Strategies
Consultation on improving motorcycle training
DVSA’s 6-week consultation on proposals to improve motorcycle training become their consultation with the highest proportion of mobile and tablet … Read more » – Consultation on improving motorcycle training
How the White House Has Engaged With the American People Online
Nice round-up and examples from one of the historic government uses of social media and digital: The White House has … Read more » – How the White House Has Engaged With the American People Online
Civil Service propriety guidance for social media – GCN
The Government Communications network has released guidance on propriety in using social media in government: When using official social media … Read more » – Civil Service propriety guidance for social media – GCN
Increasing staff engagement with social media
A great PDF summary of the potential for social media to help engage staff in corporate environments – in this … Read more » – Increasing staff engagement with social media
Social Media Guidelines: Kirklees
Via the excellent Comms2Point0, here’s a local authority’s social media guidance site aimed at staff wanting to use social media … Read more » – Social Media Guidelines: Kirklees
HR and social media in the NHS.
Guidance prepared by NHS Employers for HR and other strategic leadership teams about the role of social media in a … Read more » – HR and social media in the NHS.
Profiling data on social network users: The Wall Blog
Robust UK market research figures from Ipsos MORI on the profile of users of the main social networks, from January … Read more » – Profiling data on social network users: The Wall Blog
Cornwall Council – Social Media
Cornwall Council have published a couple of very useful documents – their sensible corporate Social Media Policy, and a ‘Social … Read more » – Cornwall Council – Social Media
Nurses and social media: Chief Nursing Officer Bulletin
A good summary of the professional relevance of social media to nurses, but probably applicable to professional work more widely: … Read more » – Nurses and social media: Chief Nursing Officer Bulletin
Social networking guidance for employers – Acas
Concise, practical guidance for employers by Acas, covering the implications of social media for recruitment, bullying, grievance procedures and more: … Read more » – Social networking guidance for employers – Acas
Ten reasons why NHS CEOs should use Twitter
Top ten reasons why a senior leader might consider using Twitter, written by the Chief Executive of Heart of England … Read more » – Ten reasons why NHS CEOs should use Twitter
Online Neighbourhood Networks Study
Hyperlocal blogs are becoming increasingly important. What is a hyperlocal blog? They’re often digital bulletin boards for an estate, village, … Read more » – Online Neighbourhood Networks Study
Creating a New Social Media Policy? Try US Gov Best Practices Approach
Blogpost points to best practice approaches across US government departments on policy,strategy, digital engagement and social media. Are you looking … Read more » – Creating a New Social Media Policy? Try US Gov Best Practices Approach
NYC.gov – Social Media Customer Use Policy
New York City page outlining its terms of usage to customers, this practice gives users guidance on monitoring procedures and … Read more » – NYC.gov – Social Media Customer Use Policy
State of Texas – Social Media Policy
Forward facing site explaining Texas’ use of social media to the general public. An excellent example of how to communicate … Read more » – State of Texas – Social Media Policy
Victoria State Dept of Justice Social Media Policy for Employees
Australia’s Victoria State Department of Justice offer policy guidance on social media usage and a YouTube video summarising their usage … Read more » – Victoria State Dept of Justice Social Media Policy for Employees
Digital Diplomacy
Comprehensive guide to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s use of social media including policies, guidance and descriptive information on channels … Read more » – Digital Diplomacy
Facebook vs. Television infographic
An infographic is a useful way to get across really complex information. This one helps set the scene for Facebook … Read more » – Facebook vs. Television infographic
Social media policy – National Library of Australia
Creative Commons licensed social media policy from the National Library of Australia. Due to the open nature of Creative Commons … Read more » – Social media policy – National Library of Australia
Digital Engagement for Police forces
A short, accessible guide for police forces interested in considering digital engagement, incorporating case studies, mythbusters and ideas for applying … Read more » – Digital Engagement for Police forces
Evaluating online engagement
Michele Ide-Smith, a former local government digital specialist, writes about ways of approaching evaluation of digital engagement: Local government has … Read more » – Evaluating online engagement
Online engagement guidelines – Ministry of Defence
The MoD guidance on social media are detailed but clear, differentiating ‘personal’, ‘sponsored’ and ‘official’ presences: The aim of this … Read more » – Online engagement guidelines – Ministry of Defence
Twitter guidance – DH
Policy and staff guidance on use of Twitter as part of their professional work for the Department: Social media is … Read more » – Twitter guidance – DH
Official attributed content policy – DH
The Department of Health supports staff who publish attributed official digital content, where it can help deliver policy and communications … Read more » – Official attributed content policy – DH
Digital Dialogues Digital Engagement Guide
As part of its work commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, the Digital Dialogues project delivered by the Hansard Society, … Read more » – Digital Dialogues Digital Engagement Guide
Strategy for multimedia social channels
This document was drafted by a former colleague, and aimed to set out clearly the rationale and governance around the … Read more » – Strategy for multimedia social channels
Political vs official social media channels
This briefing was written to help ministers and special advisers understand the issues and boundaries between official corporate social media … Read more » – Political vs official social media channels
Moderation policy
House rules are a useful way to keep discussion online on-topic, clean and constructive. Writing them down and posting them … Read more » – Moderation policy
Digital Engagement launch plan & blogger outreach
This simple plan was written quickly to pull together ideas for launching a Government strategy on Open Source & Open … Read more » – Digital Engagement launch plan & blogger outreach
Digital Engagement team skills
This simple skills framework was developed at BIS to help inform objectives and job descriptions for a digital engagement team … Read more » – Digital Engagement team skills
Information risk assessment checklist for social media
This template risk assessment checklist was designed to get people thinking about some of the potential risks to the organisation’s … Read more » – Information risk assessment checklist for social media
Designing social media policy for government
Practical guide from the University at Albany’s Center for Technology in Government. This article outline the basis for designing a … Read more » – Designing social media policy for government
Digital Engagement Evaluation Toolkit
Digital Dialogues, a project commissioned by the Ministry of Justice from the Hansard Society, published a number of reports into … Read more » – Digital Engagement Evaluation Toolkit
From Housing and Litter to Facebook and Twitter
This free download from BDO Local Government acts as a report to set out the benefits in a hard headed … Read more » – From Housing and Litter to Facebook and Twitter
Local by Social: Using Social Media to Achieve More For Less
The Local by Social report commissioned by Local Government Improvement and Delivery is a landmark document. It’s publication in 2010 … Read more » – Local by Social: Using Social Media to Achieve More For Less
How Yammer can help local government innovate
Yammer is an internal social network that helps you engage with staff. A giant water cooler it’s more work-focused than … Read more » – How Yammer can help local government innovate
Provider Engagement Network: BuddyPress
Building a platform to engage with people can be tricky. Here Carl Haggerty talks through a case study of how … Read more » – Provider Engagement Network: BuddyPress
You shape your intranet. Thereafter, it shapes you.
The intranet should be the place an organisation starts to talk to people. If it can’t talk to its staff … Read more » – You shape your intranet. Thereafter, it shapes you.
Department of the Navy Guidance for Official Posts
Sometimes organisations fear using social media on security grounds. When you realise that some of the best proponents of digital … Read more » – Department of the Navy Guidance for Official Posts
BT’s social media guidelines
In the private sector engaging online is an important aspect of customer care and communications. BT have developed their own … Read more » – BT’s social media guidelines
Police Code of Conduct approach to Social Media
Stuart Hyde, Chief Constable of Cumbria Police gives his views on how staff should conduct themselves when interacting with members … Read more » – Police Code of Conduct approach to Social Media
Coca Cola social media principles
Coca Cola is a corporate bohemoth. Take a look at their social media and it’s just a bit effective. On … Read more » – Coca Cola social media principles
Red Cross toolkit for social media
The US Red Cross have a Google doc that sets out their approach to social media. It’s useful to take … Read more » – Red Cross toolkit for social media
trust me, I’m a follower
Opening up social media is one of the biggest challenges the public sector has. Carolyn Mitchell hitthe nail on the … Read more » – trust me, I’m a follower
Study: Auto-Posting to Facebook Decreases Likes and Comments by 70%
Cracking Facebook can be tricky. It’s tempting to use a third party application to post to Facebook but this study … Read more » – Study: Auto-Posting to Facebook Decreases Likes and Comments by 70%
social media and the council mag
With budgets shrinking there is pressure to do more for less. One of the first victims has been the printed … Read more » – social media and the council mag
What Is Pinterest and Why Should I Care?
Pinterest is an emerging photosharing site. It’s the new kid on the block and it’s worthwhile getting the low-down before … Read more » – What Is Pinterest and Why Should I Care?
Five Benefits of an Internal Social Network
Internal communications is vital for any organisation. Increasingly, as the web gets social there are opportunities for a social approach … Read more » – Five Benefits of an Internal Social Network
QR codes: more than a toy? – The CIPR Conversation
What the flip are QR codes? Are they just for geeks? Stephen Waddington who comes from a PR background takes … Read more » – QR codes: more than a toy? – The CIPR Conversation
Is there anybody out there?
Creating a digital strategy is vital. But actually, how do we know people want us to have one? This blog … Read more » – Is there anybody out there?
Blog readership: Build and maintain an audience
Blogging can be hard work. But the rewards are there. How do you build a blog that generates interest? While … Read more » – Blog readership: Build and maintain an audience
Opening Up Social Media in an Organisation
This YouTube clip of Monmouthshire County Council’s Helen Reynolds shows how her organisation has opened-up social media internally to make … Read more » – Opening Up Social Media in an Organisation
Alastair Campbell on social media:
Few helped create the era of ‘spin’ than former Downing Street communications chief Alastair Campbell. So when even he says … Read more » – Alastair Campbell on social media:
Mob rule: Iceland crowdsources its next constitution
Some things just re-write the rule book. When the financial crisis hit sweeping all before it Iceland simply pulled up … Read more » – Mob rule: Iceland crowdsources its next constitution
Made of String » Coventry City Council’s use of Facebook
Coventry City Council has carved out a fine reputation for using Facebook. Ally Hook, who created it, sets out her … Read more » – Made of String » Coventry City Council’s use of Facebook
U.S. Army Social Media Handbook is Here!
The US military use digital channels effectively. More than a million like the US Army Facebook page and more like … Read more » – U.S. Army Social Media Handbook is Here!
Elections 2009: a post in two parts
This landmark post from Derbyshire County Council’s Sarah Lay has not dated. Setting out how she used the web and … Read more » – Elections 2009: a post in two parts
Infographic: How to train employees on social media
It can be tricky going from 0-60 in digital communications. Sometimes you need a little outside help. This fun infographic … Read more » – Infographic: How to train employees on social media
Comms Planning Pack
A communications plan is an essential tool for communications. A good one will take a long hard look at where … Read more » – Comms Planning Pack
Walsall 24 – a ‘day in the life’ on Twitter
Walsall 24 was a campaign that won gold in LGComms 2011 annual awards. A cross-section of everything the council did … Read more » – Walsall 24 – a ‘day in the life’ on Twitter
Surrey Police to use Twitter to report every car crime
For high profile campaigns, Twitter can work beautifully. This initiative from Surrey police saw them tweet car crimes for a … Read more » – Surrey Police to use Twitter to report every car crime
Snow Champion is, Champion
There’s plenty of social media theory. There’s less social media in practice. This blog from Sandwell Council shows how they … Read more » – Snow Champion is, Champion
Personfessional – do you speak the new social language?
Striking the right tone for social media can be hard. Too official? Too polite? Too much like a press release? … Read more » – Personfessional – do you speak the new social language?
You’ve been pinned – local government and Pinterest
Pinterest is the new kid on the block. But how can the public sector use it? Rather effectively as this … Read more » – You’ve been pinned – local government and Pinterest
Wolverhampton Homes Social Media Guidelines
A useful set of social media guidelines written for a housing association but perfectly usable across the public sector. Social … Read more » – Wolverhampton Homes Social Media Guidelines
BBC English Regions Social Media Strategy
To use Social Media? But how? And what to say? This English Regions BBC crib sheet is surprisingly sensible with … Read more » – BBC English Regions Social Media Strategy
Selling social media to the internal audience
Winning the internal battle to use digital channels is ongoing. This Prezi – relating to PR, Communications and Employee Engagement in … Read more » – Selling social media to the internal audience
‘Connected councillors: a guide to using social media’
A brilliant guide for politicians on how to use the social web to listen and talk to communities. Social media … Read more » – ‘Connected councillors: a guide to using social media’
How to Deal With A Disappointed Fan of Your facebook fanpage?
At some time or another someone will hurl a half brick at your social media profile. Now what? This blog … Read more » – How to Deal With A Disappointed Fan of Your facebook fanpage?
Twitter to help answer questions and queries
Twitter has often been used as an extension of the comms team. This case study shows how it can be … Read more » – Twitter to help answer questions and queries
A basic guide to Flickr in local government
A picture tells a thousand words. Flickr is a great site for sharing pictures and this basic guide shows how … Read more » – A basic guide to Flickr in local government
Not one big Facebook page please, but lots of little ones
A useful look at how to approach Facebook strategy for an organisation. It tackles the question of one page or … Read more » – Not one big Facebook page please, but lots of little ones
Monmouthshire County Council: social media guidelines
A concise but specific policy for staff and elected members, describing how to manage the risks of engaging professionally in … Read more » – Monmouthshire County Council: social media guidelines
Monmouthshire County Council: social media
Monmouthshire County Council is pioneering the organisation-wide use of social media, and provides a useful round-up of the policies and … Read more » – Monmouthshire County Council: social media
Digital engagement strategy
Department of Health’s digital engagement strategy, written in April 2010. This document – written in April 2010 – describes digital … Read more » – Digital engagement strategy
COI – Social Media Guidance
Central Office of Information guidance on social media and engagement best practice. NB. COI is set to close on 31 … Read more » – COI – Social Media Guidance
Social media guidance for public servants
Excellent blog from former civil servant on what should be included in new Cabinet Office guidance on social media. What … Read more » – Social media guidance for public servants
Departmental Dialogue Index
This tool, developed by Lindsey Colbourne for the ScienceWise public engagement with science programme, helps organisations to assess and explore … Read more » – Departmental Dialogue Index
Michele Ide-Smith: Digital engagement framework for local government
Michele Ide-Smith examines digital engagement from an academic standpoint as applied to local government organisations. I’ve been doing a bit … Read more » – Michele Ide-Smith: Digital engagement framework for local government
Civil Service Principles for participation online
Published in 2009 after much internal discussion, the following points – and the Civil Service Code on top of which … Read more » – Civil Service Principles for participation online
Everything