An Expert Guide to Social Media Strategies for Local Government Agencies
Whether you are a part of a state, county, or municipal government agency, engaging with the public is an important role. But sometimes, government officials question whether using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be beneficial or harmful as a communication tool. Why? Because all social media communications are considered to be electronic records. As a public agency, your social presence, including tweets, posts, direct messages, and reshares must be made available for public record requests. Because of this, it’s critical to formulate a clear social media strategy that supports your cause, addresses concerns and questions, and protects your agency’s reputation.
Whether your social media pages haven’t had a live post in months or you’re ready to revamp your current local government marketing strategy, the team at 9-ONE-1 is here to help. Below you will find a few ways your agency can utilize the power of social media.
Local Government Social Media Strategies
Community engagement is vital for public satisfaction, awareness, and safety. In reality, 7 in 10 US adults say they visit Facebook at least once a day! With numbers that high, it’s a safe assumption that most of your community is active online. As a local government agency, you should have accounts on all major social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and even YouTube. Your local governmental social media strategy should include several plans, processes, and technologies to support your efforts, including:
- Developing an internal social media policy outlining the rules of interaction and how to monitor exchanges.
- Creating an impactful content plan that identifies your target audience, tailors content to each channel, and successfully manages your agency’s reputation.
- Utilizing technologies to help automate your processes, set goals, measure performance, and increase engagement.
- Preserving social media content for public records in the event of malicious commenting or legal action.
Once these plans and processes are established, your agency can leverage these tactics to better engage with your community and enjoy many benefits, including:
Recruit Workers and Volunteers
Government agencies across the country are dealing with a hiring shortage, and recruitment has never been more challenging. When your agency harnesses the power of social media, you can spread the word about your recruitment efforts and find and hire potential candidates.
Promote Local Events
Notable local events, like a community day or a township committee meeting, encourage collaboration, networking, and a chance for constituents to stay in the know. Share these events through your social media channels to promote a sense of unity throughout your neighborhood.
Communicate Better with Constituents
Your social media channels act as a news outlet and resource for your community. Make regular updates to let members know about important things like upcoming events, emergency announcements, and other happenings in your town. Through comments and direct messages, your community can speak directly with you, and your residents can feel like their voices are heard.
Why Choose 9-ONE-1 for Your Local Government Marketing Needs?
While you’re busy improving lives and protecting the community, 9-ONE-1 Marketing, a social media company for local government agencies, is here to create a dynamic online presence to take your organization to the next level. When you partner with us, you can trust us to create an effective strategy that can help you connect with your neighborhood through timely updates, contributory events, and messaging that matches your brand. If you’re ready to create engaging and effective social media content related to your governmental organization, contact our experts today at (484) 673-0385.