Social Media Resources
Webinar Recording
Special District Socialites: How to Combat Rumors and Protect Your Reputation
Planning ahead is your best defense against people spreading false rumors about your district, but that's only sometimes possible. In this webinar, we'll go over a variety of methods you can use to get the word out. Whether you need to justify a rate increase or set the facts straight on a decision your Board has made on a contentious subject, our tips can help ensure your voice is the authority, and the one your community trusts.
Presented on Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Resource Library
- Tips on writing effective social media policies (Hootsuite)
- Pros and cons, and policy tips for fire districts
- Why Most Government Social Media Policies Suck (GovGirl)
- The Unseen Consequences of Hiding Social Comments
- Don't Delete That Post! Why Government Agencies Must Archive Social Media
- Public Officials Can't Block Twitter Accounts
- Pew Research Center - social media usage statistics
- Hootsuite article on social media for government
Other Tools
- Streamline Web (ok, we didn't talk about ourselves that much ...)
- Government Social Media (paid training and policies)
- SurveyGizmo or SurveyMonkey - to learn from your peeps
- ArchiveSocial - save social media content for records requests
- Smarsh - another archiving tool for social, texts, etc
Frequently asked questions
Should my district be on social media?
Our recommendation is, yes. To avoid squatters, (community members or similar posting on social media under the guise of your district name) we recommend setting up or claiming a Facebook page for your district. Claiming the name and page now will prevent other users (non-district affiliated) from doing so before you have the chance to and sharing potentially false or harmful information. Even if you don't start posting right away, establishing the page is a great place to start. Check out the webinar above for more information!
What to do if we have a hater on social media?
Social media haters can be harmful to your reputation as a district. Check out this blog for all the information if you're dealing with a hater.
How can I make sure I meeting archiving and public comment requirements?
Typically, there is a single champion who investigates options, determines the best way forward, and brings the information to the board. There are testing resources you can use to determine how close your site is to being compliant – check out this free scanner to test your existing site for compliance basics. Or reach out if you'd like us to send you a report!
My district has a Facebook page, do we really need a website?
Facebook is easy to set up, easy to manage, and easy to share updates. While Facebook can have many benefits, relying solely on a social media platform for your online presence can create several issues for districts and their constituents.
Check out our blog with the top 3 things to consider when using Facebook as the primary online presence >
Engage your community with Streamline
Looking for more information about an easy-to-use website with built-in social sharing and one-click email campaigns? Reach out!