|
Greetings!
Social media is the new word-of-mouth and active participation is key for engaging taxpayers and citizens on the web. With so many opportunities to connect, it's easy to become overwhelmed and stuck hiding behind the scenes or in analysis mode.
While you get focused and begin to refine your strategy, here are a few simple things you can do today to help you ramp up your municipality's social media presence:
1. Find the right balance. There's a fine line between engaging your audience and being obnoxious. Find a comfortable posting frequency and stick to it.
2. Interact. Don't just publish content. Ask questions and respond to others. Check your message inbox and reply to direct messages. They reached out to you for a reason after all! People like to be valued, so ask for their opinions and feedback. Then put it to use!
3.Build a town page on all the primary social networks. People connected to your municipality are likely to look you up on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. A presence on the most-frequently used networks will ensure your citizens and otherss can find you when they're looking for you. You should also make sure to check these sites regularly.
4. Educate your citizens. Don't stick to just posting promotional information about your municipality. Instead, focus on offering value-added content that solves a problem, provides pleasure or reduces your taxpayer's pain points. Gaining pleasure and solving pain points are two primary driving forces behind decision making. So rather than just selling the municipality or promoting your town, inform your readers on how they can find what they want and what they need in the town.
5. Mix it up. Don't post the same announcements, word-for-word, on every social network you're on. It's likely that your followers are following your updates on more than one network, so don't bore them by repeating the same message. Sharing the same information is fine, but present it in a different manner (then take note of the ones people respond best to for future posts.) Remember that different platforms have different audiences. What works on LinkedIn may not work on Facebook.
6.Take advantage of multiple formats. The written word is powerful, but visual representations are appealing and can help readers understand complex concepts. Try creating an info graphic, an ebook, a video or even a podcast.
7. Have a contest. You don't have to offer an expensive prize to get followers to join in a contest. Just make it an easy, fun competition. A company called SmartyPig ran a super simple contest to promote knowledge of SmartyPig's services. They took to Twitter and asked their followers questions about SmartyPig's services. Anyone who answered correctly was entered to a win a $100 gift card. What made this contest even better was how they selected their winners. They would think up cool ideas to select the winners and then film the selection process. You can see them picking winners by putting golf balls, throwing snowballs and more on their blog.
8. Heed your analytics. If you have access to analytics, use them. Facebook insights, for example, offers some simple analytics on posts, indicating the number of responses, views and interactions each post receives. Monitor and track these stats to determine your most successful posts, and use it as a framework for future updates.
9. Be yourself. Social networking is meant to be genuine. Let your city's personality shine through your posts and you'll better connect with the tax payers. You shouldn't be unprofessional, but you also don't need to try to sound like a rocket scientist. (Unless, of course, you are a rocket scientist.)
Building a solid social presence doesn't have to be hard and it doesn't have to take hours and hours out of your day either. Using a few simple techniques, you can easily ramp up the effectiveness of your social campaigns and start reaping the benefits.
_______________________________
Past News Letters
Municipal Recruiting Report ... Now in It's... 4th Great Year!
____________________________________
May 2012
double click to open links
Phil Got The Job
_______________________________
June 2011
What does this CAO know ... that you may not?
____________________________________
June 2010
The Baby Boomer brain drain!
_______________________________
June 2009
You need to know this before you post a job ad...
|
|
|
|
|
|
D, Bruce Malcolm Managing Partner 1-877-830-0500 ext 727 
Bruce and his team have successfully completed dozens of municipal searches across Canada over the past 7 years.
Assignments have covered senior management positions including: CAO, Town Manager, Director of Corporate Services, Director of Finance, Director of Engineering, Director of Planning, Director of Human Resourses, Manager of Recreation, Manager Water Wastewater, Manager Roads, to name a few |
Noah Meets The Building Inspector
In the year 2012, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in Newfoundland and said:
"Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me."
"Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."
He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: "You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."
Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark. Noah! He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?"
"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed. I needed a Building Permit. I've been arguing with the Boat Inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the Neighborhood By-Laws by building the Ark in my back garden and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Local Planning Committee for a decision. Then the Local Council and the Utility Company demanded a ton of money for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it. Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the Kerry slug. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the slugs - but no go! When I started gathering the animals the ISPCA took me to court. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.
Then the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration is checking the Visa status of most of the people who want to work. The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience. To make matters worse, Revenue Canada seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark."
"Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky."
Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"
"No," said the Lord. The Government beat me to it." |
|
 WE Are Looking For
- Manager Rec, Saskatchewan
We Have Found
- Dir Eng., Saskatchewan
- CAO Ontario
|
ALBERTA
Farrell O'Malley
1-877-830-0500 ext 701
Farrell's background as a CAO and his contacts throughout the province will give you a strategic advantage when recruiting the 'right' municipal employees.
Farrell specializes in "Ethical Head-Hunting™ " municipal executives. He has a Degree from the University of Alberta in Recreation Administration along with over 17 years in Municipal administration with more than 6 years as CAO plus 11 years as a senior manager in the recreation field. He has managed annual budgets to $9.6 Million and a staff of over 170 full and part-time employees. |
|
 We are looking for :
CAO Ontario
CAO Ontario
CAO Alberta
Treasurer Alberta
Dir PW Saskatchewan
|
|
