Techniques

Creating Highway Code animations — DVSA

A great behind-the-scenes blog post from two content designers at DVSA, describing their thought process and results from trialling two … Read more » – Creating Highway Code animations — DVSA

YouTube for Government – YouTube

Guides and examples from YouTube explaining how to set up and use a government channel on YouTube

Social Media Playbook – GDS social media

The Government Digital Service has developed a ‘playbook’ of advice and references for effective use of social media: As this … Read more » – Social Media Playbook – GDS social media

digitalskills

Digital Skills is a collection of links to useful tutorials to help people improve their digital skills – from how … Read more » – digitalskills

Email design principles: Driving Standards Agency

The Driving Standards Agency sends highly-effective email alerts and newsletters to its audiences, including learner drivers and driving instructors. These … Read more » – Email design principles: Driving Standards Agency

Blogging 101: UKTI guide for new bloggers

UK Trade & Investment runs a group blog showcasing the work of their people around the world. As part of … Read more » – Blogging 101: UKTI guide for new bloggers

DFID’s top tips for a Google Hangout

Learnings from DFID on using a Google+ hangout for global video chat with a minister and others: Google Hangouts offer … Read more » – DFID’s top tips for a Google Hangout

Guide to running a Twitter Q&A in the public sector

In this guide, Alex Talbott – one of the founders of the successful weekly #nhssm Twitter chat – shares some … Read more » – Guide to running a Twitter Q&A in the public sector

A basic guide to filming, editing and sharing videos : Digital Health

A great, practical, illustrated guide from the digital communications team at the Department of Health on how to produce good … Read more » – A basic guide to filming, editing and sharing videos : Digital Health

Nick Halliday from the National Audit Office has prepared a great one-slide set of ‘Ground Rules’ for use within his … Read more » – ‘Ground rules’ for digital engagement

MRC Social Media Guidelines

Nice, succinct social media policy from the Medical Research Council, including a version of a social media response flowchart.   … Read more » – MRC Social Media Guidelines

Content strategy templates: from Eduserv

Lisa Price from Eduserv shares four great templates for planning and auditing your site content: – content inventory: for keeping … Read more » – Content strategy templates: from Eduserv

Twitter toolkit

Useful set of guides and links from the digital team at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office covering tools and techniques … Read more » – Twitter toolkit

How to get started blogging: Kate Hughes

A great blog post by Kate Hughes, who works in social housing, full of practical tips about how and why … Read more » – How to get started blogging: Kate Hughes

Hyperlocal Sites in UK & Ireland :: Openly Local

Hyperlocal sites are forums and blogs run by local people which often have strong local community networks and surprisingly wide … Read more » – Hyperlocal Sites in UK & Ireland :: Openly Local

I’m a Civil Servant: Should I Post This Update?

A slightly silly ‘infographic’ style flowchart with a serious point – what are the red lines for public servants to … Read more » – I’m a Civil Servant: Should I Post This Update?

Digital Engagement Cookbook: Directory of Methods

The Digital Engagement Cookbook offers a structured directory of techniques for running digital engagement and participation projects, describing them in … Read more » – Digital Engagement Cookbook: Directory of Methods

Tackling a misinformed Facebook campaign

Back in 2009, while working for Newcastle City Council, I came across an anti-council Facebook group and took the decision … Read more » – Tackling a misinformed Facebook campaign

Public participation methods: People & Participation

People and Participation is a tool from public participation specialists Involve, which includes definitions and descriptions of a whole range … Read more » – Public participation methods: People & Participation

DFID: Tips for video production

This great guide from the Department for International Development is full of useful, practical advice on creating high quality films … Read more » – DFID: Tips for video production

Offline and online Purdah advice for local government by Walsall Council

Purdah governs the restrictions placed on public sector communications. It also governs social media. These protocols for Walsall Council have … Read more » – Offline and online Purdah advice for local government by Walsall Council

10 rules of thumb for a tweeting MP

Grant Shapps, a minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government, wrote a useful politician-to-politician guide on using Twitter … Read more » – 10 rules of thumb for a tweeting MP

A Twitter guide for senior local government officers

Forward thinking local government LGC magazine editor Emma Maier thought it was a good idea to produce a Twitter guide … Read more » – A Twitter guide for senior local government officers

What makes an effective tweet: research

Billions of tweets are sent every day. Is it all Stephen Fry talking about his breakfast? This London School of … Read more » – What makes an effective tweet: research

Recipe – how to make a social media surgery

Social Media Surgeries are a way that the digitally unconnected can become connected thanks to volunteers, time, patience and love. … Read more » – Recipe – how to make a social media surgery

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

Creating a simple online dashboard

Digital Engagement specialist Dave Briggs from Kind of Digital has produced a series of video tutorials explaining how get the … Read more » – Creating a simple online dashboard

How to source Creative Commons images

Looking for good pictures in a time of shrinking budgets actually has never been easier. Creative commons is a licence … Read more » – How to source Creative Commons images

Improving visualisation: infographics and more

The Improving Data Visualisation site from OCSI (supported by CLG) is a great resource of tools, examples and ideas for … Read more » – Improving visualisation: infographics and more

Running effective webchats – DH

Advice and best practice from the Department for its staff on running webchats, based on their extensive experience using tools … Read more » – Running effective webchats – DH

Twitter Q&As by Digital Diplomacy on Prezi

The FCO Digital Diplomacy team created a short presentation of advice on how to plan for a Twitter Q&A with … Read more » – Twitter Q&As by Digital Diplomacy on Prezi

Getting started with Twitter

This simple briefing – written a few years ago by @ereuben – was designed to help a senior manager or … Read more » – Getting started with Twitter

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

Guide to Facebook pages for government organisations

Learning Pool have produced a useful guide to Facebook for government with strategy, advice and case studies. This is useful … Read more » – Guide to Facebook pages for government organisations

Twitter: A Quick Start Guide for People In and Around Government

Some downloads stand the test of time. This Learning Pool guide does just that and sets out in basic terms … Read more » – Twitter: A Quick Start Guide for People In and Around Government

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

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

How bloggers and police countered riot rumours in Wolverhampton

When the riots struck panic and rumour kicked in. While some called for the internet to be shut down others … Read more » – How bloggers and police countered riot rumours in Wolverhampton

22 Ways to Create Compelling Content When You Don’t Have a Clue

This tidy infographic sets out some good ideas on how to generate content for a blog. Aimed at the private … Read more » – 22 Ways to Create Compelling Content When You Don’t Have a Clue

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

Increasing video views

YouTube and Vimeo are great. But how often is tumbleweed blowing across that channel? This blog and case study from … Read more » – Increasing video views

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

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

‘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’

Citizensheep – Manage your online reputation

How an organisation responds to online criticism is critical. This post and flowchart has stood the test of time and … Read more » – Citizensheep – Manage your online reputation

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?

Social care recruiting using social media

In this post, Helen Reynolds from Monmouthshire County Council describes how she helped the Children’s Services team to recruit a … Read more » – Social care recruiting using social media

Measuring digital engagement

How to go about cost benefit analysis of digital engagement. How do you evaluate the cost-benefit of the government’s digital … Read more » – Measuring digital engagement

Seven principles for digital engagement (help me please)

Emma Mulqueeny blogs about digital engagement and invites discussion on the seven principles of digital engagement laid out to her … Read more » – Seven principles for digital engagement (help me please)

The ultimate guide to Facebook fan engagement

US research based on engagement experiences from top 100 retailers. This guide contains transferable information covering topics such as the … Read more » – The ultimate guide to Facebook fan engagement

Coventry: reaping the rewards of Twitter engagement

Guardian report on Coventry City Council’s use of Twitter to engage online and the practical benefits it has brought for … Read more » – Coventry: reaping the rewards of Twitter engagement

LSE Public Policy blog – Why blog?

Interview with Patrick Dunleavy and Chris Gilson of the LSE Public Policy department on the value of blogging to their … Read more » – LSE Public Policy blog – Why blog?

Australian Government: Clean energy future

Video interview with the Senior Director of Communication from the Department of Climate Change Kate Bradstreet and the Department’s digital … Read more » – Australian Government: Clean energy future

Monitoring the online debate with a dashboard

Unless you know who is talking about you and the issues you want to know about, you can’t begin the process of engaging with them online. Read more » – Monitoring the online debate with a dashboard