Online training

Social media for elected members

When Barack Obama won in 2008 he used 15 different social channels to help him get the edge and herald a new era in politics.

Today, social media is a fundamental part of being an elected member both in office and in campaign mode.

When I was in local government, I set-up one of the first hundred government Twitter accounts anywhere in the world.

When I was with comms2point0, I wrote the first social media guidelines for elected members for elected members in England as well as the guidelines for elected members in Scotland through the Improvement Service.

I’ve used my experience in social media and in training elected members to create a 90-minute online session to give candidates and councillors the edge.

For candidatyes and elected members, the session will educate, inform and take the fear out of what is increasingly an essential channel. You’ll learn how to listen, spot case work and take the temperature. You’ll learn how to tell people what you are doing. You’ll also have some proven strategies to hand comment, criticism and abuse.

As this download shows, there is more to using social media than just posting a press release.

The ground we’ll cover

The basics: what is social media? What the basic principles are.

What the social media platforms in the UK are. What the leading channels are and where audiences are.

How connected people are. We’ll look at digital connectivity between urban and rural based on Ofcom data.

The key role Facebook groups play. Two thirds of all Facebook users are members of groups./ We’ll look at how to spot the good, the bad and how to talk to people.

The role of Twitter. Much beloved by some we’ll look at where this fits into the wider landscape.

Social media in a campaign. We’ll look at where social media fits into a campaign which has telephone, email, leaflets and doorstepping.

We’ll look at how to create content that’s going to work on Facebook and Twitter. We’ll look at what works and what doesn’t.

We’ll look at how to avoid legal and standards board issues. How to stay on the right side of the law.

We’ll look at strategies for trolls and abuse. We’ll share some tips on how and when to engage and what to do if you’re trolled.

To book or for more information

I can deliver over Zoom or over your Teams or whatever works.

For more information and to have a chat drop me a line.

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