Social Media Guide for Prayer Month

This guide has everything you need to create and share impactful content for Prayer Month.

Choose below to get started.

Create and send content to us

Quick Tips

These tips are designed for those who are creating content to be sent directly to us for use in our Prayer Month campaign:

  • Video Length: Keep videos short, ideally under 30 seconds, to ensure they’re engaging and easy to share.

  • Portrait Mode: Record in portrait (vertical) mode, which works best for social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook Stories.

  • Clear Sound: Film in a quiet environment to ensure your voice is clear and easy to hear.

  • Good Lighting: Use natural light or a well-lit indoor space. Position yourself facing a window or light source for even lighting on your face.

  • Key Message: Include the line: “Pray with us in November for a better future for Youth Ministry.”

  • File Format: Send videos in MP4 format and images in PNG or JPEG to avoid any compatibility issues.

These quick tips ensure that the content you send to us is high-quality, relevant, and ready to be shared on our social media channels.

Advanced Tips

For those looking to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the content they send:

  • Add Your Logo: Send us your organisation’s logo to include in your video or Canva tiles. This helps strengthen your brand presence within the campaign.

  • Stabilise the Camera: Use a tripod or prop your phone on a stable surface to avoid shaky footage.

  • Use the Rear Camera: For better video quality, use the rear camera of your device. Make sure your camera settings are at the highest possible recording quality (e.g., 4K at 30fps if available).

  • Focus & Exposure Lock: Tap the screen to focus on your face, hold until AE/AF Lock appears, and adjust brightness for the best exposure.

  • Lighting Adjustments: If sunlight is too direct, use sheer curtains to soften the light. Avoid backlighting by not sitting with a window behind you.

  • Preparation: Ensure your device is fully charged and activate airplane mode to avoid interruptions during recording.

  • Post-Recording:

    • Transfer the Video: Use AirDrop, a card reader, or another method to move the video to your editing device.

    • Upload and Edit: Use editing software like iMovie or Adobe Rush to refine your video before submitting it to us.

These advanced tips will help you create polished, professional-quality content that aligns perfectly with our campaign.

Create and share on your socials

Quick Tips

If you’re creating content to share on your own social media channels, these tips will help you maximize engagement and reach:

  • Tag Us: Always tag us so we can see and engage with your posts. Use @ymfutures on Instagram and tag our Youth Ministry Futures Facebook page.

  • Re-share Our Content: Re-sharing our posts, Stories, and Reels is a quick way to help spread the message.

  • Story Length: Keep videos for Stories under 15 seconds, as this is the ideal length for Instagram and Facebook Stories.

  • Clear Text: Keep any text in your posts or Stories short and clear—ideally under 40 characters.

  • Engage Your Audience: Use calls to action like “Join us in prayer” to encourage engagement from your followers.

  • Privacy Settings: Ensure your posts are public so we can see and interact with your content.

These quick tips will help you create effective content that spreads the message of Prayer Month while maintaining high engagement on your social channels.

Advanced Tips

For those who want to take their social media content to the next level:

  • Create Platform-Specific Content: Tailor your content for each platform. For example, use portrait mode for Instagram Stories and Reels, and consider landscape mode for YouTube or Facebook desktop posts.

  • Use Hashtags Wisely: Include relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts. Aim for 5-10 hashtags that relate to Prayer Month and youth ministry.

  • Craft Engaging Captions: Write captions that encourage interaction, such as asking a question or including a call to action.

  • Create Visually Appealing Content: Use design tools like Canva to create high-quality images and videos. Ensure text overlays are clear and concise, with no more than 20-30 words.

  • Monitor Performance: Use the analytics tools on Instagram and Facebook to track the performance of your posts. This can help you refine your content strategy over time.

  • Lighting and Sound: Just like when sending content to us, use good lighting and clear sound. Consider using an external microphone if available for better audio quality.

These advanced tips will help you create content that not only looks professional but also resonates with your audience, increasing the likelihood of engagement and shares.