I have not yet actually read the article that the Yellowknifer has written about the City of Yellowknife having a study done about whether they should get into social media or not. I don’t even know if that’s actually what it’s about. I’m assuming this study says something like they should look into finally getting on Facebook and creating the City an official Page. I could be wrong though.
I am very thrilled to hear this news, if that is the case, it is a very positive thing. I feel the City of Yellowknife needs to do more two-way conversations with its residence, other than just public meetings. Facebook is now one of the best ways to connect with people.
That being said we have to remember that social media can be a double-edged sword for those who are prepared. As great as it is to reach out to the community; to get their feedback and keep them informed, there’ll also be complainers. I know this first hand having spoken to some of the people taking care of the City of Fort St. John’s page. A lot of residents use it as an outlet to complain. That is why I run around saying a good strategy–social media strategy–is an absolute must.
But creating this strategy is not just a walk in the park. Ask any person who actually works as a social media marketer how difficult it is; it has to be taken seriously. I don’t say this because I am a person who helps organizations and businesses create these strategies, but I say this as someone who wants to see these organizations and businesses succeed.
Someone who’s familiar with this type of work should be used to help create one of these documents. Goals, weaknesses, benefits, best practices and so on should all be pointed out in one of these documents. It should not only outline what wants to be achieved, but also protect whoever is creating the document for everyone’s sake.
I’m not sure how far along the City of Yellowknife is in getting on Facebook, but I look forward to seeing them there. I’m also curious to know what other people think. What do you want to see from them if they did join Facebook?
I suspect that they’re not ready to be on Facebook. People in Yellowknife generally aren’t. That’s “generally”: some are doing really well. But being on Facebook isn’t just about putting links in news feeds: it means being accessible to people who want to post complaints on your wall. If the city can handle that, I applaud them.