Blogs – Content, Length and Time

In the spirit of updating content ready for LocalGovCamp North West this short video finds Cllr Simon Cooke explaining some of the nuts and bolts of blogging for councillors.  The footage was shot at our CllrSocMed session in Leeds earlier this year.  Simon explains that blogs are dependent on personal style and reassures councillors that it doesn’t have to be time consuming to be effective.  Simon’s style is quick and short, whilst Cllr Andrew Cooper (referred to in the video) takes a different approach.

Related posts:

• So What is a Bog?
• A Blog Won’t Do Everything
• How To Set Up A Blog
• Add a New Post and Insert an Image
• One Page Guide to Blogging with WordPress
• How to be a Lib Dem Blogger

Blending On Line with Off Line

Another recurring theme at our Cllrsocmed sessions was the whole on line / off line discussion.   At our Barnsley session Cllr Simon Cooke sets the record straight in this video and provides some tips on how councillors can integrate the two to good effect.

A Blog Won’t Do Everything

At our cllrsocmed session in Leeds we got onto discussing the merits of blogs and the on-line / off-line conundrum.  In this brief video Cllr Cooke summarises the key points and gives some helpful tips on how councillors can use blogs effectively.

Cllrs – Why Small Talk is Important

Another regular theme that cropped up at our sessions with councillors involved discussing why social media users felt the need to share “trivial information”.   Why would anyone care what they were having to eat, where they were going, what music they are listening to.  “Why do people feel the need to share this stuff?”  In essence it’s the “social” part of social media, the part that forms the basis of the connections we make.  In this clip @steventuck puts the case succinctly.

 

Cllrs and Twitter (Some Alternative Case Studies)

Cllrsocmed is all about encouraging councillors to use social media and see the benefits.  This has been the main objective of our sessions and the purpose of this site.  Nevertheless, the sessions we have run have always featured a discussion about responsible use, standards, the law and public perception.  We try to find and use positive case studies, but sometimes the “alternative” case studies that emerge demonstrate the point.  There have been two examples recently that serve as pointers for councillors in terms of what can go wrong and how the immediacy of Twitter can have repercussions.  The headlines tell the story:

• “Retard” Tweet Cllr…Could Face Hearing
• Twitter Claim Costs Cllr £53,000
• Cllr Sorry for Donkey Botherer Jibe

For every story like these it’s important to remember that councillors up and down the country are using Twitter to great effect as part of their many roles and are not getting positive headlines for it, which is a shame.  If proof is needed go check out TweetyHall.  Related posts include:

• Top Ten Twitter Tips
• One Page Guide to Twitter
• Standards for England Guide
• Some Tips on Twitter
• Angry, Drunk (er, no)
• Case Work Keeps Coming Through Thanks to Twitter

So what is a blog? (Steve Tuck explains in two minutes)

As part of the #cllrsocmed plain language and myth busting theme @steventuck explains a blog in two minutes.  This video clip was pulled together at our session in Barnsley.

Related posts:

– How to set up a blog

– Add a new post and insert an image

– Tips for councillors blogging and using Facebook

– Connected Councillors

– Blogging Quick Guide

– 10 Reasons Why Cllrs Should Use Social Media

– 1 Page Guide to Blogging with WordPress

The Internet and Social Media Explained (in 2 minutes)

I’ve blogged previously about the lack of structure to our cllrsocmed sessions – it really is a case of go with the flow and see where councillors take the discussion in order to get the most out of it.  That said every session needed some brief background that explained this whole social media thing in the context of the internet.  @steventuck is great at making the complex totally straightforward – check out this video clip of him in action at our session in Barnsley.

Cllr Mike Jordan Talks Cllrsocmed

When we did our very first cllrsocmed session in York Cllr Mike Jordan from Selby was there.  He was already a user of social media.  It was great to catch up with him again in Leeds where he played an active part in sharing his social media journey.  Follow him on Twitter  (@gtjordan) and view his blog.  He took the time to share some of his experiences and views in this video clip.

Cllr Tim Cheetham Talks Cllrsocmed

Between providing expert help and advice at our session in Scarborough, Cllr Cheetham took time to do this short video clip.  Follow Cllr Cheetham on Twitter (@cllrtim) or view his blog.

Cllrs – Why Bother?

As part of the regional sessions we spent a lot of time discussing with councillors why they should bother with all this social media stuff.  The barriers ranged from not enough time to reputational and standards risk, from techno fear to generating even more work for a busy councillor. Quite often there seemed to be more reasons to avoid social media than positively pursue it.

Well, for all you councillors considering taking the plunge, have a look at the Top Ten Reasons for Cllrs to Use Social Media produced by those lovely folk at Local Government Leadership.  Their 21st Century Councillors site is a brilliant space for councillors (and officers who support them) whatever point they are on on their socmed journey.