Success in Social Media - Bath Event Nov09

Editor's Notes

• #4: Check with participants that they recognise these needs in their own work
• #7: Review morning session IT as a tool for organisations The need for technical knowledge but also good management, sensible budgeting and planning Ask them how they feel it’s going
• #10: All of these are examples of different new media From Social Networking Sites like, Facebook, Bebo, MySpace, Friends ReUnited, To Social Book Marking – reddit, del.icio.us, digg, Photo & Video Sharing – Flickr, Photobucket, You Tube, Blog’s Wiki’s – Wikipedia Application Sharing – Google Apps Skype ooVoo More information about any of these new media applications can be found on the internet, and there is a particularly good site by Common Craft where they have a whole range of Explanations in Plain English about various media! Details at the end of the
• #19: Campaigning is about having a message that you want to communicate. Sometimes you need to get this message to a particular group of people some times you need to let as many people know as possible. Contacting key people directly or drumming up a ground swell of support so that one voice becomes many so that voice has more of chance of being heard.
• #20: ‘ Old’ media, such as newspapers and TV, is mainly about other people publishing information using expertise and tools that we can’t afford. ‘New’ media uses more accessible tools such as broadband connections and mobile phones and is creating a more interactive and participative culture. Web 2.0 is not a technical specification but suggests that we have moved on from the first version of the internet i.e. Web 1.0. The nuts and bolts of Web 2.0 make it much easier to produce information, tell stories, share ideas and participate in new communities. It includes new tools such as blogs, forums and wikis and is increasingly referred to as ’social media’. Beyond the jargon it offers new ways to link people together, build networks and sustain virtual communities and publish their own photos, videos and news. So what can it do for you? It could create opportunities for you to develop new services, or may further marginalise the people you work with. Whatever you do it is being used by a wider cross section of the public so it is important that you consider what role it could play in the future development of your services.
• #47: Is it wise to use Facebook in our Organisation? It depends what they use it for, but it’s probably an advantage if it helps you stay abreast of current trends and improves your communications. It is easy to see sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and MySpace as a timewaster. Most people use them on a personal basis, unrelated to their work, and they can easily be seen as a distraction. However social networking sites such as Facebook may be a valuable element in your organisation’s communications or campaigning strategy. They represent a new way of reaching audiences and connecting with people with similar interests. Many charities have set up Facebook groups and use it to share news about their activities and raise money. In terms of using new tools there is rarely a quick win and there is a lot to be said for not being an early adopter. Networks such as this are also very organic in the way they develop, which can challenge the way that you work. On the other hand lots of people are already active, so maybe you’re missing out because you’re not up to date with current thinking? The best way to understand its potential is to be familiar with what it does and how it works. So maybe you - or someone you know - should be using it as well?
• #54: It may be helpful for a group of people to be able to work together on a document at the same time. They may be drafting a policy together, preparing a grant application or producing guide to services. One option is to save the document with the author’s name and a version number and circulate it by email. Even in small groups documents can get out of sync and take time to work through. An alternative is a wiki, a collaborative web site that allows authorised users to change the content of the pages though the internet, as well as view a history of changes. Alternatively online document services such as Google Documents offer a way of sharing word processing documents or spreadsheets, so that there is just one copy of a document as it evolves. Whatever the choices the tools are becoming easier to use and may well suit organisations of all sizes who have want to help people collaborate.
• #57: A campaign is only as successful as the research and planning that provides its foundation. Often requires working with colleagues and partners and can mean a lot of extra time in trying to find time for meetings so you can work collaboratively. Its not just the meeting time it’s the travel time etc. Sometimes face to face meetings are needed especially in the early stages of a campaigns development But once things advance to the preparation and pre delivery stage it’s more about getting things checked for accuracy, comment, ensuring you are staying ‘on message’ etc. There are some new media tools that can be of assistance in making this easier, productive and time consuming.
• #58: New Media is Free (or where a charge is applicable it is low) Your audience is potential every internet connected person on the planet You can post an idea or a ‘message’ and once people discover it and tell their friends about it, and they then tell there friends the dissemination of information becomes exponential. Also some one will come across your idea, and may see a way of getting the message across better, or how they can adapt it to make a difference in their locale. Every one is talking about new media! It’s the big ‘buzz’ which in itself
• #59: If you are not a regular user of PC technology and/or the Internet in general it can appear very daunting. However with New Media being Web Based it means that more people can use the same applications regardless of operating system or browser. Have a clear plan of what you want to use NM for. Otherwise you can find your are spending more time playing with the ‘technology’ than actually using it! It may have been a great idea for you to create a page on Bebo at the start of a campaign but in fact Facebook may be social networking site of choice for your audience when you come to launch * this needs to be tempered by saying its not quite as fickle as fashion, WAGS, and who gets in Hello mag!
• #61: Many third sector organisations exist to campaign on a particular cause. Whether it’s for something in your local community or tackling problems on a global scale ICT can help make your voice louder. Examples include Raise awareness of your cause using websites, newsletters and email; Use social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter to connect with and recruit supporters; Ask for help and share your expertise through email discussion lists and online forums; Use websites, email, text messaging, newsletters and flyers to share news and information; Organise your key activists through email and shared spaces such as Google Documents; Use email to lobby and influence decision-makers; Use video to reach new audiences and encourage supporters to share their stories.
• #62: Working in groups of four or five – make notes on the answers and discuss
• #63: Who can help groups? Volunteers – Professionals (companies, agencies, contractors etc) – do you have a local BITC? Training-based Vol. sector based Explain: + Circuit Riders + Working with contractors – suppliers ICT Hub Suppliers directory + Accidental techies -see page 61 + Volunteers – need to give clear brief/role/understanding: Local Volunteer Centre – do they know how to ask for IT volunteers?
• #64: Useful websites and email lists Who uses email support lists? Which ones do they use? 3 most useful sites What they’re good for… View on screen Quick look at www.icthub.org.uk
• #65: Who can help you? ICT Hub finishing – but excellent site Giving you info to answer their questions Publications on table….