Should My Town Use Social Media? (C-Post #3)

Yes.

This is an interesting topic because on my trip to Steamboat Springs with the in-laws I had a discussion with my mother-in-law – who works on marketing for the City of San Dimas – on how Facebook groups, Twitter, etc. could help communications for the city.

Whether the community will use the tool or not is a separate question.  But eventually, when the masses get hip with social media, a city’s ability to be ahead of the curve will be crucial to its public relations.  And this will become more evident in a disaster situation such as wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc.

In addition, it’s a cost-saving and time-saving measure when social media is incorporated into its strategy.  Not only should social media tools be used to commuicate outward to a community, but city leaders should use it as a forum to listen to its people.

If I were a mayor, I’d immediately implement the following:

TWITTER: An account for the mayor, city council members, and the city.

E-NEWSLETTER: An opt-in email system where residents can find out the latest about new measures, road closures, school sign-ups, recreation, etc.

WIKI: The best way to learn and share about a city is to solicit the expert residents in the community.  DavisWiki is a great examples (and a resource I wish would have existed while I lived there!).  Some of the cool things I wish I had a one-stop resource for in my city (and surrounding cities) include:

• City Life Outdoor Activities, Study Spots, Entertainment, Local Publications, Night Time, Music Scene, Volunteer Opportunities, Schools, Research & Development, Libraries, Gyms, Local Art, Retail, Public Services,  Medical Services, Spiritual Organizations

• Food and Drink Grocery Stores, International Foods, Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Catering, Buffets, Cheap Food, Breakfast, Lunch Specials, Vegetarian Options, Vegan Options, Alcohol

• City Orientation Town History, Glossary, Breaking News, Weather, Environment, Geography, Davis At-a-Glance, Social Structures, Organizations, Local Politics, Media, Member Pages, Outskirts, Parks, Greenbelts, Transportation, Driving in Davis, Gas Stations, Bike Paths, City without a car, Rental Housing Guide, Residences, Apartments, Cooperative Housing, Links to nearby wikis

My prediction is that business owners will jump on the Wiki bandwagon because it will serve as a free advertisement of their business and is more telling than an entry in the yellow pages when photos, videos and reviews are incorporated.

That said, someone please start a local Wiki!  I’d be a willing and able participant.

Ways I Embrace My Audience (C-Post #2)

The #1 way to embrace my audience, is to actively interact with them:

• Leave comments on blogs
• Respond to questions on Twitter with @replies
• Comment on events and updates in Facebook
• Respond to comments that others have left on my blog, Facebook

Share with me in the comments how you embrace your audience.  Always open to new ideas!

How I Use Facebook (C-Post #1)

Previously, I resolved to go through 100 blog topics this year.  I’m dubbing these the C-Posts.

An apropeau topic, as my mother- and sister-in-laws asked me this morning at breakfast about what value Facebook gave anyone.  Here’s what I told them, in order of importance, as it pertains to me:

• Staying in the loop @ work.  I work for an information and computer science institution.  We’re all about technology, innovation, etc.  So I need to stay on top of the work that faculty conduct so that I may tell their stories.  I often find these stories by following status updates of faculty and staff that I am “friends” with.  In addition, I manage our school’s Facebook group page where I communicate with potential students, current students, alumni, faculty and staff.  Facebook is a quick way for me to accomplish these two tasks and reach hundreds in our community.
• Professional networking. LinkedIn, VisualCV, InCircle and the likes are important tools for professional and social networking.  Facebook is just as valuable, and in fact provides for more in-roads in the communities that are not otherwise supported by solely-professional networks.  A few examples of groups that I find benefit in include Twiistup, UCAdvocacy, and many more.
• Sharing hobbies. People are more willing to share their hobbies online.  I can make connections and have conversations with friends that share similar interests, that I otherwise would not have known about.  I share my photographs, travel stories, etc.
• Staying in touch. Facebook has reconnected me with old friends, which has been neat.  Especially to see how much everyone has succeeded.  More importantly, however, I am able to stay in touch with family members that I only see once or twice a year.

After our conversation, they asked me to help set-up their Facebook accounts.  I think my ballet dancer sister-in-law, in particular, can benefit her career. through Facebook.  Indeed social networking will continue to grow in 2009…