Councillors and social media

Winning friends, influencing people and staying out of trouble online

What is social media

Is it a collection of tools?

As common as gossip

As revolutionary as the printing press

Don’t be fooled by the tools

Collaboration

Talk

People

Social media is social

It’s a new way of connecting

How are some councillors using it?

How are some councils using it?

How are citizens using it?

How you can use social media

• Issues• ElectionsCampaign

• Engage with residents• Provide informationExplain

• A cause for complaint?Complain?

Never forget...

is forever

No porky pies

Everyone makes a mistake sometime

Check your facts

No poetic licenses granted

Apologise and retract

Don’t be a muppet

A nameless council on Twitter

Twitter Ban

Queer smears

Unfortunate impersonation

Your impact online

Think twice before you hit enter

How would it look in your local paper?

Don’t take the bait

NOT FOR SLIDESHARE

All in good fun

www.idea.gov.uk

Stay cool

Stay above the fray

Plan a response strategy

Have a comments policy

What are your “friends” posting?

Nothing is private really

Think about Facebook profile

Follow the Rules

Just follow the rules, you’ll be OK

Standards apply online

Take extra care with Planning

Privacy matters

Conversational, but published

And never forget...

is forever

Sources of support

• www.civicsurf.org.uk a resource for blogging councillors

• www.ideasocial.wetpaint.com draft guide to social media for councillors

• www.socialbysocial.com a primer for harnessing social media for social good

• www.communities.idea.gov.uk IDeA’s communities of practice network

www.idea.gov.uk

Acknowledgements

• Adapted from an original slideset by Ingrid Koehler (ingrid.koehler@idea.gov.uk)