Practical Applications of Social Networking Technologies
“Social media is an ingredient, not an entree.”
It’s no longer a bandwagon; it’s expected
It’s not a fad
Iran Election Tweets: New Journalism?
Advantages of Available Media
• Unmediated access to potentially large audience
• Cheap, but may require significant integration
• Offers potential of significant audience interaction
Disadvantages of Available Media
• Largest sites (Facebook, MySpace) frequently blocked from government networks
• Agency cedes some control over page content
• Some uncertainty about intellectual property rights
• Requires staff commitment
• Fluid “best practices”
Deeper Implications
How do we serve ourselves in this new medium?
Do we need one-way or two-way communication?
How do we balance rapid response & our credibility?
How do we relinquish control of our web sites & keep them
appropriate and responsible?
How do we keep our message clear in a sea of content we can’t control?
KDOT’s Communication Assets
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Lessons Learned
• Apply the same level of scrutiny to how you post things as you do to what you post
• Be patient
• Online outreach requires the same careful preparation & lead-time as conventional outreach
• Assets must be deliberate & offer huge rewards
• Start slow with no promised schedule, but start today
• Go beyond standard materials in new platforms
Looking Forward
• Apply the same level of scrutiny to how you post things as you do to what you post
• Be patient
• Work to avoid transparency creating barriers to discussion
• Message don’t change, but platforms allow fresh approaches