Hi there! I hope that you are well.
How do you use Facebook? While the powerful positive impact of Facebook on your business is no longer debated, its applicability to shul growth is a bit more contentious. Some synagogues claim that their “reach” is too narrow to capture attention with a Facebook post. Other synagogue’s point to the lack of response to their events posted on Facebook as a sign that it’s just not working. I humbly disagree. The mistake in how shul’s use Facebook is that they use it as a bullhorn instead of a forum for open communication. If all that you are going to do is post random events on a shul Facebook account, then yes, it will have very little impact. But it’s called Social Media for a reason. The strength in Facebook is all in the level that you are willing to SOCIALLY engage people. Use your Facebook account to strike up conversations, provide insight, think of ways to make people’s lives better, take interest in what other’s are doing. Once you have shown that care and interest, your “friends” are listening.
See you around,
Shlomo Einhorn
Rabbi of West Side Institutional Synagogue - www.wsisny.org
Director of WINGS – A OU Synagogue Consulting Group – http://www.ou.org/synagogue_services/wings
Email: wings@ou.org
