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  • #PromoteOpenData: How Cities Can Use Social Media To Publicize Open Data Policy

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    Sunlight Foundation
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    This guide will help cities get their policies, tools and datasets into the public eye on platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and others. The guide emphasizes ways to engage constituents and spark a back and forth conversation. It also stresses that each platform has its own quirks and a city’s tone should change to suit it: The casual fun of Snapchat differs from the fast-paced, interactive nature of Twitter. The guide also emphasizes the people in policy: the staffers, the software developers, the civic coders, the activists who work with city hall to push for change. Through strategies like social media takeovers, or even the simple act of posting a team photo, cities can personalize their policies and encourage human-to-human interaction from residents. We hope that, from there, constituents can understand open data policies and feel a personal stake in making them even stronger. Check it out!

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    #PromoteOpenData: How cities can use social media to publicize open data policy

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    This guide will help cities get their policies, tools and datasets into the public eye on platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and others. The guide emphasizes ways to engage constituents and spark a back and forth conversation. It also stresses that each platform has its own quirks and a city’s tone should change to suit it: The casual fun of Snapchat differs from the fast-paced, interactive nature of Twitter. The guide also emphasizes the people in policy: the staffers, the software developers, the civic coders, the activists who work with city hall to push for change. Through strategies like social media takeovers, or even the simple act of posting a team photo, cities can personalize their policies and encourage human-to-human interaction from residents. We hope that, from there, constituents can understand open data policies and feel a personal stake in making them even stronger. Check it out!

    Copyright:

    Attribution (BY)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    599 views14 pages

    #PromoteOpenData: How Cities Can Use Social Media To Publicize Open Data Policy

    Uploaded by

    Sunlight Foundation
    This guide will help cities get their policies, tools and datasets into the public eye on platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and others. The guide emphasizes ways to engage constituents and spark a back and forth conversation. It also stresses that each platform has its own quirks and a city’s tone should change to suit it: The casual fun of Snapchat differs from the fast-paced, interactive nature of Twitter. The guide also emphasizes the people in policy: the staffers, the software developers, the civic coders, the activists who work with city hall to push for change. Through strategies like social media takeovers, or even the simple act of posting a team photo, cities can personalize their policies and encourage human-to-human interaction from residents. We hope that, from there, constituents can understand open data policies and feel a personal stake in making them even stronger. Check it out!

    Copyright:

    Attribution (BY)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 14

    #PromoteOpenData

    Usingsocialmediatopublicizeyouropendatapolicy

    #PromoteOpenData
    Usingsocialmediatopublicizeyouropendatapolicy
    Togetyourpolicies,toolsanddatasetsinthepubliceye,meetyourconstituentswheretheyalready
    are:onsocialmedia.Opendataandsocialmediaaretwosidesofthesamecoin.(Plus,somecities
    evenputouto
    pendataontheirsocialmediausage!)Releasinggovernmentdatatothepublic
    empowersconstituents,bringingthemintotheongoingconversationabouthowourpublicpolicy
    shouldfunction.Usingsocialmediatopromotethisdataensuresthatabroadrangeofconstituents
    feelinvitedtothatconversation.Theirquestions,commentsandotherfeedbackwillonlymakeopen
    datapoliciesmoreeffective.Plus,bringinguserstoyourdatatoolswillshowhowvitaltheyare.

    Thisguideisintendedtohelpcityofficialsdevelopnewideasforcontentandstrategyonsocialmedia
    platformsincludingTwitter,Facebook,YoutubeandSnapchat.Thisguidedoesnotreplaceacitys
    socialmediausepolicy,ifapplicable.Thosepoliciescontainguidanceonhowacityenvisionsa
    cohesivesocialmediaoutput,andmayincludecontentrestrictions.Forahelpfulexample,see
    Seattlesp
    olicy,aswellasitspostingguidesforT
    witterandF
    acebook.Forfurtherexamples,see
    samplepoliciescuratedbytheInstituteforLocalGovernment.

    Remember,thetimetopromotecomestowardtheendofamultistepprocess.Itbeginswithdefining
    goalsandsettingobjectives.Socialmediapostsshouldservethoseends.SeeSunlightsP
    ublic
    PolicyforPublicDatac hecklistforastepbystepguide.

    TheBigPicture:6easywaystoengage
    1.Announce
    2.RT
    3.Whatcanitdoforyou?
    4.Thesearetheirstories
    5.Talktous
    6.Eyeonevents
    PuttingtheWWCnetworktowork
    TheNittyGritty:Tipsforeveryplatform
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Instagram
    Youtube
    Snapchat
    Tumblr
    That'sitfornow!

    TheBigPicture:6easywaystoengage
    1.Announce

    Thesepostsfollowthegoldenrule:Keepitsimple!Announceyourcityspolicywithalinktoyour
    website.Thelinkshouldgotoablogpostorwalkthroughthatexplainsthenewpolicyinaway
    thatseasytounderstandforeveryone,especiallyiftheyreunfamiliarwithopendatapolicy.
    Emphasizewhatitmeansforyourconstituents:openness,transparencyandequality.

    2.RT

    Spreadthenews!Retweet,repost,orsharearticlesaboutyouropendatapolicyfromlocalnews
    outlets,interestedorganizationslikeSunlightorCodeForAmerica,andcivichackinggroupsin
    yourcity.Thisisaneasywaytobuildbuzz.

    Bill Peduto, mayor of Pittsburgh

    3.Whatcanitdoforyou?

    Nowitstimetogettangible.Whatdoesopendatameanforeverydaypeopleinyourcity?
    Whatkindofinformationandtoolsarenowavailabletothemtomaketheirliveseasier?Linkto
    examplesofuseful,coolorinterestingopendatatools.Postsliketheseareripeforretweeting.

    4. Thesearetheirstories

    Opendatapolicyisaboutpeople:connectingyourcommunitytoitsgovernment,allowingyour
    constituentstobuildtoolsthatworkforthemandfortheirneighbors.Usesocialmediato
    spotlightpeople,suchasadeveloperwhohasmadeanexcitingapporacityemployeewhois
    workinghardtomakethesepolicieswork.AnddontforgetthephotothinkH
    umansofNew
    York.Agreatphotocanmakepeoplestopscrollingandengage.

    GregFischer,mayorofLouisville

    5.Talktous

    Dontbeafraidtostartadialogue,especiallyonTwitterandFacebook.Afteryouhave
    announcedyourpolicy,createanopportunityforconstituentstoaskquestions,offer
    suggestionsorgivefeedback.Andwhentheydo,respond!

    BillPeduto,mayorofPittsburgh

    6.Eyeonevents

    WhatWorksCitiesemphasizesengagementandsoshouldyoursocialmediacampaigns.
    Postphotosandvideosfromrelevantevents,likehackathons,hearings,andmeetingsto
    increasepublicityandupattendance.

    PuttingtheWWCnetworktowork
    What Works Cities is a community, and you should share your news and accomplishments with the
    members! Tag relevant partners and fellow cities when appropriate. Participate in conversations
    through replies.

    TheNittyGritty:Tipsforeveryplatform

    T
    witter

    Animportanttool:Twittercanprovideaneasy,accessiblewaytoreachandengagewithyour
    residentsandotherstakeholders,especiallyifyourresourcesareconstrained.Forexample,
    Naperville,Ill.,s olicitedfeedbackonitsdraftopendatapolicythroughTwitter,providingalowlift
    avenuetogarnervaluableinputfromthecommunity.

    Hashtags:Thinkofahashtagasaninstantwaytojoinanongoingconversationandaneasymeans
    foruserstofindtheirwaytoyourtweets.Herearegoodplacestostart:
    #FollowFriday/#FF:ThisisaTwittermainstay.Youcansendatweetfromyourcitysmain
    accountencouragingpeopletofollowpeopleorofficeswhoworkonyouropendatapolicy.
    #OpenGov/#OpenData:Usingthishashtagwillmakeyourtweetsvisibletotheglobalopen
    governmentcommunity.
    #YourCity:Theresalwaysthebasic#YourCityName,butyoucanalsogetcreative.Use
    hashtagsthewaythepeoplewholivetheredo.Theres#Austinbutalso#ATX,#DCbutalso
    #DMV,#NewHavenbutalso#NHV,etc.

    Golive:P
    eriscopeisanappthatallowsuserstolivestreamfromtheirsmartphone.Youmayhave
    heardofitrecentlywhenDemocratsinCongressu
    sedittostreamlivefromtheHousefloor.Ifyou
    startaPeriscopestreamtobroadcastameetingorevent,youcanpostthelinkonTwittersoyour
    followerscanclickthroughtoviewit.

    Thetakeover:InaTwittertakeover,apersonorofficetakescontrolofpublishingcontentforoneday,
    allowingthemtocuratetweets,links,photos,andothermedia.Inyourcity,thepersonoroffice
    responsibleforopendatacoulddoatakeoverandtakeusersbehindthescenes.Thetakeoverwould
    alsoallowthemtodirectlyinteractwithconstituentsbytaking/answeringquestions.

    Tone:Twitteristhemostconversationalsocialmediaplatformdontbeafraidtousealightertone
    withalotofpersonality.Yourtweetscanstillbeprofessionala
    ndfunny,familiarandlively.

    Facebook

    Golive:FacebookhasintroducedanewtoolcalledFacebookLive,whichallowsyoutostreamliveto
    yourfollowers.YourofficecouldusethistoconductanopendataQ&Aorlivestreamahearingorwork
    session.Moreinformationh
    ere.

    MakeaFacebookpage:Yourcitycouldmakeapagetohighlightyouropendatatools,especially
    thosethataremostusefulforthegeneralpublic.Youhighlightonetoolperweek,forexample.Butbe
    surethatyouhaveenoughhumanresourcesandrelevantcontenttokeepthepageupdatedand
    freshbeforeyoudecidetocreateit.

    Instagram

    Thetakeover:InanInstagramtakeover,youcanallowapersonorofficetomanagetheaccount,
    meaningthatforawholeday,theycanintroducethemselvestoyourfollowersandcuratecontent.In
    themorning,theycanstartwithapostsayinghello,describingtheirworkonopendata,and
    previewingwhattheyllshowusersduringthetakeover.Thatcouldincludepostsaboutusefulopen
    datatools,picturesfromrelevantmeetings/hearings,videowhereteammembersdescribewhat
    theyreworkingon,etc.MoreonInstagramtakeoversh
    ere.(TakeoversarealsoperfectforSnapchat
    andTwitter!)

    Youtube

    Explainers:Yourofficecancreateshort(around2minute)videosthatintroduceyourneworupdated
    policy,showpeoplehowtoaccessyourcitysdata,orexplainthetoolsthatareavailabletothem.Aim
    forfresh,crispgraphics.Forexample,Nashvillehasa
    Youtubeplaylistfullofhelpfulexplainervideos
    thatdelveintoeachdatasetthecityreleased.

    Embed&share:IfyoumakeYoutubecontent,dontforgettoshareitacrossallofyourother
    platformsforthemostvisibility.

    Snapchat

    Forthosewithextracapacity:Youshouldconcentrateyourresourcesontheplatformsabove,
    especiallyFacebookandTwitter.Butifyourcityiscomfortablewithinteractivetoolsandhasroomto
    experiment,trySnapchat.

    Kidsthesedays:Snapchatispopularwithtweens,teensandtwentysomethingsforthreemain
    reasons:Postsarefun,temporaryandintimate.Keepallthreeinmindifyourcitystartsanaccount.

    Fun:Geotags,emojis,filtersandstickersarepopularonSnapchatandusingthemwillmake
    yourcontentfeellikeitbelongsthere.Forexample,ifyoureplanningatakeover,youroffice
    cancreateatemporaryopendatathemedfiltertoappearonallofyourposts.
    Temporary:Youwilltakeaphotoorrecordavideo(10secondsmaximum)andthenpostitto
    YourStory.Eachonewilldisappear24hoursafteryouhavepostedit.Keepthisinmind!This
    lendsthecontentanairofspontaneity.

    Intimate:Snapchatletsanyonebeaflyonthewalluseyouraccounttotakeyourfollowers
    behindthescenesandtointroducethemtothepeoplewhomakeyourgovernmentwork.

    Youreabroadcaster:Unlikeeveryotherplatform,Snapchatdoesnothavecommentsorencourage
    abackandforthconversationwithyourfollowers.Instead,thinkofyouraccountasamediumfor
    broadcastingaseriesofphotosandvideos.

    ThecitygovernmentinProvo,Utah,usedSnapchattodocumentaribboncuttingatanewstore.
    Viewerssawasnippetofthemayorsremarksandreceivedaminitourofthestore/communityspace.

    Tumblr

    Howthisgenerationblogs:Tumblrisabloggingplatformpopularwithteenagersand
    twentysomethings.AccordingtotheP
    ewResearchCenter,10percentofallinternetusersareon

    Tumblr,soitisavaluableplacetoengage.OnTumblr,usershavetheirownblogandcanfollowas
    manyblogsastheywant.Thefeedsfromthoseblogsappearintheirdashboardwhentheylogin.
    UserscanalsopairaTumblrblogwiththeirexistingdomain.

    Themetrics:Tumblrengagementcomesintwoforms:likesandreblogs.Theyfunctionthesameas
    likesandretweetsonTwitter.

    Thecommunity:Tumblrisaplaceforniches.Usersgetexcitedaboutfindingpeoplewholovethe
    sametopics,betheyfansofthesameTVshoworactivistscommittedtosocialjustice.Thelatterisa
    vitalpartofTumblranditsplaceinthesocialmediasphere.Yourofficecanbrainstormwaystotiein
    youropendatapoliciestotheconcernsofthiscommunityandthenengageonTumblr.Forexample,
    policerecorddataandarrestdataareoftopconcern.Yourofficemightpostalinktothatdataand
    plugintotheongoingconversationonTumblrusinghashtagslike#blacklivesmatter,#prisondata,etc.

    Tumblrinaction:ThecityofLasVegashasusedTumblrtog
    arnerfeedbackonitsdraftopendata
    policy,thenfollowedupwithitscommunitybypostingthefinishedversionafewweekslater.T
    hepost
    isbrief,clearlylistsouthowitwillbenefittheresidentsofthecityandperhapsmostimportantly
    usesaneyecatchingGIFtopromoteit!

    That'sitfornow!
    Thanksforreadingalongwithourquickhowtoguideforpromotingopendatainyourcitywithsocial
    media.Butthisisn'tcomprehensivenewplatformsandappsareappearingeverydaythatyoucan
    leveragetospreadthewordaboutopendatainyourcity,sokeepaneyeoutfornewopportunities.

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