17
Shared Services Online Chats: A new way to communicate with key audiences Mike Boehmer, Senior Public Relations Specialist Jason Brown, Web Developer

Live online chats at government social services agency

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services has begun testing live chats as a way to connect with the public

Citation preview

Page 1: Live online chats at government social services agency

Shared Services

Online Chats: A new way

to communicate with key audiences

• Mike Boehmer, Senior Public Relations Specialist• Jason Brown, Web Developer

Page 2: Live online chats at government social services agency

Today’s Presentation

• Goal of online chats

• Review of chats

• What we’ve learned

• Using Bold Chat

Shared Services

Page 3: Live online chats at government social services agency

Goal

• More open and accessible to:– Customers– Social service partners– Family members of clients– Taxpayers

Shared Services

Page 4: Live online chats at government social services agency

Review• Internal test with Intranet authors (April 2008)

• External test with online newsletter readers (May 2008)

• External chats– May 29, Child Support

• 7 participants, 12 questions, 66 views

– June 12, Foster Care/Adoption• 1 participant, 3 questions, 19 views

Shared Services

Page 5: Live online chats at government social services agency

Review• External chats (continued)

– July 9, Child Support• 8 participants, 20 questions, 95 views

– July 15, Foster Care/Adoption…• 3 participants, 24 questions, 31 views

– July 30, Medicaid, food stamps, OWF• 13 participants, 23 questions, 51 views

Shared Services

Page 6: Live online chats at government social services agency

Review

• External chats (continued)– Aug 20, Child Support

– 19 participants, 36 questions, 125 views

– Sept. 10, Foster Care/Adoption– 0 participants, 0 questions, 49 views

– Sept. 24, Medicaid/food stamps/OWF– 28 participants, 40 questions, 147 views

Shared Services

Page 7: Live online chats at government social services agency

Review• External chats (continued)

– Oct. 1, Workforce Development• 5 participants, 8 questions, 77 views

– Oct. 15, Child Abuse• 2 participants, 1 question, 31 views

– Oct. 22, Child Support• 8 participants, 18 questions, 72 views

– Oct. 29,Child Care• 5 participants, 6 questions, 59 views

Shared Services

Page 8: Live online chats at government social services agency

Review

• External chats (continued)– Nov. 5, Workforce Development

• 6 participants, 5 questions, 53 views

– Nov. 13, Adoption/Foster Care• 2 participants, 5 questions, 40 views

– Nov. 26, Medicaid/food stamps/OWF• 7 participants, 11 questions, 133 views

Shared Services

Page 9: Live online chats at government social services agency

Review

• External chats (continued)– Dec. 3

• 19 participants, 33 questions, 71 views

Shared Services

Page 10: Live online chats at government social services agency

Participants

Shared Services

Page 11: Live online chats at government social services agency

Promotion

• Web site

• Newsletter

• E-mail

• Press release

• Social media (Twitter, podcast, RSS)

• Waiting room fliers

Shared Services

Page 12: Live online chats at government social services agency

Drawing positive attention

• Media coverage

• Other counties

• State panel

• Regional

Shared Services

Page 13: Live online chats at government social services agency

Lessons learned

• 10-11 a.m., Wednesdays, works best

• Fill in with Q/A during slow times

• Takes time to build momentum

Shared Services

Page 14: Live online chats at government social services agency

Software: Bold Chat $29 per month

Shared Services

Page 15: Live online chats at government social services agency

Bold Chat-Operator view

Shared Services

Page 16: Live online chats at government social services agency

Bold Chat – Visitor view

Shared Services

Page 17: Live online chats at government social services agency

Child Support chat

Shared Services