Bluffton Today Ken Rickard Strategy & Innovation Morris Digital Works Augusta, Georgia 1/35
Bluffton Today Built from scratch Free daily tabloid Home delivered Hyperlocal Modern design Process heavily informed by research A community in conversation with itself 2/35
BlufftonToday.com Interactive Community Web-to-Print Its what people are talking about 3/35
4/35
7/35
What are people trying to do? Maintain a community identity Retain the Bluffton state of mind Get newcomers to local businesses Navigate a new community Find people who share my passions Get relevant local information 8/35
9/35
10/35
The last daily newspaper reader will disappear in September 2043 – Philip Meyer 11/ % %
What people do on the Net Interpersonal communication – –Instant messaging –Chats and forums 44 percent of U.S. Internet users have created content and shared it online 21 percent have posted their photos to Web sites »Source: Pew Internet & American Life project 15/35
GLOBAL LOCAL SOCIAL PERSONAL Newspapers live in the outer rims. The audience lives in the center. The Internet connects the two. 16/35
News delivered by people for people Stories Photos Blogs Comments 19/35
A place to connect 20/35
21/35
18/35
22/35
Types of blogs General membership blogs –Everybody has one Community leader blogs –School officials –Veterinarian, psychologist Staff blogs 24/35
23/35
More than 3,750 registered contributors since launching April 1 More than 10,000 photos uploaded by community members More than 4,000 blog items and more than 18,000 comments submitted 26/35
18 news-editorial 2 web staff Bluffton Today has a staff of professional journalists... this is not about replacing journalists with free labor, it's about helping a community connect with itself 27/35
Process not Product 28/35
Transparency Humility Patience Resources Interactions Personalities Participation Accountability Winning Elements 29/35
Leadership Set clear goals Tell your users about your goals Invite them to participate Ask for their help Lead conversation Intervene when necessary 30/35
Morris.com MorrisDigitalWorks.com BlufftonToday.com 35/35 Ken Rickard Morris Digital Works Augusta, Georgia ken.therickards.com