ARTIFACT SPECIFICATION
The following is a description of the goals, audience, scope, content and post- graduate considerations of my artifact. My description also includes a “standards of publication” and my action plan for the timely completion of my artifact.
Goal, Scope, Content and Standards
In its fully realized form, the artifact leverages a robust social media presence that includes a website, blog, Facebook page, and twitter feed. In addition, I envision the social media presence becoming the foundation for a book and seminars on middle leadership, especially within a missions context. The goal of the artifact is three-fold: the dissemination of targeted information, the development of a community of practice for middle leaders, and the foundation for further research and development. Though the following artifact specifications are for Phase one—a website and two blogs—I have secured both Facebook and Twitter handles for Phase two of the project. I hope this artifact will become an inclusive expression of hope and advocacy for all middle leaders.
Phase one will consist of a website that has four sections: a home page, an about page, and two separate blogs. The first more public blog has a target audience of middle leaders in general. The second blog, though not private is not listed on the home page. The second blog is for middle leaders in mission, with its initial iteration focused specifically on Area Directors. The URLs and handles are as follows.
• Main website: www.leadershipinthemiddle.com
• Missions leader blog: www.leadershipinthemiddle.com/middle-leaders-in-
• Facebook: Leadership in the Middle
• Twitter: LeadershipITM
I am developing all of the content for the web site and the blogs, as well as overseeing and participating in the actual website and blog design. I have engaged the assistance of qualified personnel for advice on web design and layout. There will be consistent branding across the blogs and all future platforms. The website itself will be of professional quality and easy to navigate. The content will maintain the high-quality standards consistent with general blog and social media content. General specifications include the following: photos of professional quality, targeted content ranging in word count from 500-800 words, imbedded links to resources and other content, including videos.167
Strategies and Audience
My target audience is middle leaders in the non-profit sector including the
religious sectors with specific attention given to middle leaders in mission. I will base the success of my artifact on three criteria: middle leader engagement, long-term production, and the ability to generate future research and publications. I will measure middle
leaders’ engagement via the comments section of the blog and, in the future, the Facebook page and the number of followers on Twitter. There is no statistically significant number at which I would consider the engagement a success, except to
167 “How to Write a Blog Post,” NewForums.com, accessed December 20, 2018,
https://newforums.com/title-list/author-guidelines/blog-post-guidelines/how-to-write-a-blog-post-official- guidelines/.
suggest that a healthy engagement by middle leaders via regular feedback would signal success.
In order to adequately maintain long-term production, I plan to continue my research and maintain a regular weekly and monthly posting on the blogs. In addition, in preparation for Phase two I have set up the Buffer Social Media Management Platform to manage the scheduling of Facebook and Twitter posts and produce analytics of post- performance.
Budget
The budget for the artifact consists of the following line items and is anticipated to be in the range of $324.00 to $704.00 per year.
• Yearly URL fees: $20.00
• Yearly website blog hosting fees: $144.00
• Fees for internet access, for example while traveling overseas: $100 per year.
• Fees for yearly access to professional photos for the blog: $60.00
• Hardware fees, including computer access, are minimal. I have access to
computers in my day-to-day ministry. In the brief absence of their availability I would budget $200 per year for computer expenses.
• Since I will be managing the endeavor, the personnel and administrative fees will
be negligible.
• The Buffer Social Media Management Platform is free for up to 3 social accounts.
Promotion
I plan to promote my artifact via an extensive network of colleagues and friends, and my personal social media platforms. My marketing strategy is simple: a growing readership through awareness and engagement and though authentic relationships. Since this venture has a ministry foundation, the purpose is certainly more altruistic than capitalistic in nature.
That said, the artifact must not only be an expression of the highest level of research and professionalism, it must be an expression of who I am as a person of faith and a middle leader in in the Assemblies of God World Missions. I am acutely cognizant of the fact that my life’s calling is to be a Christian missionary and I am honored that God has allowed me to be a middle leader in missions. It is out of that context that this artifact is an expression of my faith, my calling, and my heart.
Action Plan for Completion of Artifact
I have completed the branded website that hosts the blog and four months of content for the general blog and six months of content for the Leaders in Missions blog. Also, in preparation of Phase two, I have set up Facebook page, and Twitter accounts. The website/blog is located at www.leadershipinthemiddle.com. Links to Facebook and Twitter are, Facebook: facebook.com/jimsabella, Twitter: twitter.com/leadershipITM. Details and examples of the completed artifact are further delineated in Appendix A: Artifact. I plan to launch the website and both blogs on March 4, 2019.
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