In my book The iChurch Method I talk about how easy it is to setup sharing features on your website using addtoany.com or sharethis.com. Both of these sites have great sharing features that I have implemented on sites that I have created. For 2012, I have decided that my main teaching focus will be “share everything”. I want to make sure that every website, video, photo, graphic and important statement about the ministry is shared with the onilne members via social networks. Now, I already teach about what to post, when to post and who should post to social networks in my chapter on social networks in The iChurch Method, but I want to reiterate that providing sharing tools on your website makes it much easier to let online visitors do the sharing for you. The issue that I run across when I am teaching and consulting ministries is they don’t know how easy it is to turn website visitors into mini-marketers with these share features. Online marketing has a variety of different forms and with social media, and the sharing features, letting people share your site for you with their social media contacts is one of the best and free ways to market your ministry online. Now, let’s explain how easy this is to implement
First let’s look at addtoany.com, go to addtoany.com and click the big blue button that says “Get the Share Button.” Once you click on that, you will get the page below. Now, let’s input the information to get a code for your webpage. First, leave the type as “share/bookmark widget.” Click the share option in the second row as we did below (the one with the icons for Facebook, twitter and email). Next, input the name of your page such as “Ministry homepage.” Then input the URL of the page such as www.ministry.org. Finally, click the blue button “Get Button Code” and the code will popup below the button. Copy and paste that code into your webpage and you are done!!
Next, let’s look at the short process for sharethis.com. First, go to sharethis.com and choose one of the popular button styles. Based on where you want the buttons to go on your website, choose an option that will fit accordingly. I normally choose the third one because I don't need the number counts on the website. Then click the "Get the Code" button.
Next fill out the registration form with your email address, domain name, and password. Click the "Register Button".
This will give you the code for your webpage, copy and paste that code into you webpage and you are done!!
Find out more about social media sharing buy getting your copy of The iChurch Method today.