Presentation to NFOIC affiliate members on using social media and networks to market their organizations and their online content

1. Ideas Marketplace: Making Better
Use of the Web and Social Media

2. The Challenge:
Some state FOI members do a lot with the web,
some not so much.
Some use social media, others do not.
But we all recognize there is an opportunity
there to connect to each other better, and
connect to the communities we want to reach
and serve.

3. So how do we get there?
Connecting and Networking: Technologies for Social
Interaction and User-Generated Content
Our goal:
Create a well-linked national network of state
and regional FOI organizations that provide a
“go-to” source of information and discussion
that builds informed members and partners for
the network.

4. NFOIC Objectives:
Increase our digital strength to:
• Build a strong member network
• Empower citizens searching for the best
resources for state open government
information
Do it more efficiently and proactively than we
had in the past.

5. Task: Initiate projects to increase the value and impact of our
organizations using our websites and social media solutions.
1. SEO (search engine optimization) initiative
SEO initiative to improve web performance and rankings on search engines
to increase web traffic to all web sites.
2. The social media hub-and-network training and development project
• Organization Web site and content development
• Use of social networks like Twitter and Facebook
• An online private network for NFOIC affiliates and the national office

6. SEO - Audit websites to ensure there are “key words” in our
content and providing links to additional resources to build a
larger audience to drive back among the state sites and
national organization

7. SEO updates…

8. The social media hub-and-network training and
development project
Surveying the affiliate members on their
existing web site and use of social media tools
to connect with their members and the public
and to promote their organization

9. Survey Highlights
• Important to have an online presence. The challenge:
resources
• Web site is a resource to visitors, and a way to attract new
members
• 1/3 have staff to manage their site; 1/3 outsource
• 94% think it’s important for ongoing online collaboration
between and among NFOIC and affiliate members
• Key topics for collaboration:
1. Legislative/Govt issues and policies, and
2. Educating public and govt officials on FOI laws
• 97% interested in learning/contributing best practices

10. Identify cost-effective solutions to create or improve
current web site features, functions and content

11. Develop cooperative ventures to utilize Twitter and Facebook
to engage your state audience and build relationships.
• Tweet Chats
• Use of common hashtags (#) when posting
• Solutions like TweetDeck to simultaneously post
• Partner with other organizations
• Retweet other affiliates’ content with attribution
• Online polls
• Link to your web Content… Because “Content is King!”

12. Deployed “Yammer” as a
an potential solution for a
NFOIC network or
community for the
affiliate members

13. NFOIC Assistance… Discussion
How can NFOIC help?
How can we help each other?