Local government and social media Simon Wakeman Head of Marketing and PR Medway Council

Medway

why? keeping people happy being commercial listening to residents

keeping people happy

being commercial

listening to residents

research

Which tools does your organisation currently use in its communications? Source: 71 communicators in 47 local authorities surveyed May 2008

Which tools does your organisation currently use in its communications? Source: 71 communicators in 47 local authorities surveyed May 2008

Which tools does your organisation currently use in its communications? Source: 71 communicators in 47 local authorities surveyed May 2008

Social media tools not used but plan to use in next six months Source: 71 communicators in 47 local authorities surveyed May 2008

Create a new two-way communication channel for young people in Medway Get young people actively involved in producing the podcast Help the organisation learn about podcasting as a communications tool objectives

Create a new two-way communication channel for young people in Medway

Get young people actively involved in producing the podcast

Help the organisation learn about podcasting as a communications tool

our kit

mixit podcast

360-400 downloads per show positive face to face feedback limited direct responses experience of new communications tool results

360-400 downloads per show

positive face to face feedback

limited direct responses

experience of new communications tool

Social networking in council communications Source: 71 communicators in 47 local authorities surveyed May 2008 Use by councils

Social networking in council communications Source: 71 communicators in 47 local authorities surveyed May 2008 /Ofcom Media Literacy Audit – December 2007 Use by councils Use by residents

promotion / advertising building an interest group conversations councils on social networks

promotion / advertising

building an interest group

conversations

Fuse Medway Festival

Social networks in council communications

Social networks in council communications

Social media tools not planned to be used Base: 71 communicators in 47 local authorities surveyed May 2008

low awareness of potential uses lack of personal use firewalls IT departments barriers to use

low awareness of potential uses

lack of personal use

firewalls

IT departments

learn the ropes get the organisation ready risks vs benefits social media is not a panacea closing thoughts

learn the ropes

get the organisation ready

risks vs benefits

social media is not a panacea

[email_address] +44 (0) 7771 701902 www.simonwakeman.com/dpgsm any questions