1. Social media 101

2. Chances are you are already using many channels to get information to citizens…
[Direct Mail]
[Public Meetings]
[Signage]
[Gov’t Access Channels]
[News Media]
[Newsletters]
[Websites]

3. SOCIAL MEDIA offers new channels for getting information out…
…and getting information in

4. New Opportunities [Reach people where they are]
[Two-way communication]
[Text messages, too]
[Engage new audiences]

5. What is social media?
[According to Wikipedia]
Social media is media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Social media uses Internet and web-based technologies to transform broadcast media monologues (one to many) into social media dialogues (many to many).

6. [For today’s discussion]
Internet-based
Free or nearly free
Easy to access
Dynamic
Living, breathing conversation with potentially lots of people
Fun

7. BLOGS

12.
BLOGS

13. Getting started
DO practice using social media on your own, keeping in mind that even in your private life, you are still a public employee
DO seek out people in your organization who are enthusiastic and innovative
DO get the support of your legal department and organizational leaders

14. Getting started
DO spend a little time thinking about your audience and what you want to accomplish
DO talk to other organizations and look for other examples
DO map out your current communication channels and how social media can be integrated

16. Getting started DO consider how two-way communications will be managed
DO make a case for how communication supports (and in many cases is essential to) your organization’s mission and priorities

17. [What Outreach Can Do] Teaches citizens about preparing for disasters
Alerts citizens about safety issues
Encourages citizens to attend classes and programs
Invites citizens to attend public events and celebrations
Helps citizens save money through energy and water conservation
Educates citizens about social concerns such as youth drug and alcohol abuse

18. Getting started
DON’T get discouraged – social media can be scary to people
DON’T think for one minute that social media is going away and won’t impact your organization someday
DO jump in as soon as you can