SLCC Larger Councils Conference Digital engagement: f Right here, right now Justin Griggs 20 April 2012

Social media platform Facebook is tipped to reach one billion active users - 14% of the world's population - in August of this year. And with over 400 million people using micro blogging site Twitter, social media really is a growing force to be reckoned with. In this interactive session Justin will share his experiences and insight into how advances in technology and the development of the web present real opportunities for better council communications and engagement.

Our vision is for a vibrant, dynamic local council sector making positive difference to local people

Representation & advocacy Improvement & development

@justingriggs

Twitter bio: Head of Policy & Development at NALC – representing 9k parish councils & 80k cllrs; dad; localgov geek; digi/socmed tryer; Plumstead runner; school governor; dog owner

The Social media revolution 2012

Then Open source website E-petitions Twitter Flickr Facebook Sarah Brown

Now Open source website E-petitions Twitter Flickr Facebook Sarah Brown

Where we’re at

Learning by doing Activity over strategy Catching up to be done

Driven by outsiders?

Happy campers

Brought inside

‘Digital by default’

Single domain User focus In house talent

Driven by the deficit

So: digital engagement …more than ‘just’ social media

The traditional consultation

Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Seeking validation Participation Representativeness

Red Tape Challenge

Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Seeking validation Participation Representativeness Red Tape Challenge

Shape your place

Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Shape Your Place Seeking validation Participation Representativeness Red Tape Challenge

Credit Cards

Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Shape Your Place Seeking validation Participation Representativeness BIS Credit Cards Red Tape Challenge

FCO Human Rights Report

Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Shape Your Place FCO Human Rights Report Seeking validation Participation Representativeness BIS Credit Cards Red Tape Challenge

So how does it apply to policymaking? Identify issues Assess options Refine policy Implement solutions

Where digital engagement helps Listen Get inspiration Test Explain & refine Understand concerns and priorities based on the discussions people are having Generate ideas for current policy challenges, or find stories from diverse places Get comments on proposals and regulations, check solutions against experience Make the case for change and get feedback from service users and stakeholders

Taking a layered approach PLATFORMS CONTENTENGAGEMENT NICHE, SPECIALIST GENERAL INTEREST Citizen Service user Resident Professional Policy expert Submit a formal collective response Comment on a document Suggest an idea, describe an experience Raw data, evidence base Detailed proposals, options & rationale Summary options & background Introductory film, Plain English guide to proposals Service feedback questionnaires Outreach via social networks Online roundtables, ministerial Q&As Outreach to communities, online+offline events Source: Single Domain, GDS

Some more stories

Online communities matter!

Online communities matter!

Participation should be at the convenience of the participants

Experiment then strategise

Social media is more of a telephone than a press release

Interactive websites need interactive organisations

What’s next?

Properly digital by default Better evaluation Mobile More use internally Survey of use in parishes

@justingriggs