EmailThis year, LifeWay is having some fun with their VBS teaser videos. Instead of just posting them on their VBS website, they have created a fictional blog with some guy named “Donny” trying to sneak around the LifeWay headquarters in Nashville. Here is the first video they’ve posted:
Update: The 2010 LifeWay VBS themes have been announced. Check out Saddle Ridge Ranch and Route 254 VBS.
LifeWay VBS 2010 Hint Video #1
LifeWay VBS Teaser #2
LifeWay 2010 VBS Teaser #3
I’m not ready to make a guess yet, but I am more excited about LifeWay’s VBS Theme than I have been in several years. The whole “release it at the convention” works well for hard core Southern Baptists, but for everyone else it doesn’t create much buzz.
What is LifeWay’s SRR?
Most of the discussion on Donnie’s blog is centered on the initials SRR and what they stand for. Right now I’m going to say Ranch or Rodeo is almost certain – and it’s Southwestern.
What LifeWay Is Doing Right With Social Media
Back when I was in Seminary, everyone dumped on LifeWay for being out-of-date and generally out-of-touch. That has really turned around and now they are the most social media savvy Christian Education publisher (at least so far). Here are few things I appreciate:
- They are all over Twitter. From the top down, there are dozens of LifeWay people active on Twitter – some people give credit to Becky
- Their VBS blog has some good content, not just self promotion.
- They have a very strong forum for VBS (they are phasing out in favor of the next item)
- They have social networking site powered by Ning (Facebook clone) dedicated to VBS.
- They are putting their teaser videos on YouTube, which makes it easy for me to post them here on my blog.
Update: LifeWay people were also cool enough to Tweet about this post especially Kristen Young
This is great news if your church uses LifeWay for VBS, and it’s a good reason to check them out this year. A VBS publisher is finally serious about connecting with their customers.
Stay tuned, they are set to release their 2010 VBS Theme the week of June 22 at the SBC Annual Meeting – unless Donny can post it on his blog first.
Related posts:
- Group’s 2010 VBS Theme Teaser!
- LifeWay 2009 VBS Theme Announcements
- 2010 Cokesbury VBS: Going Green VBS Theme
- My Preview Of LifeWay Outrigger Island VBS 2008
- SonQuest Rainforest VBS 2010 from Gospel Light
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks, Tony! Just FYI – we are working to move everyone from the VBS forum onto the social networking site. The forum will be closed down soon. . .
Becky,
Thanks for the tip, I’ve updated the post above with a note about that. It really is a strong forum, but the Social Networking site should be even stronger.