FCN Presentation - Social Media In A Crisis - Sandy Levine
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Transcript of FCN Presentation - Social Media In A Crisis - Sandy Levine
How to Use Social Media in a Disaster
For government communicators...
How to strategically drive public outreach in a disaster using traditional and new media in 10 easy steps
Today we will:
1.Define 10 easy steps to integrate social media to help you inform, persuade, secure trust, calm, reassure, and get your constituents to follow detailed procedures more effectively through a strategic crisis communications outreach plan
2.Discuss the pros and cons of different traditional and social communication channels
3.Review the importance of choosing crisis communication channels based on goals and how they work vs. what’s ‘hot’
From that list...what’s your priority for today?
1. Define 10 easy steps to integrate social media to help you inform, persuade, secure trust, calm, reassure, and get your constituents to follow detailed procedures more effectively through a strategic crisis communications outreach plan
2. Discuss the pros and cons of different traditional and social communication channels
3. Review the importance of choosing crisis communication channels based on goals and how they work vs. what’s ‘hot’
1. Define Your Organization’s Crisis Communication Priorities
The mission
The message
The audience – who are you trying to reach?
The objective – what do you want to inspire your constituents to do once they have this information?
2. Understand the Different ToolsTraditional media:
-Print: magazines, newspapers-Radio-TV-Community activities (religious based groups, civic organizations, school programs)-Telephone hotlines- What are some others you use?
Social media:- Websites-Blogs-Email blasts-RSS feeds- Facebook- Twitter- YouTube-Flickr- What are some others you use?
2. Understand the Different Tools
Consider:- Where do my constituents go for instant information?
-Where do they go for this kind of information?(e.g. if serious, where will they actually pay attention)
-What channels are most appropriate for this message/this objective?
- What’s the best mix of channels that I can support with my resources? (budget and peoplepower)
3. Review the Strengths/Value of Each Tool in Your Toolkit
Review outreach to ensure message is consistent across all different crisis communication channels
Define who owns the content across channels
Plan for regular updates – who owns?
With many social media sites, interactivity is key – plan support so you can be responsive
4. Allocate Resources
5. Identify Metrics
Any successful crisis communications outreach effort must have metrics built in:
What will success look like?
Can’t be just # of impressions or ‘likes’ – define goals:- Engage audience – get feedback?- See a specific action?- Drive specific next step?
6. Don’t Forget the Basics Confirm that your mission is driving the outreach
Review goals and actions planned to ensure they are aligned – actions support goals
Don’t reinvent the wheel – use tools that you know work for your audience, and add new tools to expand your reach and engagement
Use Terms of Service Agreements already in place for government organizations when possible
7. Implement Plan!When possible, start small – see what works
Adjust as you go, tweaking to align with your constituents’ responses
Use surveys to get input and pay attention to the responses
Integrate suggestions from constituents whenever possible to improve results
Try different things when you can
8. Track and Analyze Results As You Go
Use metrics in place to track results, analyze what’s working, what’s not
Adjust outreach plan as needed to ensure you’re reaching your audience effectively
Plan should be as flexible and fluid as possible – one of the great advantages of social media
Change mix of tools as audience and objectives change to ensure you’re where you need to be – where your audience is
9. Listen To Your AudiencePay attention to what’s working best and worst and figure out why
Assign resources to read customer’s comments/questions and respond quickly – and integrate changes suggested whenever possible
Review results at set intervals and notice patterns
10. Integrate Best Practices into SOP
Always do a ‘lessons learned’ immediately after a disaster to improve your next effort
Keep clear and detailed notes on strengths and weaknesses of each communication channel used – what was a weakness this time might be just what you need next time
Get feedback from the team on processes as well as results to ensure improvements to operations
Questions?
Traditional Media: Pros and ConsPrint: magazines, newspapersRadioTVCommunity activities (religious based groups, civic organizations, school programs)Telephone hotlinesWhat are some others you use?
Social Media: Pros and ConsWebsitesBlogsEmail blastsRSS feedsFacebookTwitterYouTubeFlickrWhat are some others you use?
Questions?
How Do You Choose the ‘Best’ Communication Tool?
Key: mission and goals should drive the tools that you choose. Consider:
- Urgency/speed of delivery- Distribution- Demographics of audience- ‘Absorption’ time – does the audience need to be able to absorb the information, keep it, come back to it, share with others?- Do they need to be able to physically hold onto the information?
How Do You Choose the ‘Best’ Communication Tool?
Are you striving for interactive dialog?Is one-way delivery preferred?Do you desire rapid response or action?Is information changing rapidly?Always, the underlying driver is: what do you want to inspire your constituents to do once they have this information?
Real-Life Examples of Social Media Use in a Disaster
January 2012 Chicago SnowstormWhat Happened: Chicago’s first major snowstorm of the season put the city’s online snowplow tracker to the test
Social Media Tools Used: “Plow Tracker” online map, Twitter, Facebook
How Tools Were Used: Plow Tracker was used to view real-time information on plow locations, shift changes, etc. Citizens used Facebook and Twitter to engage with Mayor’s office
Results: Chicago city government had its highest ever amount of web traffic due to Plow Tracker; citizens had a better understanding of how the city’s snowplows were being used to clean their streets.
Real-Life Examples of Using Social Media in a Disaster
October 2011 Connecticut SnowstormWhat Happened: Heavy, wet snow resulted in many down trees on power lines; hundreds of thousands of residents left without power
Social Media Tools Used: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
How Tools Were Used: Electric company constantly tweeted safety tips, news. Local meteorologists alerted followers of black ice and other dangers. Public figures used Facebook to give up-to-date info to town. Citizens used Facebook and Twitter to offer help to others. Damage/down trees were captured and posted on Instagram.
Results: Updates created positive energy, citizen appreciation, calm.
Real-Life Examples of Using Social Media in a Disaster
LA Arson FiresWhat Happened: December 29, 2011 began the worst case of arson reported in the area since the 1992 LA riots
Social Media Tools Used: Facebook, Twitter
How Tools Were Used: Joint Task Force combined into one voice via the name “Arson Watch LA” – set up Facebook and Twitter, asking for help identifying suspect and posting safety tips
Results: Resulted in a lot of press coverage and helped to quell the fears of the public (especially at night, when the arsonist struck). Once he was caught, there was an outpouring of gratitude over Facebook and Twitter.
Questions?
Thank you!We’d love to work with you to support your crisis
communication outreach needs – with traditional and new media!