THE FUTURE of Digital Communications

The digital age has brought about a revolution in communication. Never before have we been able to communicate so easily with people all over the world. Web, email, social media, and mobile have played a huge role in this, giving us instant access to millions of people. As digital communication continues to evolve, what will be the next big thing?

What is The New “Normal”?

When you talk to church leaders about digital communications you can see a clear distinction in how they view their digital communication efforts. Let me explain. The first group sees digital communication as a necessary supplement to their traditional ministry communications. Their digital communications are the evolution of communications within the church and just more ways to reach people within and outside the church. The second group sees digital communication not nearly as important, and that church will go back to “normal”. By this, they mean not just pre-pandemic, but the good ole days of how they used to do church, trying to recapture those moments like people who always talk about the good ole days of high school. Unfortunately, change is a constant in this life; everything continues to evolve, including digital communications. The new “normal” is just the continued progression of communication for humans, as it has been since the beginning of time. However, for some reason, the Church struggles to evolve.

Digital Communications Currently

Before we jump into the future of digital communications, let’s take a snapshot of the current digital communication landscape. When we think of digital communications we think of these things:

?Web - Websites, Blogs, Microsites, Landing pages

?Social - Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat

?Mobile - Text, App notifications, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger

?Email - Eblasts, Newsletters

?Video (short and long form) - YouTube, Facebook and InstagramStories, TikTok, Vimeo

These digital communication methods are the foundation of a great digital strategy and are quite effective in their usage. Digital communications have come a long way since the early days of email and social media. We’ve seen the rise of new platforms, the fall of others, and the evolution of communication methods. As digital communications continue to evolve, we need to be prepared for the changes that will come, the continued evolution.

Digital Communications on the Horizon

Let’s take a look at some key digital communication platforms that will be very effective in helping evolve the way we connect with and engage people.

AR - Augmented Reality - This is where digital information is placed over the real world. For example, you could be walking down the street and see a digital image of a friend appear in front of you, telling you they are nearby. Or you could be looking at a building and see digital information about it appearing next to it. A great ministry use is to have AR digital signs that guide you through the building to different areas, AR signs that you can see digitally using an app that will help you find the children’s ministry, sanctuary and other key areas. Also, imagine watching a sermon using AR glasses. While the pastor is preaching the story of Jesus on the mount, there’s a digital re-enactment going on next to him, helping you better visualize the story. AR has already been used in some mobile games, such as Pokemon Go, and is set to become even more popular in the coming years.

VR - Virtual Reality - This technology has the potential to change the way we communicate forever. Imagine being able to meet with someone in a virtual world, where you can see and hear them as if they were really there. You could even shake their hand or give them a hug. Imagine being able to attend services virtually all around the world and actually be in the sanctuary or visiting them in the metaverse using VR technology. VR is still in its infancy, but it’s already being used by some companies for training and communication purposes. It’s only a matter of time before it becomes mainstream.

Alexa - Voice Operated Devices - That’s right; the digital assistant that you can talk to and ask questions is the future of digital communication. Alexa is always learning and evolving, which means that she will continue to get better at understanding and responding to our needs. With Alexa, we can easily communicate with people all over the world without ever having to leave our homes. So, if you’re looking for the future of digital communication, look no further than Amazon Alexa.

AI - Artificial Intelligence led by Google’s smarter internet - In the digital world, AI is communication between devices and humans. With the ever-growing popularity of digital communications, it’s no surprise that AI is becoming more involved in our lives. We’re already seeing it with things like Siri and Alexa, but there are so many other ways that AI can be used to improve communication. For example, imagine being able to have a conversation with a digital assistant that can understand your emotions and give you personalized recommendations based on your interactions. This would be a huge step forward in digital communication and would make it even easier for people to connect with each other. As digital communication continues to evolve, we can expect to see more and more AI being used to improve the experience for everyone involved.

Now the key to all of these new digital communication platforms is the last one, AI. AI is not only bridging the gap between humans and devices, but also learning how humans communicate better. Thus, the question is, why is that so important…well I am glad you asked.

Personalization and Customization are the KEYS!!

The key to the future of digital communication is not just the platforms that we have discussed earlier, it is personalization and customization. We are already seeing this with the rise of Chatbots and digital assistants. These digital tools are able to provide a more personalized experience for the user. They can learn your preferences and offer you tailored content and recommendations. The key to engaging people and reaching them on digital platforms is to reach them where they are at, on the platform of their preference and give them the content they want, when they want it. The key to engaging people is to take a lifesaving message to them, using an evolving method, and personalize it so that it helps them live the best life that God has for them. This is the great commission and these digital communication platforms will help us reach this goal.

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Jason Caston is an expert in digital ministry and the CEO of iChurch Method.