social media for water utilities navigating the crossroads of social media

Social Media for Water Utilities

Navigating the Crossroads of

Social Media

What is social media?

Social media is to communication as smart metering is to water usage

Both allow for rapid and improved flow of information

Social Media for Water Utilities

Just another way of communicating with people

Social Media for Water Utilities

Social Media Tools

Social Media for Water Utilities

Agen

cy /

Com

pany

Page

Indi

vidu

alTi

mel

ine

Who, where, how, when, and what?

1.19 billion monthly active users (September 30, 2013)

Approx. 80% of daily active users are outside the U.S. & Canada.751 Million access it with 7,000 different mobile devices

23% check their account more than 5X a dayFace

book

Social Media for Water Utilities

Twitt

er

Who, where, how, when, and what?

228 million monthly active users

Fastest growing demographic is 55-64 year olds

68% of users access Twitter from mobile devices

On average over 400 million tweets are sent each day

Twitt

erSocial Media for Water Utilities

Goo

gle

+

Goo

gle

+

Who, where, how, when, and what?

Over 540 million active users (October 2013)

Over 67% of users are male

The +1 button is hit more than 5 billion times a day

Social Media for Water Utilities

YouT

ube

YouT

ube

Who, where, how, when, and what?

Over 6 billion hours of video a month are watched on YouTube

More than a million creators from over 30 countries

25% of watch time is from a mobile device

Social Media for Water Utilities

Additional tools

Professional Network with over 259 million users

flickr Photosharing site with over 87 million users & 8 billion photos

Blogging platform running 69 million sites in the world or 19% of all websites

Social Media for Water Utilities

So how do we make this work for us?

Social Media for Water Utilities

First we consider a

few key points

WebsiteYour website is an anchor

Social Media for Water Utilities

It’s good to have a plan

All tools work together

Keys to good communication

Social Media for Water Utilities

Follow a process

• Create a committee• Review organization’s mission• Determine messages• Determine audience• Choose the right tools/platforms• Determine timing• Explore examples from other

agencies• Develop & Summarize Plan• Launch• Review

Social Media for Water Utilities

Where to get “good ideas”

Social Media for Water Utilities

Thames WaterPortland Water Bureau

EPAAWWA/ISAWWA

Small Water SupplyWorld Water Day

Social Media for Water Utilities

Thames Water #tweetaleak

Twitter program

Message: Water Leaks

Social Media for Water UtilitiesMessage: Water Billing

To find examples of how other agencies handle water billing issues on

Facebook type the following into Google:

site:facebook.com "water billing"

Social Media for Water Utilities

Message: Construction Information

Portland Water Bureau Water Blog

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/water/39678

Social Media for Water Utilities

Message: Public Education

Thames WaterYouTube Channel

Social Media for Water Utilities

Message: Emergencies

To find examples of how other agencies handle water emergencies on

Twitter type your specific search phrase into Google

like this:

site:twitter.com “boil order"

Social Media for Water UtilitiesMessage: Industry Information

Minnesota AWWAGoogle+ Page

Social Media for Water Utilities

Resource Sites are Great for Information!

Illinois Section AWWA

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Illinois-Section-AWWA/82177840285

Social Media for Water Utilities

Resource Sites are Great for Content!

US EPA offers widgets for your

website

http://www.epa.gov/widgets/

Social Media for Water Utilities

Resource Sites are Great for Content!

Small Water Supply

http://smallwatersupply.org

also onFacebook/Twitter/YouTube

Social Media for Water Utilities

Resource Sites are Great for Content!

United Nations sponsors

World Water Dayeach year

http://www.unwater.org/

Social Media for Water Utilities

Resource Sites are Great for Content!

Call 811 sponsorsSafe Digging

Month

http://www.call811.com/campaign-materials/safe-digging-month.aspx

Thank You! Questions?Pam Broviak, PE

Public Works Grouppwg@publicworksgroup.com

Website/blog: http://www.publicworksgroup.com/blogTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/pbroviakLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pbroviakSlides at: http://www.slideshare.net/publicworksgroup

Social Media for Water Utilities

Social Media 101 Resources: http://www.pwmag.com/blogs/post.aspx?BlogId=theworks Communications Workbook Word Document: http://publicworksgroup.com/ebooks/SocialMediaWorkbookPWG.docx