Reach new audiences with a consultation or campaign

The traditional consultation document format – long, technical, text-based – works for some audiences but not all. Social media tools can help you bring feedback-gathering processes and awareness campaigns to life, asking different people for different types of input. You might provide some introductory background as a video, info graphic or slideshow, and offer people the opportunity to leave a comment on part of the proposals, vote on comments others have made, or submit a short private response using an online form. Be clear about the scope of the exercise: don’t leave people feeling like their time has been wasted, or their input has disappeared into a black hole.

Transport Select Committee – evidence via Twitter

Nice approach to getting evidence from commuters via video on Twitter by the Select Committee: Were you affected by the … Read more » – Transport Select Committee – evidence via Twitter

Brexit and the rights of UK citizens in Austria Q&A

Nice work by the FCO team in Austria, answering real questions about what Brexit means for ex-pats, as best they … Read more » – Brexit and the rights of UK citizens in Austria Q&A

Firefighter recruitment by South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Lovely use of video for storytelling as part of this recruitment campaign: We've marked @womensday by asking children what they … Read more » – Firefighter recruitment by South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

National Democracy Week 2018

Lovely use of the simple embedded quiz tool, Riddle, by the Boundary Commission for England, to embed a simple quiz … Read more » – National Democracy Week 2018

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

The Home Online – ThingLink

ThingLink is a neat tool for creating interactive graphics and maps. Department of Culture, Media and Sport have used it … Read more » – The Home Online – ThingLink

What’s the ideal time to Tweet?

A reader asks: There are obvious times when you can link tweets to the content of a TV show (for … Read more » – What’s the ideal time to Tweet?

Manchester Fire & Rescue Service: Consultation 2015

A simple way to open up a consultation about service provision to people who can’t make it to meetings or … Read more » – Manchester Fire & Rescue Service: Consultation 2015

Northern Futures

It’s hard to blend online and offline methods effectively – the Cabinet Office-led ‘Northern Futures’ is a strong attempt, combining … Read more » – Northern Futures

Keep warm this winter

Bold, illustration-led campaign across Facebook, Twitter and Vine around the Halloween ‘hook’ by DECC to target energy-inefficient devices left on … Read more » – Keep warm this winter

Sharing Economy Review

Nice use of a free blogging platform, WordPress.com, to host an independent review supported by government: This is the home … Read more » – Sharing Economy Review

CV O’Clock

A neat campaign microsite from the National Careers Service, for people to work on their CVs together and share their … Read more » – CV O’Clock

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

I can’t wait to pass my driving test!

The Driving Standards Agency team runs an engaging Facebook page for learner drivers to ask questions, get advice and more: … Read more » – I can’t wait to pass my driving test!

Consultation on the supply of goods, services and digital content: BIS

BIS has developed a consultation on reforms to consumer rights which takes the full document and creates more accessible, shorter … Read more » – Consultation on the supply of goods, services and digital content: BIS

DCMS Communications Review Seminar Series

DCMS used a simple microsite to present papers for public comment alongside a programme of real-world seminars. After the seminars, … Read more » – DCMS Communications Review Seminar Series

Estimating social media use within a geographic area

Mark Braggins asks: “I am trying to determine the level of social media use at a local level . I’m … Read more » – Estimating social media use within a geographic area

The power of information: Department of Health

The Department of Health developed a mini-site to support the launch of the 10-year information strategy, enabling people to read … Read more » – The power of information: Department of Health

Long term conditions: Department of Health

The Department of Health is using a consultation mini-site to source comments from people with an interest in the management … Read more » – Long term conditions: Department of Health

The impossible texting & driving test – YouTube

A smart and engaging use of video by this Belgian driver safety organisation (including some fruity language – it’s OK, … Read more » – The impossible texting & driving test – YouTube

You be the Judge – A guide to sentencing

You be the Judge interactive gives users an opportunity to sit in the judge’s chair, to help demystify sentencing decisions. … Read more » – You be the Judge – A guide to sentencing

Geraldton 2029 and Beyond (Western Australia)

Edward Andersson of Involve cites this example of a hybrid online and offline process to determine the vision for a … Read more » – Geraldton 2029 and Beyond (Western Australia)

We’re a new charity – how do we reach our audience?

An anonymous visitor asks: We’re a newish charity dealing particularly with chronic health conditions – things that everyone gets eventually, … Read more » – We’re a new charity – how do we reach our audience?

HMRC e-marketplaces

HMRC Press Office and others engaged via a partnership with a leading online finance forum (Money Saving Expert) and a … Read more » – HMRC e-marketplaces

Protection of Freedoms Bill – Public Reading Stage

The Cabinet Office launched an experimental site to enable clause-level comments on draft legislation. It was a simple technological platform, … Read more » – Protection of Freedoms Bill – Public Reading Stage

Adoption and Fostering campaign – Department for Education

The DfE developed a Facebook tab on their page to help showcase videos of foster carers and parents who had … Read more » – Adoption and Fostering campaign – Department for Education

ShapeYourPlace.org

The Shape Your Place project developed a network of community websites, combining a channel for fault reporting and consultation with … Read more » – ShapeYourPlace.org

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

Overseas Territories Consultation – FCO

The FCO’s consultation on the UK Overseas Territories set out six key questions for public comment. Respondents could also reply … Read more » – Overseas Territories Consultation – FCO

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

Ask Lord Browne – The Student Room

When he launched his review of student finance in England, Lord Browne took part in a live Q&A on The … Read more » – Ask Lord Browne – The Student Room

Red Tape Challenge

The Red Tape Challenge is a cross-government crowdsourcing project to identify unnecessary regulation. Discussions are structured by theme, and time-limited, … Read more » – Red Tape Challenge

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

Credit and store card consultation (BIS)

The credit and store card consultation [archived] was about raising awareness as well as seeking new ideas from stakeholders and … Read more » – Credit and store card consultation (BIS)

Thames Tunnel consultation

Thames Water consulted on the development of a new sewer system to prevent sewage spilling into the Thames river. It … Read more » – Thames Tunnel consultation

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

Science and Society Consultation

Now archived, this consultation launched in July 2008 set out a proposed vision for Science and Society and outlined some … Read more » – Science and Society Consultation

Balance your Bobbies

North Wales Police are using Balance your Bobbies in a similar way to how local authorities have been using simple … Read more » – Balance your Bobbies

Money Saving Expert discussion on community buying

Straightforward partnership with MoneySavingExpert.com to get discussion going in the forum about the new policy on community buying and collective … Read more » – Money Saving Expert discussion on community buying