Social Media and Internet Training for City of Midland July, 2011

1. Carla Pendergraft Carla Pendergraft Associates www.carlapendergraft.com Social Media and Internet Training for City of MidlandJuly, 2011

2. About You • How many have a personal Facebook profile? • How many have a Facebook page for their business? • How many use Twitter? • How many use YouTube? • How many on LinkedIn? • Flickr or other photo sharing site? • How many maintain a blog? • Any other sites I’ve missed?

3. What We’ll Cover • Intro to social media • City of Midland’s presence on social media • Other Texas cities and social media • Facebook privacy tips • Issues for municipalities • Social media and the hiring process • Social media posting tips, “do’s and don’ts” • Computer security and email • Emerging technologies

4. What is Social Media? • The use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue. • Many sites on the internet now have a social aspect. • Reviews, comments, and interaction make it a social site. • Amazon.com is social-driven. We use reviews to make decisions to buy.

5. Social Media Statistics • Social networking now accounts for 22% of all time spent online in the US. • As of June, 2011, Facebook has 750 million users. • The total population of the earth is 6.93 billion • 13% of Americans are on Twitter.

6. Social Media Revolution • www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng

7. Old Ways of Communicating • One-way communication • “Push” information to the consumer or citizen • Tell the citizen what he/she needs to know

8. New Ways of Communicating • Two-way dialog • “Pull” the consumer or citizen in • Ask the citizen what he/she wants • Take advantage of the power of the weak ties

9. The Power of Weak Ties • Mark Granovetter researched how people obtain jobs for his Harvard doctoral thesis in 1970. • Most positions were obtained through weak ties, not strong ones. • Not through a family member or a friend; rather, through an acquaintance. • This shows the power of social media.

10. Social media and municipalities • Two main purposes: • Disseminate time-sensitive information to citizens • Warnings, alerts, emergency information, street closures • Broadcast promotional messages and information to the widest possible audience • Upcoming events, conservation tips, budget information, etc.

11. What good is social media? • Twitter: • real-time tracking of crimes in progress. “Yellow Cannondale bike stolen at 4th and Archer. Keep an eye out for it.” • “Arrested” … “in a plane crash” • Link to City statistical reports, budget docs, etc. • Awards won, recognition of staff • Request ideas from citizens

12. What good is social media? • Facebook: • Cross-post crime surveillance footage or mug shots of “Most Wanted” • Post crime prevention videos • Promote upcoming events to a wide audience; encourage reposting • Ask citizens for input on anything from naming a park to requesting reports on potholes

13. City of Midland on Social Media

14. City of Midland on YouTube • Channel Views:14,500 • Total Upload Views:98,595 • Subscribers:77

15. City of Midland on YouTube • Stolen wallet – 290 views (most recent) • Trailer theft – 150 views • Robbery at 7-11 – 240 views • Stolen credit card – 816 views • 7-11 break-in – 1082 views • Aggravated Robbery – 1,241 views

16. Midland on Nixle Green: community information Yellow: advisories Generally press releases The profile is “certified” Nixle was created to help law enforcement agencies communicate with their publics in a secure way. Supports SMS (text message) alerts.

17. Midland on Flickr Set up as a group 17 members 82 photos Huge potential!

18. Midland e-news • Powered by Constant Contact, • the city offers three newsletters: • City of Midland e-news • Midland Police Department E-News • Jerry Morales E-News

19. Twitter

20. City of Midland on Twitter

21. City of Midland on Twitter • Terms and conditions are prominent in “About” box • City does not follow anyone, therefore cannot receive “Direct Messages” • However, City can be addressed by using @CityOfMidland in a tweet.

22. Search for “midland, tx” on Twitter • Job postings • DJ’s performing • Visitors commenting on what they see • All in the last 16 hours

23. Twitter search on “city texas” Some of these look like official municipal pages, but aren’t.

24. Tweetdeck and Hootsuite • Free tools • Monitor keywords • “Midland, tx”, “mayor smith”, etc. • Manage multiple accounts – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FourSquare, etc. • Especially useful for law enforcement

25. LinkedIn • Online profiles on LinkedIn are much like resumes • Recruiters spend most of their time researching on LinkedIn • It is the most professional of all social media websites

26. LinkedIn • It is an excellent way to get to know your colleagues in a more in-depth way • Identify “deep talent” within the organization • Video statements on LinkedIn are fast becoming required for university admissions and as a differentiation tool for job seekers

27. Facebook

28. Facebook Search for “City of Midland” 2,435 “Likes” 20 Check-ins

29. Sampling of Texas Cities on Facebook (search: city of , texas)

30. Big Texas Cities on Facebook • City of Houston – missing • City of Austin – 2,059 Likes • City of Dallas - Missing • City of Fort Worth – Missing

31. Question • How many citizens voted in the last city council election?

32. San Angelo, Texas About A page by City Councilman, Paul Alexander We're here to uncover a vision for our city. What's yours? What do you see in our future? What do you want San Angelo to become? Also post News, Events, Politics and Discussions.(Keep it clean!)

33. A post on the page • I know the city budget is boring but they seem to be having a hard time deciding between fluff( money that does not have to be spent to keep the city running ) and the neccesities IE streets, water and public safety. Pay attention ,times are tough we need core sevices more than we we need parks.The city is on a limited budget and OEM costs on non essential items are killing us. Parks and walking trails are nice but taxes are high enough I would like roads that are drivable, good drinking water and cops and firemen to keep us safe! • June 28 at 5:23pm

34. Another post • I believe ALL FIREWORKS (POPS CONCERT-COLTS STADIUM FIREWORS) should ALL be cancelled do to the fact that San Angelo ONLY has 2 years of water supply left, and if something catches fire-does the city not UNDERSTAND that WATER will be used to put it out? And anyway, I believe the city would rather have a WOOD Bar-B-Q at home with our family,thats right we can't do that---were not as SMART as the City.

35. Another post on the page Is the city going to ban charcoal in a controlled pit on the 4th? I understand camp fires, but a pit is totally different. Especially with the fireworks being shot air... June 28 at 2:07pm Zackery Cain Ryan wood and charcoal are in that ban. I think we need to get that ordinance changed for residential property.June 28 at 2:32pm ·  2 people Paul Alexander I tried today at council, but hit a dead end.June 28 at 3:46pm Zackery Cain Dang for just this weekend or the whole ordinance change?June 28 at 3:48pm

36. What are the potential issues? • Competition for “likes” with City of San Angelo • Which is the Official Page? • What if the Councilman is not re-elected? What happens to the 9,400+ fans? • Who owns the information? • Who owns the page?

37. What are the positives? • Free and open exchange of information • Citizens can express their views to their Council representative

38. Posts on City of Midland Facebook page Negative posts are addressed, not deleted.

39. Facebook Privacy Tips Go to Account – Privacy Settings

40. Facebook Privacy - Main The most conservative setting is to allow “Friends Only” to see your Facebook status, photos, posts, etc.

41. Facebook Privacy - Connecting Under “Connecting on Facebook,” click on “View Settings”

42. Facebook Privacy - Connecting Everyone: Search for you Send you friend requests Send you messages See your friend list Friends of Friends: See your education and work See your city/hometown See your likes, activities

43. Facebook Privacy - Ads Click on Account – Settings. Then choose Facebook Ads tab. Change your third party ad settings to “No One” so your photo can’t be used in ads. Change your Ads and Friends settings to “No One.”

44. Facebook Privacy - Posts • You can choose who you share an individual post with – Everyone, Friends, or Friends of Friends.

45. Additional Security Settings • Click on Account – Account settings. • Click on Account Security. • Check all three boxes – • Secure browsing • Login notifications • Login approvals • Requires you to link your phone to your Facebook account.

46. Facebook Groups • Consider creating a group for your close friends and/or family. • Post separately to them. • That way, you can keep your personal life separate from your general profile on Facebook.

47. Final thought on Facebook Facebook is here to stay. “I’m currently in a standoff… kinda ugly, but ready for whatever.”

48. Social Media Issues

49. Issues for MunicipalitiesPublic Information Act • If the City creates a blog, or Facebook page, or a Twitter account, the information posted is part of the records that municipalities are required to keep according to the Texas Public Information Act, unless the information is available elsewhere.

50. Comments and Public Testimony • If a citizen makes a comment on the City’s Facebook or Twitter page, is that comment part of the official public testimony on an issue? • Is it a substitute for a formal statement in a public hearing process?