CurryStew

Found these tips over here on marketing and thought they directly translated to student ministry.  I’ve inserted the questions that it makes me ask about regarding student ministry.  These aren’t anywhere near the only questions so add any other good questions in the comments for others.

Here are five tips on creating a movement that Gen Y will embrace:

1. Individualism: Enable Gen Y to be creative. They like to personalize experiences and they want the ability to self-aggregate your content. If they like it, they’ll want to embed it on their Facebook pages. (The New York Timesallows you to embed but CNN only lets you email a link).

The Student Min Question: How are we leveraging students creative abilities to further the ministry?  Are we letting them put their fingerprint on everything?

2. In the now: This generation is always on and leads the buzz revolution. Marketers need to draw them into an experience quickly and demonstrate the immediate value. Gen Y is more than twice as likely as pre-Boomers to try the newest/latest version of products so you also have to continually refresh and update content. (Apple.com is much better than Dell.com at refreshing content.)

The Student Min Question: How are we showing them value in the new series, programs, serves, events, camps, retreats that we’re offering?

3. Social interactivity: Facilitate Gen Y’s desire for recognition and connection with others. They index high on “I like to show off my taste and style,” so give them the ability to gain the recognition of being the first one to share new things.

The Student Min Question: Are we allowing space for and making sure our students see themselves on the screens, videos, recaps, graphics, etc?  Are we edifying their healthy relationships? (side note: what gets encouraged gets repeated.)

4. Authenticity: Communicate on their level. Gen Y is skeptical of authority and process five times faster than most of us, so speak their language in terms of simplicity, abbreviations, fragments and images. Keep directions simple and use images to click on rather than text or drop downs. U.O. (Urban Outfitters) and OMG.com are great at this.

The Student Min Question: Are displaying appropriate level of vulnerability with our students and leaders?  We are real people right…do they know that?  The more obvious question is ‘are we speaking their language’?

5. Make it fun: Gen Y is experience-oriented; they feel it all. They enjoy absurdity and odd humor, which is why they are hyper-active on YouTube.

The Student Min Question: Are we always making sure we’re adding ‘texture’ to the things we offer students…or is it plain?