Using social media to promote a macro-regional strategyThe example of the Danube Region

INFORM meeting | Brussels | 15-16 June 2010

STARTING POINT 1 – SUPPORT COMMUNITY SET UP

February 2010: Launch preparation EU Strategy for the Danube Region / Consultation process

Our mandate: awareness ETC Other Danube Stakeholders:• Promote ETC• Create links to other groups / stakeholders• Create community of common interest

March 2010: 1st forum meeting with ETC programmes and other stakeholders + launch of Facebook group

Why Facebook?

STARTING POINT 2 – LOOK AT AVAILABLE TOOLS

SET UP OF THE FACEBOOK GROUP

The Facebook groupDanube Strategy - Territorial Cooperation

How did we proceed?• Name (searchability)• Administrator name + photo (better “anonymous”)• Settings: open group• Content + regular updates• Promotion (links, invitations)

THE FACEBOOK GROUP

The Facebook groupDanube Strategy - Territorial Cooperation

PROS

The Facebook groupDanube Strategy - Territorial Cooperation

PROS•Simple and quick•No external webmastering, no hosting•Multifunctional: information/text, announce events, send mass mailings (no spams), discussion forum, instant messaging, photos and videos

•Impact: Opens up to new, indirect target groups - Increases traffic to own website - Free „advertisement“

PROS – FOCUS ON THE PHOTO APPLICATION

The Facebook groupDanube Strategy - Territorial Cooperation

Photos

•Events, projects, general/basic photos•Upload: admin only or all members•No limitation in terms of number•Be cautious with privacy issues

PROS – FOCUS ON THE PHOTO APPLICATION

PROS – FOCUS ON THE VIDEO APPLICATION

The Facebook groupDanube Strategy - Territorial Cooperation

Videos• Link from Youtube• Upload videos (<20 minutes and 1024MB)• Record videos• Upload function: Admin only or all members

… Towards a community multimedia database

CONS

The Facebook groupDanube Strategy - Territorial Cooperation

CONS•Information board or real community platform? How to get active contributions?•How to get new members?•The social media jungle•Access to Facebook denied in some institutions•Credibility and privacy•How to evaluate?

YOUTUBE

The Youtube INTERACT Channel

Example: The Video „A Journey throughout the Danube Region: Territorial Cooperation shaping our joint future“

•Link to Facebook page

•Video embedded on INTERACT Website + INFOREGIO Website

•Evaluation: number of visits, origin, traffic evolution

YOUTUBE

Thank you very much for your attention.

Please don´t hesitate to contact usfor further information or visitwww.interact-eu.net