Twelve tips for using Twitter in local government

Dan Slee, Walsall Council

#12 tips for using Twitter in local government

Linotype machine 1910

#12 really good tips

#1: Realise that the landscape has changed (and your skills

need to too.)

2008

The Walsall media landscape 2005


21 journalists or photographers



21 journalists or photographers9


23,000


23,000

20,000?


23,000

20,000?

7,000


23,000

20,000?

7,000

222,000

#2: The channels of communication have changed.

#3: Learn the language of the platform first (by messing

about with it yourself.)

Social media is a conversation...Conversational...

Not controlled...

#4: You can’t control the message

No press releases linked to RSS


No broadcasting!


No broadcasting!

Follow back


No broadcasting!

Follow back

Reply in 24 hours

#5: It’s okay to be a human voice

#5: Don’t just stick to the press release.

#6: Link. Share. Retweet. Be web 2.0.

Negative...

#7: Take the argument offline.

#8: Take the re-buttal online.

It’s not just for comms...

#9: Service areas work well on Twitter (so be prepared to

share).

@hotelalpha9 is a genius...

#9: People on the frontline can work brilliantly on Twitter.

#8: People on the frontline can work brilliantly on Twitter.

#10: Have a simple to understand social media

policy.

#11: Make sure it connects with other channels of

communications.

#12: Cut, past and send your positive feedback to off-line

officers.

Praise...

YAMMER

Yammer...

Creative commons credits

Linotype machine – Library of Congress http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/3738806589/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Coca Cola – Rusty Boxcars http://www.flickr.com/photos/rustyboxcars/5313811430/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Conversation – Dan Patterson http://www.flickr.com/photos/creepysleepy/1477997114/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Papers – Katmere http://www.flickr.com/photos/katmere/51065495/sizes/m/in/photostream/

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Twelve tips for using Twitter in local government