Can social media produce positive results? Dave Andrew PhD community groups & social media University of Northampton

Agenda Background to research What are bottom-up community groups? What is Social Media and why you should use it? Example results from successful social media community groups Useful resources

Background to Research Determine the extent, impact and possible future scenarios of social media community groups in driving waste reduction/prevention via reuse.

Bottom-up Community Groups Enables communities to focus on what is important to them May not match policy exactly. Does it matter? Encourages pro-environmental behaviours Social, community, sustainability, resource efficiency, waste prevention Social media key to their continued success Internet and social media use is increasing rapidly

Varied aims

Social Media enables: Provides the platform for the creation of user generated content Collaboration Users sharing with others from your website Retweets and mentions on Twitter Likes on Facebook Sharing links of social bookmarking

Social Media enables: Interaction Via comments on blogs, forums Yahoo groups etc. Collective intelligence Use social media to: Promote your projects Learn from others

Why use Social Media? Internet usage is an everyday activity Smart phones are becoming common place Tablets and netbooks are up and coming

Timeline

Social Media Strategy Social media strategy based on: Aims and objectives of group Include business case Existing and potential skill sets Understand your target audience Investigate where they are “social” on the web Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Blogs Forums and discussion boards

Freecycle & Freegle Freecycle aims Reduce waste to landfill Promote community involvement Freegle aims Reduce waste to landfill Develop community networks

Freegle Freegle was shortlisted in the Computer Weekly Social Media Awards 2011: best use of social media (not-for-profit).

Freecycle Members Freecycle members in: % increase Corby Kettering Northampton North & Central Northampton East Northampton South Northampton West Wellingborough Total Members:

Freecycle & Freegle Results Northampton Central & North Freegle and Freecycle group activity for 1 week February 2012 (Freecycle.com, 2012; Freegle.co.uk, 2012) 86 items Total waste diverted from landfill 892 kg £731 Annual Total based on 52 weeks 46384kg £37,991 Estimated annual cost savings from Northampton Central & North Freegle and Freecycle group activity (WRAP, 2011c)

Freecycle & Freegle Results Cost of disposal per tonne 2011 (£) 2012 (£) 2013 (£) 2014 (£) Gate Fee (Median for 2011)20 Landfill Tax Total Charges Figures below based on Annual weight of 46 tonnes Annual Savings on Cost of disposal Increase Landfill Tax Escalator % increase011%21%32%

Freecycle & Freegle Cost saving by Local Authority through reduction in waste processing costs No cost to local authority Have Freecycle and Freegle met their aims?

Feeding5K Aims Relieve food poverty Reduce food waste Evaluation of aims Highlights the problem of food waste, and the many practical ways to solve it. All the food handed out on the day to passers-by will be made from fresh and nutritious ingredients that otherwise would have been wasted. Social media is integrated.

Project Dirt Project Dirt started in 2008 Social Network created using Ning platform Aim: We’re not a website, we’re a community. We’re not exclusive, we’re inclusive. We’re not preaching a message, we’re improving information links. We’re not another forum; we’re a projects based network encouraging activity.

Project Dirt results

Is Project Dirt a success? The Empty Classroom Project 100 schools signed up, includes a school from China! Results from Twitter Tweets 2641 Following 2507 Followers 2560 Results from Facebook Likes 385 Have Project Dirt met their aim?

Resources Learn from the professionals Hubspot.com Free whitepapers and eBooks Learn from each other Community Group Hub – currently a prototype Remember social media is about interaction and collaboration

Useful Docs/Links 10 Fundamental Tips for Social Media Community Managers 10 Fundamental Tips for Social Media Community Managers Good Blog to follow Download this How to use Facebook for business 25 website must haves ebook

Thank you for listening Any Questions?