Staci+Stroud+Capstone+Project+Page

**Capstone Project Proposal for DDBC Summer 2014 **

 * Presented By: Staci Stroud **

====**Project Description **: Photographs are statistically proven to be a popular catalyst in social media engagement. The use of them provides entertainment as well as the building of parish community. It is my intention to increase the use of them via our website, Facebook page, Instagram, and e-mails. This project was designed for St. Robert of Newminster Parish in Ada, MI (strobertchurch.org); however, the precepts can be used as a model for other parishes. ====

====**Project Goals **: Foster more community connection with increased usage of parish photos on our new website – new photo headers, spotlight video, and more. Changing the offerings on a consistent basis is imperative. Continue with Throwback Thursdays as it has proven to be popular, and add other days with specialized hashtags and photos. For example: Faith-Filled Friday #faithfilledfriday or #fffriday. Request historical/tbt photos and post/print them. Establish Instagram account and begin usage. Interact. Reach out. Use more call-to-action items. Curate content and then schedule for posting. Review what is popular and pursue what works. Increase following and engagement. Personally invite at least 5 active social media parishioners to be St. Robert of Newminster social media advocates (ask them to monitor, engage, forward to friends, etc. on a regular basis). Add social media tasks to daily work list. ====

====**Audience Description **: Parish Community, Bulletin Readers, Opt-In E-mail List Members, App Users, Facebook Page Participants, Instagram Community ====

**Projected Timeline: **

 * 1) ====Week of September 29: Establish new accounts needed and establish hashtags; begin to develop social media plan (ongoing) ====
 * 2) ====Week of October 6: Utilize more photos on new website (launch approximately October 15) - ongoing; request vintage/throwback photos via bulletin, app, Facebook, e-mail – some items are already curated (ongoing) ====
 * 3) ====Week of October 13: Institute daily posts on Facebook (this has already been increased to 2-3 times per week); begin to use Instagram and increase usage weekly. Incorporate a photo into the new format of “Fr. Len’s Friday Email” ====
 * 4) ====October 15 - November 15: Measure analytic changes of website, Facebook, and Instagram and make a comparison chart or spreadsheet ====
 * 5) ====Future: Continue analysis of website, Facebook, Instagram, and app usage. Establish blog on new website. On a regular basis, encourage parishioners to submit photos of all kinds; invite parish ministry leaders to contribute a blog post about their ministry; consider spotlighting parishioners and/or staff members; adjustment of social media plan will be ongoing; possibly institute Twitter ====

====**Technology to Be Utilized **: New Parish Website (Wordpress – estimated to go live in mid-October), Facebook, Instagram, Animoto, Delicious, Parish App (myParish), Email, and an as yet “undetermined” app for transferring photos between computer and phone. ====

====**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Projected Budget **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">: No budgeted funds required; Web 2.0 applications used are cost-free or subsidiary components of existing programs. ====

====**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Do you need Departmental or Administrator approval **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">? I have the support and approval from the pastor as well as the parish staff. ====

Stacy Stroud Capstone ESSAY

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