Tag Archives: platform

Tools for live broadcast for City of Cleveland peeps

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Thursday fun with numerous Public Information Officers from the City of Cleveland.

Quick presentation on Tools and Social Media Platforms specifically addressing live broadcast technologies and lessons learned.

Yes, I’ll promise to show them my PIO stick (aka my GOT rod)

Great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd today.

@rusnivek

 

Waving along on the new SM app ANCHOR!

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Playing around on a new social media app called Anchor!

Anchor

Basically, I think it’s a audio twitter.

Unsure on the viability of the platform yet. There might be some huge problems w/ 508 compliance and searching is going to be tough unless you get Siri to listen better and help discern specifics.

First blush? I’m not excited by it.

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I know you think I like everything. But I don’t.

Anyone else on Anchor!?

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I’ll keep you posted as I test and wave along.

@rusnivek

 

Are you violating Facebook’s Terms of Service? Safety-PIO-SM-15-004

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15-004: Are you violating Facebook’s Terms of Service?
Agency: Various public safety agencies Topic(s):         Facebook organization page
Date: 07-31-15 Platform:        Facebook

Facebook has a wide audience and many public safety agencies have taken to Facebook to promote their efforts. However, many agencies have created the wrong type of account on Facebook.

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By creating your agency’s page as a person on Facebook, you are violating Facebook’s terms of service. And if you are going to ask, Facebook administration has the right to immediately delete everything. Yikes.

By registering your agency as an ORGANIZATIONAL PAGE, you can take advantage of Facebook’s analytics. This information is incredibly valuable as you evaluate who, what, at what time, and most importantly the how and why they are searching/visiting your agency’s organizational page.

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Facebook readily asks if you know people and displays their basic account information. Facebook’s goal is to increase your networks by showcasing people that are similar to you. If you happen to see one of your neighboring public safety agencies who may have incorrectly registered a Facebook personal account, take the time to inform them on changing their account from a personal page to an organizational page.

Likes? As an organization, can I like other pages? Yes, as an organizational page, you can like other agencies too. Through Facebook likes, you can showcase to your trusted network of similar public safety agencies.

Remember, social media is about how you can amplify your networks and positively engage your constituents. We are constantly strengthening our relationships with similar groups – all in the name of safety.

Look, we all need to be good stewards of our public safety brand. All Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) need to constantly support each other and help agencies who need some social media guidance.

By double checking your agency and your partner agencies.

  1. You can be compliant with Facebook’s Terms of Service agreement.
  2. You can ascertain detailed visitor demographics free from Facebook’s organizational analytical information.

Time is valuable, so post good stuff.

@rusnivek

To download the one-pager, click on the link here: Safety-PIO-SM-15-004-PersonalOrOrganizationalOnFacebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaking search news…I mean Insta News

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Breaking news…I mean Insta News.

Instagram now has a search bar function on their web platform.

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This means you can search for accounts, hashtags, terms, etc….from the search bar on top of their web platform. Also makes it easier for those that serve (in an analyst role) to find stuff.

Similar functions currently do exist on Facebook and Twitter.

This is just another tool that we can use to better improve our Insta skillz. Yep, that’s your skillz with a Z.

Time is short, so Gram good stuff.

@rusnivek

 

No complaining-offer solutions-Safety-PIO-SM-14-008

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14-008: No complaining – offer solutions
Agency: Long Beach Fire Topic(s):         Public Perception and Solutions
Date: Fall 2014 Platform:        Twitter

Complaining or venting on social media is fairly common. However, as an official agency, public displays of affliction does not portray the best image. Long Beach Fire expressed some displeasure on Twitter when discussing the their pilot program.

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After reading this tweet, the public’s perception is that if 9-1-1 is called, no ambulances will respond. This is irresponsible and wrong. (Almost all emergency services have mutual aid agreements or memorandum of understandings in place.)

 

Positioning your agency as a fear mongerer or the Harbinger of Evil will only further distance yourself from people who would be willing to help your cause. Inform them of dangers, but more importantly, engage them publically on social.

 

If there is internal displeasure with the new staffing models, be proactive and offer transparent solutions in the tweet. Cite websites that provide industry information. Publically share statistical data that supports changes with current programs. These online tactics will help direct and educate the general public on how to be better informed on other program and possible other options yet unexplored.

 

Additionally you can rally your constituents behind better initiatives by engaging with them publically via social media. It demonstrates that your department’s community involvement is a key part of a better solution.

As an official account, Twitter’s 140-character limit is really no place to moan/groan.

A more effective tweet could have read:

LBFD resources are maxed out. #Firefighters cannot provide adequate #Paramedic service to our communities. Help us find a solution <insert link here>

By phrasing it this way:

  1. You identify that resources are…well…maxed out.
  2. You use hashtags (#Firefighters and #Paramedic) that will help increase visibility in your tweets.
  3. You stress the importance of providing dedicated service to your community.
  4. You provide a traceable/measureable link that informs and helps bring visibility to this critical situation.

Time is valuable, so tweet good stuff.

@rusnivek

***To download this as a single-page printable format, click this file:

No complaining-offer solutions-Safety-PIO-SM-14-008

Your image on social by monitoring your name Safety-PIO-SM-14-007

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14-007: Your image on social by monitoring your name
Agency: Lakewood Fire Topic(s):         Monitoring your name/branding
Date: Fall 2014 Platform:        Twitter

Monitoring your namesake has been debated for years. But with decreased staffing and less time to do more with less, many agencies are bypassing this critical piece of community relations and image/branding. A good example is when a citizen commented on Lakewood Fire’s SUV parking.

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Everyone has a camera these days. We use them not only to capture memories and precious moments, but also for documentation and shaming. I believe Todd was going for the public safety shaming factor here. I am unsure on the previous relationship between Todd and Lakewood, but there was never a response on Twitter back to Todd. Truth be told, these days, unanswered public questions are sometimes perceived as a government agency cover-ups/issues. Similar to the “No comment” – a non-response might even be worse.

How do you monitor your agency’s name or any derivatives? Try these free services: Google Alerts, search columns in TweetDeck or Hootsuite, or frequent basic vanity searches on any search engine or social media platforms.

While Todd’s use of hashtags is fairly standard social media malarkey, a swift response with a timely and direct reply to Todd’s tweet would help stop the perception that LFD is breaking the law or even setting a bad example. Remember, social media is about digital interaction.

The response could also be a teaching point so share with your audience some insight into your normal operations with a simple message on Fire Prevention activities – like hydrant testing. And using the hashtag #FirePrevention pulls up thousands of tweets about educating the public specifically in fire safety.

An effective @reply response to Todd’s tweet could have read:

@stwrs1974 During an emergency, it’s tough to find safe parking. FYI-we also check/flush hydrants twice a year too #FirePrevention 

By phrasing it this way:

  1. You immediately address the issue directly with the citizen citing the issue.
  2. You provide insight into scene safety during an emergency.
  3. You call attention to your normal operations (in this case-hydrant flushing).
  4. You use the hashtag #FirePrevention to call attention to…well…Fire Prevention.
  5. You show the general public you care about your image and want to get the story right.

Time is valuable, so tweet good stuff.

@rusnivek

***To download this as a single-page printable format, click this file:

YourImageOnSocialByMonitoringYourName-Safety-PIO-SM-14-007

 

My first week with ello #SocialMedia #SMEM

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As promised, here’s my quick initial review of ello.

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It’s only been a few days…so I figured since everyone isn’t on it, this might help show some of the difference between this new emerging social media platform compared to others.

Here’s a quick news package story from the founders of ello.co from Vermont.

Hot Social Network Ello Starts in Vermont

(Love the small town local news)

For those that think this is like Facebook? Nope. The company’s mantra of a simple ad-free platform is as plain jane as can be. Not much there. In fact,

Few initial notes I have on ello:

  • Comments are a bit weird as they are currently in a separate box which is unattached to the picture you upload.
  • The gigantic fat Noise button – I’m still unclear on what that is. I feel like it’s kinda like the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button on Google.
  • No search feature.
  • No geolocation feature
  • I think more people are talking about ello on FB, Twitter, Insta, Vine, Snapchat, etc….than people actually ON ello.
  • No hashtag or category use
  • Stop trying to force me to Say Ello…But I WILL say ello with a horrible British accent
  • No trending topics.
  • After I post an update (or Say Ello…) Why do I have to move my cursor over to the “Post–>” button?
  • No popular happenings.
  • Finding friends is hard. Not cool. They are my friends.
  • No app.
  • Feels awfully like Tumblr.
  • It’s difficult to find friends because I have to first find them individually on their own page and then follow them. I can not pick them up from a list.
  • Kinda google plus-ie eh?
  • ello email notifications are simply notifications. It does not include the comment or response. Cannot be used for “documentation”. No point in Email notifications if you don’t notify me of what the message is.
  • Description is about the same, but not as prominent as Twitter.
  • Website link is there. Hope that ello will add a “preview” of website there.
  • Location? Hometown? Where U AT?
  • Trending based topics is not searchable (at this time).
  • Not having some sort of “rules” for picture posting, the pictures that are posted are either really wide or vertical. Not much semblance in fitting into screen.
  • Links to sites do NOT preview. FB does that.
  • No info provided on the analytics of views aka shown by the eyeball. Maybe that will come after beta.
  • Archiving for security.
  • When is ello projected to be out of beta?
  • List of people or things that I could follow too? When I find others similar to me, I want to see what they follow. I am assuming that we have similar interests. Hoping a future column to be added later in ello.
  • Posted times are approximate. Public safety demands exacts so I hope they put a more accurate time of post rather than “~11h”
  • Filters are absent.
  • Multiple picture uploads are not happening. Maybe that’s too cluttered for their “clean” layout.
  • x5 invites only to a closed social media platform? C’mon-what is this?!? 2003?!?!!?
  • @WTF….I mean policies/information tab. Hilarious, but very techy.
  • Formatting of posts using ** or * is kinda programmerish. Tron aficionados will love it, but not everyone programs…so this type of lingo isn’t going to fly for very long.
  • In the “Say Ello…” box  (aka status box) I find it weird that they tell you to Say Ello….when you really are going to write a comment about something else.
  • Reposting isn’t as inviting as FB’s “Share” button – and not easy to find.
  • On ello, you do not have to use your real name. but in the WTF rules, ello has their rose colored glasses on and “The Don’t impersonate others. Be yourself, or a version of yourself. Please don’t pretend to be someone else.”
  • Mobile ello is way better than desktop ello.
  • DYK: ello.com is different than ello.co
  • Advise your SM followers to turn off autofill or muscle memory of “co” vs “com”
  • Funny fact: Someone created a Mark Zuckerberg profile on ello.com – and it wasn’t Zuck.
  • Circle profiler picture is neeto, but I think I like square.
  • The ello logo is kinda creepy w/ no eyes right?

Forgot your password? I tested their forgot password send. The emailed reminder is hilarious, but NSFW. This kind of email would (obv) not pass work computer filters.

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Testing browsers, I found a few interesting non-compliant issues.

  • Desktop CPU / Windows-7 / Internet Explorer: Picture upload and layout/formatting issues
  • Desktop CPU / Windows-7 / Chrome: Friends take up too much screen real-estate in widescreen format.
  • Desktop CPU / Windows-7 / Safari: Too wide – again with the wide screen look (Maybe I’m too used to the vertical FB?)
  • Desktop CPU / Windows-XP / IE: Picture uploading issues
  • Desktop / Apple / Safari: Spread out (widescreen awkward formatting)
  • iPhone-5 / Safari: MUCH better layouts
  • iPad-Air / Safari: Better screen formatting and (my guess) it looks like it was designed for tablet.
  • Blackberry browser….who am I kidding. I haven’t seen one in the wild for 2 years now.

Ello’s HQ sent an email last night touting their recent successes. Cool.

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I do enjoy the quick simple emails with picture.

But let’s be honest, most of the ello participants that are already on ello, were drawn to the line in the email last night…”

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The use of “thingy” has me worried…and of course excited. Thanks Matt.

Well, since this is in beta, I’m sure there will be more good things to come. But at this time, I am doubtful will hold (DWH).

Not even close to ready for use during disasters or emergencies.

Because of the low participation and beta, this platform is not useful for preparedness or response or recovery or intelligence.

Special thanks to @schnick for the invite.

Maybe more good stuff from ello.co on the horizon.

@rusnivek