We’ve had 58 replies to the YBA Communications Feedback Survey which is summarised below.
Roles represented include: Leaders (19), Treasures (5), Secretaries (2) and the rest were members and people with a specific role - kids worker, safeguarding, worship team etc.
BE NOTES:
This probably represents are audience demographic and we need to take account their preferences whilst considering what we need to do to engage younger people.
Which age category are you in?
BE NOTES:
We can see that the vast majority of people value the communications. If we could swing the 16 who voted ‘3’ to ‘4’ that would be awesome.
Overall how valuable do you find YBA communications?
BE NOTES:
The same story here - people value the news round but also room to improve it and make it great for everyone - especially when email is the preferred format, as charts later clearly show.
How useful do you find YBA 'Newsround' emails?
BE NOTES:
Several people gave this ‘0’ as they said they don’t use it.
This format would be the top if/when younger uses start to emerge into the frame, however at present the demographic is heavier towards the retired stage of life.
How useful do you find YBA social media content?
BE NOTES:
Overall the website is well received scoring very similarly to the Newsround.
How would you rate the YBA website (www.yba.org.uk)?
BE NOTES:
The older demographic said yes… Leaders leant towards ‘no’ as did younger voters.
Based on this feedback, I think we should improve the quality of emails and retract the objective of the annual magazine, though print engagement could be good to empower leaders and postcards of how the YBA serves people across the region.
Would you value a printed magazine from the YBA, circulated 1-2 times per year, with inspiring stories, testimonies, information and help for your church?
BE NOTES:
Email wins!
Which of the following ways do you stay updated by the YBA?
BE NOTES:
Interestingly more felt their church was equipped to use social media than were not.
I’m curious as to where this perception is placed.
Do you feel your church is equipped to use social media and other digital communications to engage your church and the community?
BE NOTES:
Email is the big win here and certainly the preference.
Question - how do we make these super engaging as we still contest with less than 20% engagement and unlikley to break open rates. We can improve click through rates if we have the right content to do so.
If you could choose ONE way to receive updates from the YBA, which would you choose?
Further feedback
There are a selection of further thoughts around our communications. Some of which are constructive and useful to consider.
A: I personally find updates by email good but having a printed magazine a couple of times per year would be good to circulate to the congregation, to enable them to engage more with the YBA
A: I don't use social media, the magazine would be great for our members who dont have a PC or a mobile phone.
I've said yes to social media and other digital means but our church has far to go.
A: My guess is that most churches are not comfortable with social media. A combination of training and resources might help. What about a website expert who can volunteer their time to critique churches' web presence?
A: Someone at the church meeting asked what the YBA actually did for their money and the response was an embarrassed hesitation followed by a stuttering answer.
A: I think a monthly contact (for me an email) is about the right balance of communication.
A: News on the website is not contemporary, often items are out of date?
A: Need to find more good stories to tell- don’t rely on others first telling you
Explore new ways of being culturally relevant in gospel presentation. I hated candy cane.
Went to sustainable flowers; no feedback form, no apparent thought from YBA as to how it can be a gospel tool
A: I really appreciate the email for info updates, but I don't really engage with YBA via social media.
A: Please don't produce a physical newsletter - I'm pretty sure it would follow our regular unread copy of Together magazine into the recycling
A: I am too old to give you a fair assessment because other than emails have no contact with the YBA now or for some years. Have felt cut off from Baptist life since I retired 20 years ago.
A: I prefer a summary of articles without having to access several links
A: The newsround is often too wordy - suggest short attention grabbing/salient info pieces with links to website for those who want to know more
A: I only really look at the website for a specific reason - but it is useful.
I would find it helpful if there was an easier way to share YBA news with the rest of the church via Facebook, but not one story/post at a time. So a way of sharing the news email content in one post to our church Facebook group. Like how, for example, Inclusive Church does it - I share their monthly newsletter FB post to the Revive group. Their newsletter post has a link to the email contents. This avoids swamping our church's FB feed with loads of stories.
I would recommend to others the BU comms talks from last year on how to do social media/comms plans/design etc, to churches who aren't confident with such things. I think they are all still available on youtube.
A: I have had problems in the past trying to locate specific matters on the site. The search facility, in my opinion, should be able to locate any of the held data when the headings are not helpful but that doesn't seem to be the case !!
Next Steps
Consider the feedback in conjunction with communication strategy and objectives
Explore ways to refine and improve communications linking with this
Highlight any low hanging fruit
Consider communicating these findings to recipients and what we intend to do with it