By Joe Bloom, Product Manager
Online communities are everywhere. LinkedIn and Facebook groups were just the beginning. Now, you can find an online group for just about anything. What can I do for insomnia? Where do I take my kids this weekend? How do I change the brakes in my 1981 DeLorean? There are communities for industry professionals, hobbyists, brands, products, and the list goes on and on.
But what about government?
The public sector’s objective is to serve the needs of the public, and citizens expect to be able to interact with government organizations in the same manner as those of the private sector, i.e., online. Government organizations are responding to this shift. The Digital Government Strategy is a perfect example of the trend for government and public sector organizations to embrace new technologies and adapt to an increasingly digital world. The buzzwords are out there as a challenge. Open. Transparent. Lean. Cloud-based. Collaborative.
But having software in place to host these communities is only one part of the equation. Here are 4 tips to ensure that you can grow and sustain your online community.
1. Be Mission Focused. Every community has its niche, and you need yours. Having a clear mission gives your audience a reason to want to participate.
2. Have A Clear Call to Action. Okay, you got someone to join your community. Now what? Do they know what to do? Have you presented them with a welcome message letting them know how they can impact your community? Is the community site designed in a way that makes it easy for them to find things and participate? If not, your new member will be an old member soon.
Be sure to include this information in the email that welcomes a new member. By giving them the tools they need up front, you’ll see more initial engagement and adoption. Help them help you.
3. Celebrate Your Successes. Your community is plugging away, moving forward down the tracks. You have a mission. You have your goals tied to that mission. So, what are you accomplishing? Have you told anyone about what you’ve done? If not, please do so. Celebrate your successes – even the small ones. Let your community know that they helped you do something, no matter how small it may seem.
Did you have a survey that contributed to the direction of a project? Did you have a big turnout at an event? Let your community know. They will feel like their actions are making a difference, and this will encourage them to continue participating. If they are not participating, you might just find that the positive vibes motivate them to start.
4. Be Steady. Remember to stick with it. Maintaining a community means making it part of your regular process and incorporating it into your culture. It should become part of your habit. If you neglect the group, it starts to weaken and members may drop off. Stay disciplined and keep it going.
Still looking for a tool to help our organization create and maintain online communities? That’s where GovDelivery’s Collaborative Community Management (CCM) comes into play. In a world where public engagement initiatives abound, CCM brings a secure, cloud-based solution to government agencies. More secure than a social network; more open than an intranet. CCM can help you bring together the audience you need in a collaborative environment to drive meaningful engagement. Members may participate in email-integrated discussion forums, share information, take surveys, view upcoming events, and more.
To learn more, check out our free webinar on developing and maintaining secure collaborative communities.