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Local Governments 2.0 & 3.0 July 14, 2011 – MTPA Conference Social Media and Your Community Making Social Media Work for You My background Examples Social Media Tips Q&A My Background: Reporter – 18 years, Greenville, Howell, Flint (Alpena, Cass City) – City Hall, County Gov’t, Village, Twp, Schools, Crime, Courts, Roads, Millages – Community Content Coordinator Public relations manager: Flint CVB Michigan Municipal League: Director of Communications, November 2009 What’s this Web 2.0 & 3.0 stuff? You may hear a lot of people talk about Web 2.0, 3.0 and even 4.0. So what do these mean? There’s varying definitions, but the easiest way is to look at each number as an upgrade of sorts over the other. General definitions: Web 1.0: Social media in it’s infancy, such as the web browser Netscape and Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Web 2.0: Websites that allow users to do more than just retrieve information, it’s more interactive, such as blogging, podcasting, social networking. Wikis etc... Web 3.0: Personalization of the web, where “the computer is generating new information” rather than humans. Web 3.0 will allow the user to sit back and let the Internet do all the work for them. Web 4.0: The future where data, the human mind and machines can interact symbiotically. It’s a thought in progress. Not there yet. Social Media Revolution Video Is social media just a fad? Nope, it’s the biggest shift since the industrial revolution: – 96% Millennials have joined a social network – Facebook tops Google for weekly U.S. traffic – 24 of the 25 largest newspapers are experiencing record circulation declines – Barack Obama – social media large part of his success, hard pressed to find someone running for any office now without a Facebook page Years to reach 50 million users: Radio = 38 years TV = 13 years Internet = 4 years iPOD = 3 years Facebook = 200 million in under 12 months Facebook: Why do it? “We don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO it.” - Eric Qualman, socialnomics09 If Facebook were a country it would be the 3rd largest: 1. China, 2. India, 3. Facebook, 4. U.S. Fastest growing segment on Facebook is women ages 55 to 65 “If you don’t promote your community through social media someone else will.” - Matt Bach, just now Why Do Social Media? Cheap Easy to Use Offers Two-Way Communication, give and take (good and bad) Effective at spreading news beyond its first audience to larger audience Decline of traditional media is an opportunity for us/you Example: Community Excellence Awards Use Traditional AND Social Media Use Your Websites How to Start? Step One: Set up Google alerts with your name, city, etc. Step Two: Form a plan - Just don’t do it because everyone else is - Identify a problem, issue or concern you want to address and then use social media to fix it. Example: Michigan Municipal League’s motto is Better Communities. Better Communities. MML wants to be “one clear voice for Michigan communities.” Social media is a great tool to achieve that. How to Start? The League is in all the major social media areas – Facebook, Twitter, flickr, YouTube. Flint Michigan Facebook Page Enjoy Birmingham FB: Excellent! Your Social Media Options There are many social media options – so many in fact it’s easy to get frustrated or feel overwhelmed. Prioritize and pick one or two and then do those well. Suggestions Start simple: Blog – what’s a blog? Twitter page Facebook page Blogging – Auburn Hills Blogging – County Commissioner Blogging – MML’s Inside 208 Twitter – Mayor Dayne Walling Twitter – MML CEO Dan Gilmartin Twitter – Paw Paw Village Manager MDOT: Traffic updates Twitter tips: A strong Twitter page will… Be interactive, with numerous “@dpgilmartin” and hash tags “#” sending people to key words Frequent posts, 5 to 10 a day Draw like-minded groups and people as followers of your page Have variety of information, not just about how great you are, also include informational and fun items, i.e. did you know longest road is in xyz Twitter hash tag: #roads What’s a hash tag?: # - key words that people use to tie topics together on Twitter. Twitter hash tag: #traffic Facebook: A strong Facebook page will… Be accessible, allow fans to post photos, comments, links and content Post video, photos, link to other favorite pages, i.e. local businesses, foundations and nonprofit FB pages should be listed under your favorites Encourage feedback, ask questions, open setting Example: Social media/facebook good example: Flint Institute of Music: In celebration of hitting the 1,000 fan mark on our facebook page, the Flint Institute of Music will be giving away a voucher for two tickets to the FSO Classical Concert … Facebook: Linden Mayor Lossing Facebook: Dayne Walling U.P. FB page, 57,000, Fan photos Huntington Woods: Has an official-looking FB page I Love Dexter, Michigan FB Page Facebook: Greenville, Michigan Facebook: Howell Main St., Chamber Social media leader: Zeeland Social Media Tips: Summary Set up Google alerts to monitor what is said about you and your community Form a plan Use social media to your advantage, i.e. Facebook and “Let’s Save Michigan” campaign; “Legislative Link and LOOP” email reports. Get training: Recognize your weaknesses and get help, whether it’s how to do a video for YouTube or redoing your website to make it more interactive. Get help: Don’t necessarily do it alone, get volunteers or supporters to help out. Q&A Questions & Answers??