’re likely looking for bite-sized videos or clips. Your attention span isn’t wanting you to watch an hour-long video. If one were to show up on your feed, more than likely, you would scroll past it. According to Golden Steps ABA, the average attention span of a human has decreased from 12 seconds to 8.25 seconds in the last two decades. This means that your audience won’t have the attention span to watch a long video. You’ll encourage more engagement and interest with a short clip. It’s recommended that you keep it around 30-90 seconds.
When Posting Sermons On Social Media – Don’t Forget Subtitles
According to Preply, 62% of Americans use subtitles more on streaming services than regular TV. Whether your audience is hearing impaired, a visual learner, or has their volume down on their phone when scrolling through social media, most people will benefit from subtitles. If they can’t understand or hear your message, subtitles will still allow them to read it. Otherwise, if they can’t hear or read the message, they’ll end up scrolling right past it.
Why Good Lighting And Background Matter
Have you ever watched a video where the lighting was so distracting that you couldn’t watch the rest? Or when the background noise of the video takes over, and you can’t focus on the video? When background noise occurs, it disrupts your brain from processing the video you’re trying to watch. According to Kareaudio, “excessive background noise can hinder cognitive performance and disrupt our ability to comprehend spoken language.” It’s recommended that you quiet background noise, have soft lighting, and a simple background to avoid distracting the viewer. This way, they can soak up the message being given.
In Conclusion
Sermons that “work” on social media are a combination of strategy and just an overall good message. Changing your approach when posting sermons on social media and considering the science side will aid in enhancing engagement.
