During the final year of developing its 2035 Regional Transportation Plan (adopted in Dec. 2010), the Nashville Area MPO established presences in key Web 2.0 channels in order to better engage stakeholders in understanding major public-policy shifts for infrastructure investment strategies. The MPO's communications director presented on public involvement in livability initiatives at the Transportation Research Board's 90th annual meeting in Washington DC, Jan. 2011.
Automating Google Workspace (GWS) & more with Apps Script
Using Social Media to Engage Stakeholders in Better Public Policy
1. 2035 Regional Transportation Plan: Using Web 2.0 Channels to Engage Stakeholders in Better Public Policy Mary Beth Ikard, APR – Communications Director Transportation Research Board 90 th Annual Meeting January 24, 2011
2. Let’s Be Real: Social Media ≠ Social Activism “ Social networks are effective at increasing participation —by lessening the level of motivation that participation requires.”
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5. Major Themes / Source Material - Shifting Middle Tennessee’s Transportation Investment Strategy
9. Three Major Policy Initiatives #2 Support for Active Transportation & Walkable Communities
10. Three Major Policy Initiatives #3 Preservation & Enhancement of Strategic Roadways
11. NashvilleMPO.org/Stay_Involved Twitter feed window: @NashvilleMPO & its most relevant partner orgs (Walk/Bike Nashville, Clean Air Partnership of Mid TN, Transit Now Nashville, Smart Growth America) Direct sign-up form for EMMA e-newsletter Links to Social Media channels Public Participation Plan, Web 2.0 Policy, Upcoming Meetings Calendar, Current Work Program Complete a survey, share your photos or videos Come to one of regular meetings or special regional event/symposium Involvement options, Web 2.0 channel thumbnails appear on every page throughout site
12. facebook.com/NashvilleMPO 1. Think Broad 2. Don’t be a Bore 3. Permission to Get Wonky 4. Tell people you’re on FB! 5. Tag organizations/people 6. Web 2.0 Policy (http://SocialMediaGovernance.com/policies)
17. Keep In Touch! [email_address] LinkedIn.com/in/mbikard @MaryBethIkard
Editor's Notes
The Facebook page of the Save Darfur Coalition has 1,282,339 members, who have donated an average of nine cents apiece. The next biggest Darfur charity on Facebook has 22,073 members, who have donated an average of thirty-five cents. Help Save Darfur has 2,797 members, who have given, on average, fifteen cents. A spokesperson for the Save Darfur Coalition told Newsweek, “We wouldn’t necessarily gauge someone’s value to the advocacy movement based on what they’ve given. This is a powerful mechanism to engage this critical population. They inform their community, attend events, volunteer. It’s not something you can measure by looking at a ledger.” In other words, Facebook activism succeeds not by motivating people to make a real sacrifice but by motivating them to do the things that people do when they are not motivated enough to make a real sacrifice. We are a long way from the lunch counters of Greensboro.
(27% of Americans use facebook in the bathroom!) (27% of Americans use facebook in the bathroom!)
(27% of Americans use facebook in the bathroom!) (27% of Americans use facebook in the bathroom!)
Decide what “social media success” would mean to your organization / initiatives. Then make choices that support your pursuit of that goal. If you don’t have something to say, it’s okay. No one’s making you talk anymore. The conversation has been joined to death. Media is something you make . Marketing is something you do . Media is communication. Marketing is sales. You can create media, and you can market the media you create. You can even create media in order to market the products and services featured in that media.
Introductory page copy: Here's your opportunity to tell all - revolutionary or simple, we want to hear it. If you live or work in Middle Tennessee, your on-the-ground perspective can help the MPO formulate what it will take to maintain a high quality-of-life in the years to come, as our region continues to grow. Learn more about growth scenarios and join the discussion. We'll help put your ideas into action.
Priority #1 is to LISTEN. (search.twitter.com – “Nashville commute” – Tennessean cover story) Choose a way to identify yourself that enhances search-ability, relevance (MetroPlan, metroplanners) People like to read and RT content that’s grammatically correct (good writing matters). #1 word retweeted is "YOU." RTs are noun-heavy, 3rd-person verbs, things doing things. Think newspaper headlines! Love and share the love. If an organization has a Twitter handle and your Tweet content has anything to do with them, use the handle. Leads to RTs / follow-backs etc. Great for breaking news, real-time updates (40% of Nashville’s Metro Transit Authority fleet lost in #NashvilleFlood). It’s all about staff resources. TDOT has a PIO Tweeting accident/road closure updates in real time (@TN511). Commit the personnel resources to it if you’re going to be on Twitter – one Tweet a month not acceptable. SHRINKING THE EMOTIONAL DISTANCE BETWEEN US AND OUR CUSTOMERS: New study shows social media triggers release the generosity-trust chemical in our brains. JUST GIVE IT A FEW MINUTES A DAY. Monitor mentions/RTs as real-time if you can. Use your smart phone. I look to see if the Twitter handle is following back before I Follow: unless you’re a news outlet, your content worth for my Timeline to the extent that mine is good enough for yours. Check out trending topics and use hashtags, especially for Webinars / conferences.
Why 52 click-throughs on Census-related link? Because I used the #2010Census hashtag (as sanctioned by @uscensusbureau) while tweeting during real-time moments as initial Census results were being released at press conference.
Analytics can help prove the value of social: note that facebook and LinkedIN make the top ten list for most recent referral sources to NashvilleMPO.org.