Gaining acceptance for social media

Gaining Acceptance for Social Media Presented by Sally Williams - Community Relations - 29 August 2010

A Pittwater Snapshot
Created in 1992
45 mins from CBD
Around 54,000 residents / 30,000 ratepayers
300 permanent staff
Three administrative locations
Largely coastal
Beautiful!

Pittwater Sydney CBD

Pittwater Council’s Social Media Tools
Currently Pittwater Council uses the following social media tools
Blog authored by the General Manager
Twitter
Google Alerts / Groups
(We also use Google Analytics to analyse web traffic)
To be introduced
Facebook page (Working title: I love Pittwater)

Pittwater’s Social Media Journey
Why did we decide to do it?
- our reputation
- staff interest
- community interest
- our Strategic Plan

How did we go about it?
Trial basis ie. try it and see what happens!
In increments
Finding champions within Council and outside
Convincing senior staff of its usefulness

Google Analytics introduced at the end of 2008 (to monitor website traffic)
Twitter introduced in October 2009
Google Alerts introduced late 2009
Google Groups introduced late 2009
GM’s blog introduced in early 2010
Facebook concept awaiting approval; hoping to go live by October 2010

Pittwater Council’s Home Page

Screen dump showing home page and various links ie. Twitter, blog etc
Pittwater Council’s Home Page www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au

Pittwater2010 - Twitter

Pittwater2010 - Twitter Followers

Email alerts every time someone gives us a mention on the net. You can adjust the frequency of the alerts from several times a day to once a week
Google Alerts

Google groups have been used with limited success
The aim of the Google Groups was to connect the reference group members
Used as an online discussion forum using a password protect system.
We’re currently reviewing the concept to see whether it’s worth continuing.
Google Groups

Insert screen dump of Google Groups (Jane can provide)
Google Groups

Pittwater Council’s Blog

Downplay the hipness of it all
Overcoming hurdles within
Give managers a reason to care
Find a policy to frame social media within
Use staff with good judgement on content
Provide managers with meaningful statistics
Find a champion for your cause

Take each step at a time – resourcing is vital
Lessons learnt
Get managers onside first before you act
Be prepared that few will embrace it - at least to begin with
Some social media will not perform to your expectations
Get expert advice if you can afford it. But you can still do it without expert advice
Don’t spend too much time on policy writing

Facebook page to be launched in October 2010 (working title I love Pittwater)
Similar concept to the I love Sydney site
Where to from here?

Questions anyone?

Gaining acceptance for social media

by Reem Abdelaty on Aug 20, 2010

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Gaining acceptance for social media — Presentation Transcript