The purpose of this wiki is building some concise guidance on how councils and councillors can use social media to improve services and connect with citizens. It will be published in short hard-copy format and a more expansive and linked-up web resource. This is in draft - so we're looking for your feedback, input, examples and advice - also question whether a hard copy version is appropriate given this is a community resource that people can (continually) contribute to - will it ever be finished? No harm if not but need to manage expectations and be clear about final/latest versions.

This was originally drafted by Ingrid Koehler of the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), but we very much want to make this a collaborative resource. Materials are based on the Councillors connected: social media online conference (just published a draft conference summary here; sign-in required), the recent LocalGovCamp session on councillors and social media.

And, of course, we’ve drawn on a host of wonderful resources that are already out there – such as the recently published Social by Social, LGIU’s recent discussion paper, Civic Surf’s blogging resources and the wisdom of the social media localgov crowd.

To access each section of this guidance check out the outline page which is a basically a table of contents with a brief word of explanation. Or go directly to each section:

• What is social media?
• Conversations with communities (including ways social media can be used in local government)
• Getting started in social media
• A few social media tools
• Campaigning and social media
• Building engagement (includes 10 Local Government Social Media Myths)
• A word of warning
• Sources of support

Who can edit these pages?

Anyone who registers with this site can edit these pages. I'm not trying to push this wiki platform, I just want to make sure there's some accountability for edits.

Don't want to register? Anyone can comment - even anonymously - though if you've got a good suggestion or example I hope you'll say who you are so we can give you credit or track back for more info.

Alternatively, you can email Ingrid.Koehler@idea.gov.uk to make comments or suggestions.

Ingrid Koehler
17 July 2009