That's right...I've moved...After 1,195 posts here on blogger...I've made the switch to a new site.
If you've come here from some link off someones blog...have no fear I'm easy to find.
Just go to:
http://www.jasoncurlee.com
that's it...go there now...oh and if you have a link on your blog to mine...please, would you do me a favor.
Update that link.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
10 Commandments of a Weekend Experience
Shawn Wood, author of 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One: Creating a Life of Meaning and Influence, recently wrote a ten part series on the weekend experience.There are some great things you can pull out of this series if you want to take the planning of your weekend church experience to a whole new level.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, and Part 10
Monday, February 09, 2009
Ask Twitter: How To Build Your Follower Base
If you desire to build your Twitter follower base let me give you a few tips on how I built mine.
I've actually twittered since November of 2007. As of July of 2008 I had around 200 followers. I ended 2008 with right at 1,000 followers and in exactly 41 days into 2008 I added almost another 800.
I write that not to brag but to show you that it can be done. You don't have to be a superstar, famous, or major personality to build a follower base. All you need is a little hard work and some help.
Here are four of my tips:
I also believe that opportunities are created in connections. With all those people that follow me I understand that someone out there could hold the key to an opportunity.
Third...why would you want to speak to an empty auditorium. If you believe that what you say or write is helpful...why not get it out to as many as possible.
How have you built your follower base? Leave me a comment here with your twitter address. As you know I always give a follow back.
Catch up with the rest of our Twitter Series:
I've actually twittered since November of 2007. As of July of 2008 I had around 200 followers. I ended 2008 with right at 1,000 followers and in exactly 41 days into 2008 I added almost another 800.
I write that not to brag but to show you that it can be done. You don't have to be a superstar, famous, or major personality to build a follower base. All you need is a little hard work and some help.
Here are four of my tips:
- Work - Plain and simple...I am not a fan of someone who did it by any other mean...no bots here baby. To build my follower base I did it by working it. I will go out and follow a lot of people in my area of work and in other areas that I'm interested in. In exchange many of them follow me back. After a week or so I will then un-follow those that didn't follow back and begin that process again. Create a rule...follow everyone that follows you. And also if people take the initiate to follow you follow them back.
- Ask -New Years Eve of '08 was a fun night. I was at 857 followers. I thought it would be cool to make it to 900 by the end of the night...so I asked those that follow me to recommend me...and recommend me they did. Within about an hour of asking I hit 900 and then everyone started pushing to get me to 1,000. In the end I was about 10 short of 1,000 when the clock struck but by the next morning I was sitting well over 1,000. Disclaimer - I would not do this to your network often. In fact, I don't think I would ask my network ever again. This is probably a one time shot for a special number.
- Connect - Send lots of @ replies. An @ reply is taking someone's Twitter name and putting the @ sign directly in front of it in one of your tweets or 140 character post. Ex. "@turnedout so pumped about your vision for launching a church" Connect with others is one of the x-factors of Twitter. In fact, Twitter has become one big communication tool. I've also noticed that as you connect with others many will recommend you to their network.
- Be An Expert - Well, that might be hard to just pull off if you aren't already one...but you can begin to establish a niche for yourself. Choose an area...learn all you can and pass along what you learn. People will follow someone that they believe will add value to their lives.
I also believe that opportunities are created in connections. With all those people that follow me I understand that someone out there could hold the key to an opportunity.
Third...why would you want to speak to an empty auditorium. If you believe that what you say or write is helpful...why not get it out to as many as possible.
How have you built your follower base? Leave me a comment here with your twitter address. As you know I always give a follow back.
Catch up with the rest of our Twitter Series:
- What Is Twitter
- How Many Tweets
- Favorite Twitter Tools
- How Many Followers Is Too Many
- How To Build Your Follower Base
- *Bonus* Why Should Your Church Twitter?
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Sunday The 8th Through My Window
Here is a look through my window at Bay Area 5 Points on 2-8-09:
- This Sunday was a little different for me as my wife wasn't able to come due to her mom getting out of hospital today.
- First Impressions did a great job today. We added a few new items to our hospitality bar as well as trying out some new flavors of coffee. We are trying to bring something unique to our campus. My goal is to have the best coffee of all our campuses.
- Energy in the band was great today. Ben, one of our singers was all over the stage, speakers, and even did a back flip off the stage...just kidding about the back flip...but he did jump off. Love the energy he's bringing.
- New bass player this week...he's actually a buddy of mine from the "old" days of another church I was in. He was rocking it. Even striking the rockin' bass player pose.
- Song set - Salvation Is Here by Hillsong United, Break Free by Hillsong United, and Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Camp. We only did three songs due to the length of the message.
- Lighting was off the hook. Tom Grant, our production director, has been making our Sunday sets stand out. If you haven't been to 5 Points you have to come check it out.
- We tried something new with prayer partners...I thought it out last week...we've tried just about every single way possible to put our prayer team. This week I had them move to the back. Main reason is that I wanted those that were worshiping to not be distracted by watching those being prayed for. We'll see how it goes. Pretty much the same response we normally have.
- Four people prayed to begin a relationship with Christ today....FOUR...praise God...once again...that's the main thing...totally we have had 68 pray to begin a relationship with Christ at Bay Area 5 Points.
- Spent lots of time working with my team today...
- We officially launched Element Student Ministries tonight. It went great...I liked our format...altogether we had 16 teens with 10 adult volunteers. Our student director, Juno Garcia and his wife, did a fantastic job with their team.
- All around great day out at our campus.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Ask Twitter: How Many Should You Follow?
Here is what Guy Kawasaki wrote in a recent post on twitter about followers:
Obviously there are different philosophies about this...NUTSHELL - I follow everyone who follows me and unfollow anyone who unfollows me. I willingly follow a lot to get a lot of follow back. Since I follow a lot, 1,593 at time of this post, people often ask how I keep up.
Truth is...there is no possible way. What I do is set up a group in TweetDeck in which I filter out specific people I do follow. I mainly really follow people who talk and connect with me on Twitter. I really follow people who I want to see how their mind works throughout the day. I really follow people in my "industry". I follow people who are adding to the conversation.
But I mainly follow so many because there is a mutual follow back....1,600 at time of post...and I have met so many new friends because of it. And that is about connection...life is all about connections. That next person you are following could be the key to an opportunity you are about to experience.
This week I learned the power of the follow when I had so many people tell us they were praying for our family through a health situation.
I also want to be a pacesetter...one who is out on the edge trying new things and hopefully setting trends. And if you want to lead you have to put yourself out in front.
Of course this being our theme this week...I pitched it to my twitter friends. How Many Should You Follow?
And, truth be told, there are only two kinds of Twitter users: those that want more followers and those that lie. You can follow me here.How many people should you follow? And why would you want to follow all of them anyway?
The reason you want more followers is the law of big numbers: the more followers, the more people talking about what you do, the more you can reach the tipping point.
Obviously there are different philosophies about this...NUTSHELL - I follow everyone who follows me and unfollow anyone who unfollows me. I willingly follow a lot to get a lot of follow back. Since I follow a lot, 1,593 at time of this post, people often ask how I keep up.
Truth is...there is no possible way. What I do is set up a group in TweetDeck in which I filter out specific people I do follow. I mainly really follow people who talk and connect with me on Twitter. I really follow people who I want to see how their mind works throughout the day. I really follow people in my "industry". I follow people who are adding to the conversation.
But I mainly follow so many because there is a mutual follow back....1,600 at time of post...and I have met so many new friends because of it. And that is about connection...life is all about connections. That next person you are following could be the key to an opportunity you are about to experience.
This week I learned the power of the follow when I had so many people tell us they were praying for our family through a health situation.
I also want to be a pacesetter...one who is out on the edge trying new things and hopefully setting trends. And if you want to lead you have to put yourself out in front.
Of course this being our theme this week...I pitched it to my twitter friends. How Many Should You Follow?
- @rafaelmarquez as many as you can pay attention to
- @sassy007 as many as you actually converse with.
- @JohanCyprich Follow everyone. Everyone has something useful to contribute and say.
- @VoteMikeJones 60 or less, I explain more here http://tinyurl.com/c7hk3p
- @jcride442 at least as many that follows you, thats my motto.
- What Is Twitter
- How Many Tweets
- Favorite Twitter Tools
- How Many Followers Is Too Many
- How To Build Your Follower Base
- *Bonus* Why Should Your Church Twitter?
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Time Warner Cable
Customer service...oh don't you just love calling customer service. That's what I did the other day and spent over one hour on the phone with Time Warner Cable...mainly because the first two people couldn't get it right...and one of them was a supervisor.
Here were the tweets of my wonderful experience that started about 15 minutes into my experience:
All that to say...just cause you have a customer now...you better take good care of them cause they may twitter or blog it to about 1,500 people who just might not ever....and I mean e.v.e.r. choose your business.
You ever experience anything like that? What's your customer service horror story?
Here were the tweets of my wonderful experience that started about 15 minutes into my experience:
- Can I tell the whole twitter world that "Time Warner Cable" technical support absolutely is horrible
- I have a technical problem and they tell me they can't come out and service me cause there are no available dates
- that I need to call back some other day and try to schedule
- WHAT????????????????????? Time Warner Cable that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
- From @Pastor_Bob: @jasoncurlee Tell them you can't pay your bill either, since there aren't any available dollars.
- @Pastor_Bob right....yeah when you can't do that they are quick to shut you down
- Then I was told I can't speak to a supervisor.....WHAT?????
- AGHHHH...if the first person would have recognized that I was a "commercial" account....that is why you ask for a supervisior
- FYI - Still on the phone
- Reason we are with Time Warner Cable was for internet/phone/cable for our building...fastest internet for our building in area located
- Now on with fourth person - 2nd person (a supervisor) connected me with the wrong department...nice one Time Warner Cable
- If you guys and gals don't think I'm blogging these tweets you're crazy
- Finally hung up...over one hour on the phone...which could have been resolved by the first person who had....NO CLUE!!!! thanx again TWC
- From @AlexTWC: @jasoncurlee do you need help from Time Warner Cable?
- @AlexTWC think I got it...long story...you'd have to read through my tweets...I was pretty mad
- @AlexTWC first two customer service rep one being a supervisor...had no clue what they were doing. that's what messed it all up
- @AlexTWC 3rd and 4th people absolutely fantastic
- AlexTWC @jasoncurlee clearly you were mad...sorry to hear. Glad it's resolved. You can always reach me here.
All that to say...just cause you have a customer now...you better take good care of them cause they may twitter or blog it to about 1,500 people who just might not ever....and I mean e.v.e.r. choose your business.
You ever experience anything like that? What's your customer service horror story?
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Ask Twitter: Favorite Twitter Tools
If you are going to twitter and really be serious about it, then your gonna have to use a couple of tools. By tools I mean other websites or downloadable applications. There are twitter tools for PC's or MAC's,
These will allow you to do several things of which I'll breakdown as I talk about them. Here are my absolute top twitter tools:
Catch up with the rest of our Twitter Series:
These will allow you to do several things of which I'll breakdown as I talk about them. Here are my absolute top twitter tools:
- TweetDeck.com - This is my number one tool. It is a downloadable application that takes your feed and helps you break it down into a manageable stream of information. You can set up certain groups of people so you don't miss any of thier tweets. You can add a certain search term that will search for certian topics. It will gather all your @ replies unlike the web version that only collects them if the @name starts the tweet. If you are going to twitter from your computer this is a highly recommended tool.
- FriendOrFollow.com - This is a great web application that will show you people you follow that don't follow you back or vice versa...those that follow you but you don't follow. I personally use it to unfollow people that don't follow me back. (One of my twitter rules)
- SocialToo.com -SocialToo allows me to auto-follow or auto-unfollow people as well as leave them a thank you direct message.
- Twitterfeed - This application allows me to post the feed of my blog to my twitter so that when ever I post it sends a tweet to let everyone know.
- TweepSearch.com - This site is a great place to search for people. Just type in a search term like "Pastor" or "innovation" and it will go to work.
- Twitter.Grader.com - Come on...you can twitter and not know how your doing. Just type in your twitter name and it will grade your page. It will also show you the top twitter people in your city or even industry by hitting the search tab and entering a search term.
- TwitterCounter.com - This will show you in graph form how many people follow you day to day and will predict where you will be at next month.
- TweetStats.com -This site will give you a full breakdown of your tweets: tweets per hour, tweets per month, tweet timeline, reply statistics and much more. Just type in your twitter name and it will go to work.
- @soverpeck tweetdeck.com, twellow.com, twitterfeed.com
- @daveingland my favorite twitter tool is tweetdeck. second favorite is tweetlater.com
- @hbuzzell PowerTwitter; TwitterFox and TwitterBar
- @OnlineDisciples Twhirl http://www.twhirl.org
- @NickHempsey Tweetdeck, Socialtoo.com and Tweetstats.com
- @daniellesuzanne oops: twit this http://twitthis.com/
- @gbrandonc I use twitterfox. I am not crazy about tweetdeck. http://www.usetrackthis.com/
- @aaronjbates TweetDeck, Tweetholic.com, Spaz
- @rajean I'm a newbie, but I use http://twitter.com/grader, http://usequitter.com/. I know it's only 2. Hope it helps. Rajean
- @SloweThinking Stephen Lowe slowethinking.com - tweetdeck, twitterberry and twitterfeed
- @tahitipearls tweetdeck and twitterfon for iPhone!
- @ExistentialPunk twhirl and Twitter Search
- @jdarnell Tweetdeck and Twitterberry & TinyTwitter on the Blackberry to manage two separate Twitter accts... grader and Mr. Tweet
- @djchuang twitterfon and tweetdeck and twitterfox
- @Johnwsnyder Tweetie and Tweetdeck
- @Harrisongivens tweetdeck for the mac, tweetie for iPhone... Twitterfon is also
- @tylersorrells my fave twitter tool is my cellphone. retro style here no blackberry or iphone here! lol
- @dawnnicole Tweetdeck [desktop] Tweetie [iPhone] & Twitterberry
- @shanenassiri I like the browser Flock. Not only is it a Twitter client, but it also handles Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Digg, RSS Feeds, more
- @BJHewitt Tweetie and Twitterfon on iPhone.... On computer Twhirl
- @KevinLyons on iPhone Tweetie is #1 for me.
- @LaurenceTom I use Tweetdeck & Twitterfox [desktop] + Twitterfone [iphone]
Catch up with the rest of our Twitter Series:
- What Is Twitter
- How Many Tweets
- Favorite Twitter Tools
- How Many Followers Is Too Many
- How To Build Your Follower Base
- *Bonus* Why Should Your Church Twitter?
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Ask Twitter: How Many Tweets?
All this week I'm asking my twitter friends questions about using twitter. The question for this post is: How many tweets from one person in one day are too many?
Now to get a little understanding...the definition of a tweet is when you enter in one line of up to 140 text characters and enter it into the twitter stream. It is also called an update.
What is my take on how often should one person update?
Actually it doesn't matter to me how often someone updates as long as they are participating and not spam marketing. Since I use another tool to read all the updates of those I follow it simplifies what and who I'm reading. I actually swing the other way...I think you can tweet to little. BUT...to each his or her own...so in my book go ahead and update as much as you want.
Here are what some of the people I follow said:
Catch up with the rest of our Twitter Series:
Now to get a little understanding...the definition of a tweet is when you enter in one line of up to 140 text characters and enter it into the twitter stream. It is also called an update.
What is my take on how often should one person update?
Actually it doesn't matter to me how often someone updates as long as they are participating and not spam marketing. Since I use another tool to read all the updates of those I follow it simplifies what and who I'm reading. I actually swing the other way...I think you can tweet to little. BUT...to each his or her own...so in my book go ahead and update as much as you want.
Here are what some of the people I follow said:
- @josephrueter Depends on the tweets usefulness!
- @oharaville num. per day doesn't bother me, but consecutive tweets that take up the deck in a matter of a minute or two can be annoying.
- @jdellis1 I think more than eight to ten a day can be a little bit annoyin
- @thelastepic i think it should depend more on the quality and not the quantity
- @joecase I think if they're spread out over a day, around 10 is ok. Some need to learn the fine art of Direct Messaging on Twitter
- @mikeforjesus What's too many tweets? When it start affecting your work, marriage, being a father, etc
- @cameyg depends upon what they've got to say 4 me!
- @andrew_statezny 7
- @GodsMac I'd say anything over 5 per day is extreme, not including @ replies.
- @moviepastor there are never too many tweets if they are funny, informative, or encouraging
- @samluce General tweets or @replys or DM. General Tweets 30 in one day is to much Over 5 @replys or DM's just email me
- @e3Partners Multiple posts daily are fine. Unless they are consistently meaningless. No one really cares what someone eats for lunch. ;-)
- @spiritualtramp re: # of tweets I really think that depends on the tweets. Ten is probably getting there not counting @'s
- @texasaggie1 here's what I think about it... twittequette http://randybryan.com/?p=409
- @mburleson i say to do what you want to do. If I can't stand it, I'll unfollow. I struggle at times cause I do tweet alot, but be you.
- @mikekell 5 a day that aren't replies. Replies don't count against you... But after 2 or 3 replies, switch to text messaging
- @decart whatever @rick_smith sends out, cut in half. Lol.
- @jreighley That depends on weather they are interesting. If they are conversational, good, Self promoting will get you axed.
- @iThinkMedia # of tweets not issue for me, what irks me is tweetfeed, 4-9 tweets one after another clogging the feed
- @littletechgirl I can't put a number on it. I will just say that we do not all need to know EVERYTHING that the person is doing all day long
- @technologytwit definitely depends on who's doing the tweeting and what they are tweeting about.
- @chuckazooloo i would say "one" if they don't have anything relevant to say to you. if relevant, i'm cool with as many as you want to post!
- @mxbx five of the same tweet is beyond too many.
- @pastrbrf more than 7 is too many. Over 7 then you have too much time on your hands.
- @laurapalmero I don't think it's necessarily the quantity that's the problem, but it's about the spacing of the tweets.
Catch up with the rest of our Twitter Series:
- What Is Twitter
- How Many Tweets
- Favorite Twitter Tools
- How Many Followers Is Too Many
- How To Build Your Follower Base
- *Bonus* Why Should Your Church Twitter?
Monday, February 02, 2009
Ask Twitter: What Is Twitter
To get up to speed on what Twitter is, watch this short video:
Why do I twitter and what is it to me?
Why do I twitter and what is it to me?
- I mainly twitter to connect with other leaders across the country. Which is why I follow so many people. Whether it is in the church world or business world I think there are some valuable things I can learn from others. There are many leaders that I have now connected to that I probably wouldn't know had it not been for twitter.
- I also use it pretty much as my primary communication tool. It's a combination of email/text message/instant message. I have built some pretty good friendships through twitter.
- I use it to let others know what I'm doing and thinking. Sometimes that's pretty random. It could be on what I'm doing at the moment, to a UFC fight, to a church conference like innovation3 (where I put out over 300 tweets in 3 days...sorry about that), to completely random thoughts that go through my head.
- I want to keep up with the same from many of my friends across the country.
- What Is Twitter (Which is what we are covering today)
- How Many Tweets (What in the world is a tweet anyway?)
- Favorite Twitter Tools (There is a whole Twitter world out there)
- How Many Followers Is Too Many (Can you ever have too many?)
- How To Build Your Follower Base (Again...can you ever have too many?)
- *Bonus* Why Should Your Church Twitter? (Many churches are missing out on some valuable connection)
- @VoteMikeJones Twitter is how I connect with people I would normally never get to connect with (like you)
- @tylersorrells twittering's connected me to people i would've never otherwise met
- @pastortrav to cause a ruckus
- @Rick_Smith I enjoy connecting with so many different people and getting to learn from so many people! Helps me to build bridges!
- @Pokinatcha To me it's been a great way to meet other Third Day Gomers & learn some interesting internet stuff.
- @Pokinatcha and exposure to Christian artists that are out there that I wouldn't otherwise have known about!
- @vinceparker twitter another way to connect and meet people that I otherwise would have never connected with.
- @coltmelrose I twitter because it keeps me connected and allow for new connections in a much easier workflow than other social apps.
- @benwiles Twitter is "doing life together."
- @jasonmaxwell a FREE opportunity to connect/brainstorm w/ a multi-cultural group nationwide
- @jasonmaxwell scratch that..worldwide
- @juliebonnheath I twitter to be a resource to other peeps, get an occasional question answered myself and to build my networking opportunities
- @NickHempsey connect with other christian leaders. And as of recent, keep my volunteers up to date on the happenings in our ministry.
- @pookiedmb fun fun
- @josh_silva twitter is open to the public autobiography that happen in 140 characters or less
- @thejmo because I can. also, because most of my closest friends are on it (bonus answer for ya... a twofer)
- @artgood Twitter is my way as a small church pastor to connect with other leaders I might never know otherwise.
- @cameyg it is a part of life's moments for me. encouraging, being encouraged, interacting, connecting, praying, and noticing others.
- @joecase Twitter is a communication & networking tool. My dream is to have a church full of Twitterers so all "fellowship" continually.
- @Dougrea I twitter because that where people are. "Real time" access to people. Sounds like something Jesus would do.
- @CPKIII Connecting with people I may never meet otherwise. I twitter what ever pops into my head when I am typing.
- @GodsMac Twitter is a place for the unsocial to show their true colors. Updates and those you follow speak for themselves.
- @gibbsg i twitter because my pastor @jasoncurlee told me to
- @davetravis I do the reading thing, conversations thing and then I pre program some micro blog comments
- @Hetty4Christ great place 4 those who luv 2 help others thru Christ-but physically can't due 2 illness (epilepsy)ability 2 still do so @ home
- @nanpalmero twitter helps me get great answers that Google doesn't have.
- @dawnnicole I twitter to connect & learn from others, resource clients & spot trends
- @chrisreeder Blogging on crack!
Sunday The 1st Through My Window
Here is a look through my window at Bay Area 5 Points for Sunday 2-1-09:
- Controversial topic today: Porn. Wasn't sure how turnout would be with this message. Mixed response to it.
- Today, our Production Director, Tom Grant, ran two Ultimate HZ's (fogger/hazer). Since we really only get to try it out on Sunday's with a full production it can be trial and error. During 10 a.m. we recognized that with two it fogged up quickly...we adjusted settings and 11:30 looked great.
- Lighting was awesome today. My compliment is that we now are beginning to look like a mini-BAF on our stage.
- We are going to make a tweak on our prayer partner time next week. I'll fill you in on if it works.
- Even with a controversial message four people prayed to begin a relationship with Christ in our 10 a.m. experience. That's why we do it.
- Every single week, we don't miss a beat...first time guests and first time commitments.
- Numbers were down a hair...not sure why but it was totally even between the two.
- I feel like we are getting predictable each week...we need to shake it up a bit.
- Tonight we had our first Super Bowl party. Great thing about being a smaller campus is that it is easy to invite everyone out to something like this...and the screen is awesome to watch it on.
- We had about 75 kids, teens and adults out tonight. Juno Garcia, our Student Director, played flag football with the teens. We also had a little Rockband on the big screen before the game.
- I had a great time connecting with many people that have been coming out. I love doing these community building events.
- We amped up the half-time show of the game with Bruce Springteen with our own lighting show...Tom's getting the hang of this.
- Four people this morning committed...and I haven't see the 11:30 cards yet. Praise God.
- All around I would give us an A-...there is still more I would like to see out of our team and things are coming around.
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