SLCC Larger Councils Conference Digital engagement: f Right here, right now Justin Griggs 20 April 2012
Social media platform Facebook is tipped to reach one billion active users - 14% of the world's population - in August of this year. And with over 400 million people using micro blogging site Twitter, social media really is a growing force to be reckoned with. In this interactive session Justin will share his experiences and insight into how advances in technology and the development of the web present real opportunities for better council communications and engagement.
Our vision is for a vibrant, dynamic local council sector making positive difference to local people
Representation & advocacy Improvement & development
@justingriggs
Twitter bio: Head of Policy & Development at NALC – representing 9k parish councils & 80k cllrs; dad; localgov geek; digi/socmed tryer; Plumstead runner; school governor; dog owner
The Social media revolution 2012
Then Open source website E-petitions Twitter Flickr Facebook Sarah Brown
Now Open source website E-petitions Twitter Flickr Facebook Sarah Brown
Where we’re at
Learning by doing Activity over strategy Catching up to be done
Driven by outsiders?
Happy campers
Brought inside
‘Digital by default’
Single domain User focus In house talent
Driven by the deficit
So: digital engagement …more than ‘just’ social media
The traditional consultation
Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Seeking validation Participation Representativeness
Red Tape Challenge
Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Seeking validation Participation Representativeness Red Tape Challenge
Shape your place
Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Shape Your Place Seeking validation Participation Representativeness Red Tape Challenge
Credit Cards
Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Shape Your Place Seeking validation Participation Representativeness BIS Credit Cards Red Tape Challenge
FCO Human Rights Report
Different goals, different tools Getting inspiration Shape Your Place FCO Human Rights Report Seeking validation Participation Representativeness BIS Credit Cards Red Tape Challenge
So how does it apply to policymaking? Identify issues Assess options Refine policy Implement solutions
Where digital engagement helps Listen Get inspiration Test Explain & refine Understand concerns and priorities based on the discussions people are having Generate ideas for current policy challenges, or find stories from diverse places Get comments on proposals and regulations, check solutions against experience Make the case for change and get feedback from service users and stakeholders
Taking a layered approach PLATFORMS CONTENTENGAGEMENT NICHE, SPECIALIST GENERAL INTEREST Citizen Service user Resident Professional Policy expert Submit a formal collective response Comment on a document Suggest an idea, describe an experience Raw data, evidence base Detailed proposals, options & rationale Summary options & background Introductory film, Plain English guide to proposals Service feedback questionnaires Outreach via social networks Online roundtables, ministerial Q&As Outreach to communities, online+offline events Source: Single Domain, GDS
Some more stories
Online communities matter!
Online communities matter!
Participation should be at the convenience of the participants
Experiment then strategise
Social media is more of a telephone than a press release
Interactive websites need interactive organisations
What’s next?
Properly digital by default Better evaluation Mobile More use internally Survey of use in parishes
@justingriggs