Look professional & engage with your community online James White InTouch with Communities
Dec 19, 2015
Look professional & engage with your community online
James WhiteInTouch with Communities
About InTouch with Communities
• Providing councils with– Professional & personalised websites– Tools for community engagement– E-Newsletters– E-Forms– E-Forums– E-Polls– E-Alerts– Help with website updates– System training– Website hosting– Friendly & knowledgeable support
• All done simply, cost effectively and with a smile!
Common things we hear! We have answers to these
• I already have a website• I don’t have time to update it• My local community is too old for the internet• We don’t have any money in the budget• I’m not very good with computers• No one wants to look at our website• No one is interested in our communications• Our website looks old and out of date• We have a local councillor doing something themselves
“Local Councils are vital to re-invigorating local democracy. The Quality Parish and Town Council Scheme has played an important role in improving the
quality of management and administration of parish and town councils. The Government welcomes the revision of the Scheme and encourages local
councils to consider seeking accreditation”
Hazel Blears - 2008
In order to achieve Quality Status, parish and town councils must demonstrate that they have reached the standard required by passing several tests. These are:
•Electoral Mandate, Qualifications of the clerk, Council meetings
•Communication and Community Engagement •Annual Report, Accounts ,Code of Conduct
•Promoting local democracy and citizenship ,Terms and conditions , Training
The Importance of Communication
“Communications and Community Engagement test (Mandatory): Councils will be required to have a website which provides a list of council members and
officers, details of how they can be contacted and which also provides access to the annual report.
Councils will also be required to have an email address that is publicly available.
Councils now have the option of either producing their own newsletter or contributing to a community newsletter. The information that is required to be included in the
newsletter has not changed nor has the requirement that the newsletter is made readily available at public sites.
Communications and Community Engagement test (Discretionary) - Two new options have been added;
A Community Engagement strategy has been formulated; and Councils provide a regular weblog on their website about council activity or encourage
the community to talk to them through an online forum or through surveys on the website
Engagement = Strong use of Technology
How can technology make a difference?
• Raise the quality of life through engagement• Engage with communities to stimulate discussion• Provide simple ways to communicate• Provide cost effective ways to communicate• Enable the sharing of ideas and thoughts• Reach out to different types of users within your community• Ask questions and seek answers!
Communication throughout the generations
Each important
Each have a role
Trend is clear
however
16-40
Electronic
Generation
40-75
Offline but
moving to
online
Can you afford to not engage
large proportions of your local
community?
Different technologies – Some popular ones
Second Life
A Virtual World
15 Million Registered Users
Social networking
200 Million Registered Users
Social networking and
microblogging
Approx 12 Million Users
YouTube
Publicise Videos online/
create TV channels
350Million unique visitors
Flickr
Photo sharing
Nearly 4 billion images stored
Skype
Voice over the internet
450 million users worldwide
Did you know?
• The elderly are the fastest growing population group• Many elderly live alone and mobility can sometimes be difficult. The internet (and e-
engagement) makes communication far easier. • One quarter of all UK internet users are over 50, and over-50's account for 30% of the
total UK time spent online. • Approximately 16% of over 65's use the web, and these spend an average of 42
hours online every month, 50% longer than the UK average.• The most popular internet activity among older people is ‘communication’ (using
email, instant messaging and chat rooms for example); 63% of over-65s say they communicate online, compared to 76% of all adults.
• The elderly are just as likely to engage in internet transactions (42%), news (22%) and contributing comments to someone else’s weblog (21%) as any other population group in the UK.
Source - Ofcom Report - The Communications Market 2007/2008
Growing use of the Internet in the over 50’s
Can you afford to not
engage
large proportions of
your local community?
• High speed broadbandaccounts have increased
400% within the last fiveyears to around 12bnand are expected to increasefurther to 20bn in 2011.(sources: UK Online, Oftel, Ofcom)
The growth in the use of the Internet will continue to grow
Why websites & e-newsletters are useful
• Quick, easy and cheap way to contact many – Websites are low cost and social networking sites are free
– Compare the price of 1,000 letters to 1,000 emails?
• Target only those you know are interested = Much higher response rate
• Contact your audience through a range of mediums – Across the Generations:
– video, audio, text, images. What will work?
• 76% of all adults [and 67% of those aged 65+] who use the internet are interested in finding out about local services including council, hospital and leisure facilities etc – Source Ofcom
Modern Day Life = Engage on my terms!
You think that
I have time to regularly
access your website
and community pages
without notifications!!!
How to take Advantage
1. Discuss your e-Strategy with members2. Review what you have now?
1. How much interaction do you have?2. Be honest with yourself – Your population will be honest with you
3. Ask your local population to get involved1. What can it offer them?2. Local businesses? 3. Local groups/schools/clubs?
4. Define a plan to go forward with agreed owners5. Utilise what’s free but invest in wider community portals6. Free = Value??7. Ensure the technology is sound – Your website is unavailable =
community frustration
Always Remember -Its not just the website!
What do you want to be seen as?
or
How can we help?
Turn this Into this
Attractive Websites
Attractive ‘measureable’ emails
How we can help you
1. If you don’t have a website we can help you set one up
2. If you have a website but think it looks old and out of date we can help
3. If you have a website and are happy then great but have you considered e-Newsletters?
4. If you have a professional looking website, do e-Newsletters, regularly engage with your community then FANTASTIC! We may not be able to help but feel sure your community are likely to be happy!
In Summary
• Communication methods have continually evolved• Change is essential in the development of communities• Over 43 Million people access the Internet in the UK currently!• Over 16 Million people are connected to broadband in the UK
currently! • 81% of people start a search for something through the Internet• 68% of people over the age of 55 have a broadband connection and
they spend over 8 hours per week online
Source - European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA
The importance of a strong e-Strategy has never
been more important than now!
Some of the councils that haveput their Trust in us
• Puriton Parish Council (L)• Bleadon Parish Council (L)• Hutton Parish Council (L)• Calne Town Council (L)• Southwater Parish Council (L)• South Kirby & Moorthorpe TC (L)• East Huntspill Parish Council (ID)• Launceston Town Council (L)• Liskeard Town Council (L)• Marlow Town Council (L)• Sutton Parish Council (ID)
We would love the
opportunity to work with you and your
council/s !
What others think to our work
Bruce Poole, Parish Clerk – Puriton & Bleadon Parish Councils
The Parish Council is delighted with the new website and e-Newsletter and have already placed on record our thanks to CRM. They have met all of the promises that they made and they have understood our needs as a Parish Council to deliver something
attractive and informative but which is cost effective’
Katherine Joy – Deputy Clerk Marlow Town Council
Marlow Town Council are thrilled with our new web and e-Communication system. The website is very professional and the
tools to maintain the site are very easy to use. The support from the team at InTouch with Communities has been excellent and we would recommend the system and the company to any other council that is
looking to build a stronger online presence
Finally....
For the opportunity to present
and highlight e-Engagement
Review what you have & let us quote you
for something new!
Our DesignsSimple tools to manage contents
e-Newslettersfresh and informative
Our DesignsFresh and Easy to navigate
Our Designs 1 Click Menu’s
Our DesignsProviding latest information and news
Our DesignsSimple tools to manage contents
Our CMSWell used and liked
• Accessible from anywhere
• Multiple user logins
• Secure
• User help provided
• Google friendly
• One login for – Menu updates
– Page updates
– Create e-Newsletters
– Send e-Alerts
– Forum management
• Continually enhanced by us
• Built on industry standard technology
Our CMSEasy navigation and editing
e-Newslettersfresh and informative