Monday Morning Insights

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    Four Huge Blogging Mistakes Pastors Make

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    1. Using misspelled words and poor grammar.
    While distracting readers is one risk, another is the possibility of losing credibility with your readers. Although there’s little need to stick to MLA or Turabian formatting rules, that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to throw out intelligent writing altogether.

    There are a couple of steps you can take to make sure you avoid this pitfall. First, use your automatic spellchecker. If your blog platform doesn’t offer it built-in, then use an external text editor that does have one and then copy/paste the purified text into your blog. Second, have someone else read the post before it’s posted. A second pair of eyes will catch misspelled words, poor grammar and other oddities that your eyes won’t see.

    2. Posting sporadically.
    Finding a rhythm can be one of the most useful habits you can form when it comes to blogging. If you can’t dedicate yourself to a daily posting regimen, then post every other day or on Mondays and Thursdays. It doesn’t matter when you post as long as your readers can somewhat predict when it will happen.

    For the last two, you’ll need to read his post over at ChurchMarketingSucks.com. 

    What’s the hardest part of blogging for you?  And if you don’t have a blog yet, why not?

    Scott Magdalein is guest blogging this week over at ChurchMarketingSucks.com; and he had a great piece on four mistakes pastors make when blogging. According to some recent research, 72% of pastors aren't blogging successfully (and 56% said they don't even have a blog). Scott looks at four common problems and offers four easy ways to fix them...

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    1. Leonard on Tue, January 15, 2008

      Great stuff.  for me the hard part is content and timing or the rythem of blogging.  One of my goals this year is to start a blog that is accessible to our church and others.

    2. karen on Tue, January 15, 2008

      That’s good stuff.  My toughest part is keeping it fresh and not getting discouraged when there’s little or no response.

    3. Jan on Tue, January 15, 2008

      Mine is carving out the time.  But when I do I love it.

    4. Derek on Tue, January 15, 2008

      We added a link from our website to “Pastor’s Blog.” It has been a great way for me to explore ideas that may be “too much” to get into on Sunday morning. Often if I have done study for a sermon and I cannot get all my study notes into my sermon notes. I explore extra notes in a blog. It has been good for our church. A lot of our internet savvy members read the blog. I try to update weekly.


      I am the worst at not editing my blogs. That has got to be the hardest for me—the discipline of editing my blogs. I try to type them in WORD and then publish them from WORD straight into my blog. A nice feature in WORD 2007.


      Even when I use WORD, I still have typos. God hlep me!


      Derek

    5. Scott Magdalein on Tue, January 15, 2008

      Thanks for the comments everyone. If you’d like to read more about this kind of stuff, visit my blog at http://www.readscott.com where I write posts for church leaders on blogging and innovation.


      @Everyone - You all wrote that you find it difficult to stay consistent. I find it is easiest to stay in rhythm if I write as soon as think about something and save it without publishing. That way, on days when I’m pulling a blank, I can grab a post I’d written before and is waiting for me. That way, I never post poor quality content.

    6. Camey on Tue, January 15, 2008

      The hardest part is why I started blogging in the first place…. it was in response to individuals wanting to stay updated on what was/is going on in our lives. Our lives are just a bit complicated to say the least…


      Most of the responses I receive are via email, in-person or text msg/cell phone. And yes, I’ve even had a couple of MMIers guest blog…. Thanks again Leonard and Phil… You guys rock! Leonard, can’t wait…..


      I still don’t get it…. maybe I never will. But if one person can receive encouragement or hope or laugh at/with this silly woman then I will count it all gain… and a privilege and blessing.

    7. Jay F.H. on Tue, January 15, 2008

      Couldn’t agree more. One of my biggest pet peeves are dangling participles.

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