Twitter for Government Stephanie Wonderlick SpeakerBox Communications @stephstad [email_address]

Why Twitter Matters Twitter matters because of what it is: at its heart, a platform that offers an exchange of ideas and information on an unprecedented scale. Ann Handley (Marketing Profs) Why Twitter Matters: Marketing: Idea Hub: American Express OPEN http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/why-twitter-matters-ann-handley

Twitter matters because of what it is: at its heart, a platform that offers an exchange of ideas and information on an unprecedented scale.

Ann Handley (Marketing Profs)

Why Twitter Matters: Marketing: Idea Hub: American Express OPEN

http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/why-twitter-matters-ann-handley

Twitter Benefits

Stats worth noting Fast growth: Unique visitors in August 2008 : 4.3 million (comScore) Unique visitors in August 2009 : 54.7 million (comScore) Average age: 31 (Pew Internet & American Life Project)

Fast growth:

Unique visitors in August 2008 : 4.3 million (comScore)

Unique visitors in August 2009 : 54.7 million (comScore)

Average age: 31 (Pew Internet & American Life Project)

Government Community on Twitter Government agencies Government employees Government contractors and vendors Publications, industry analysts, government organizations, reporters

Government agencies

Government employees

Government contractors and vendors

Publications, industry analysts, government organizations, reporters

Creating Your Twitter Strategy

Tips for successful government communications via Twitter Quantity matters: Don’t launch a Twitter account without the resources to make it successful. Like any other initiative, if you don’t have the resources to maintain it, you won’t won’t reap the benefits of having that presence Tweeting once per week won’t be enough, but don’t go overboard either Quality matters more: Your followers don’t want to read tweets that aren’t on-topic. Establish your feed as a go-to resource on your key areas of expertise Remember that you represent your company! Set guidelines for what content is off-limits

Quantity matters:

Don’t launch a Twitter account without the resources to make it successful. Like any other initiative, if you don’t have the resources to maintain it, you won’t won’t reap the benefits of having that presence

Tweeting once per week won’t be enough, but don’t go overboard either

Quality matters more:

Your followers don’t want to read tweets that aren’t on-topic. Establish your feed as a go-to resource on your key areas of expertise

Remember that you represent your company! Set guidelines for what content is off-limits

Tips for successful government communications via Twitter Find Your Audience Follow customers, industry influencers, interest groups, relevant publications, conferences, etc. Do NOT overfollow users, or use bulk follower services, as Twitter will block your account as spam Twitter is not about the number of followers, but about the quality of information and relationships Several good Twitter directories online. For government-specific Twitter users, check out GovTwit (www.govtwit.com) Use your website and newsletters to highlight your Twitter presence:

Find Your Audience

Follow customers, industry influencers, interest groups, relevant publications, conferences, etc.

Do NOT overfollow users, or use bulk follower services, as Twitter will block your account as spam

Twitter is not about the number of followers, but about the quality of information and relationships

Several good Twitter directories online. For government-specific Twitter users, check out GovTwit (www.govtwit.com)

Use your website and newsletters to highlight your

Twitter presence:

Twitter ROI

Twitter Analytics

Twitter Analytics

Twitter Analytics

Twitter Analytics

Questions? Stephanie Wonderlick SpeakerBox Communications @stephstad [email_address]