I’m teaching social media to a group of workers and volunteers from the Trust for Developing Communities in Hangleton [well, it's Knoll actually] today. I’ve never been a huge fan of teaching Facebook – too much chopping and changing and features that disappear overnight – but there’s no denying it’s pretty much the only show in town for small community groups that want an online presence. It may not be the easiest or the most elegant or the most functional option but it’s where the people are and whatever else you forget about community development you always know that you have to start where the people are.
The questions I’m told are likely to come up include:
- Campaigning Around a community priority
- Fundraising For a community cause
- Advertising Community events, community group meetings, to get new members
- Consulting eg about play equipment in a park
- Gathering views and seeing what people are talking about/ identifying hot topics.
- Analysing who is on Facebook, who has posted. their interests – for campaigns, targeted publicity etc
- Voting/ direct democracy eg surveymonkey - advertised on Facebook
I have a feeling that Facebook will be at the heart of all these questions – to host the content and form a focus for community interaction. SO I’ve dusted off a few notes and created a few tips as a basis for the session. I hope it can help the workers and volunteers help others who want to harness the power of the web in their community.
- Create a page
- Use events to grow your Likes
- Be active – online and offline
- Use the timeline
- Pictures, pictures and pictures
The questions I’m told are likely to come up include:
- Campaigning Around a community priority
- Fundraising For a community cause
- Advertising Community events, community group meetings, to get new members
- Consulting eg about play equipment in a park
- Gathering views and seeing what people are talking about/ identifying hot topics.
- Analysing who is on Facebook, who has posted. their interests – for campaigns, targeted publicity etc
- Voting/ direct democracy eg surveymonkey - advertised on Facebook
Download the full version of 5 Facebook tips for small community groups
Finally, anyone looking for inspiration could check out the Bevendean Community Pub on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheBevy
