Incorporating Social Media on Public Sector Websites A MAGC Discussion – 27 February 09 John Wooden Director of Usability Services Fredrickson Communications

Agenda Social media and “conversation” Survey results Examples of how social media is being used on public sector websites Benefits of using social media (survey results) Risks in using social media (survey results) Lessons learned about getting started Q&A and discussion

Social media and “conversation”

Survey results

Examples of how social media is being used on public sector websites

Benefits of using social media (survey results)

Risks in using social media (survey results)

Lessons learned about getting started

Q&A and discussion

The “Conversation Prism” Brian Solis

The “Conversation Economy” (1) David Armano

The “Conversation Economy” (2) What are we trying to communicate? How do we facilitate a conversation?

What are we trying to communicate?

How do we facilitate a conversation?

So what’s happening with social media in the public sector? 1. Survey results 2. Examples

Survey Results – Level of Government

Survey Results – Level of Interest

Survey Results – Current Use

Survey Results – Current Use

Survey Results – Current Use

Survey Results – Planned Use

Blogs from the US Government

Guide to Government Blogs

Federal Officials are Blogging

State Officials are Blogging

Local Officials are Blogging

Public Agencies are Blogging

“ If you are not part of the conversation, then you are leaving it to others to answer questions and provide information, whether it’s accurate or inaccurate. Or, even worse, you may be leaving it up to your competition to jump in to become the resource for the community. Yes, there will be negative comments. Yes, you’ll invite unsolicited feedback. Yes, people will question your intentions. Negativity will not go away simply because you opt out of participating. Negative commentary, at the very least, is truly an opportunity to change the perception that you did or didn’t know existed.” (Brian Solis) If you are not part of the conversation …

“ If you are not part of the conversation, then you are leaving it to others to answer questions and provide information, whether it’s accurate or inaccurate. Or, even worse, you may be leaving it up to your competition to jump in to become the resource for the community. Yes, there will be negative comments. Yes, you’ll invite unsolicited feedback. Yes, people will question your intentions. Negativity will not go away simply because you opt out of participating. Negative commentary, at the very least, is truly an opportunity to change the perception that you did or didn’t know existed.” (Brian Solis)

State Videos on YouTube

County Videos on YouTube (1)

County Videos on YouTube (2)

Photos on Flickr

Podcasts on iTunes

Alerts and Updates via Twitter (1)

Alerts and Updates via Twitter (2)

Alerts and Updates via Facebook

Sharing Knowledge via Wikis

Providing Access to Data via Mashups (1)

Reaching into Virtual Worlds (1)

Reaching into Virtual Worlds (2)

Reaching into Virtual Worlds (3)

More Info on Virtual Worlds Real Life Government in Second Life http://groups.google.com/group/real-life-government-in-second-life Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds http://www.ndu.edu/irmc/fedconsortium.html

Real Life Government in Second Life http://groups.google.com/group/real-life-government-in-second-life

Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds http://www.ndu.edu/irmc/fedconsortium.html

Benefits of Using Social Media

Risks in Using Social Media

Obstacles to Using Social Media

Obstacles to Using Social Media

Lessons Learned about Getting Started Assess your organization’s culture. Culture and attitude are more important than technology. Get buy-in from senior management. Solicit input from Legal, IT, and HR. Start small – experiment, iterate – think in terms of an ongoing beta. Don’t spend too much time building. Recognize that social media spreads virally. Think in terms of evolution rather than revolution .

Assess your organization’s culture. Culture and attitude are more important than technology.

Get buy-in from senior management.

Solicit input from Legal, IT, and HR.

Start small – experiment, iterate – think in terms of an ongoing beta.

Don’t spend too much time building.

Recognize that social media spreads virally.

Think in terms of evolution rather than revolution .

Questions, Comments

Say Hello! [email_address] 612-746-1752

[email_address]

612-746-1752