Andrew Coulson: 10 FREE online tools for community engagement

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When Becky asked me to write a guest blog on my top 10 favourite free online tools for community engagement I was pretty chuffed (British slang for pleased). Not only did it mean I was getting some recognition for my work in Community Engagement in Australia but I was now also being recognised for my use of the online, something I had only really started using to its full extent for work since arriving on these fair shores a year and half ago. 

I gladly replied to Becky stating no problem, piece of cake, easy, will have it to you by the end of the month and that’s where the chuffediness ended. I sat down and started to think about what online tools I used and was quickly to list 9 and then I got stuck… there must be a tenth I use, or at least I’m signed up too that I’m thinking of using but maybe one I don’t understand yet but can add to the list to make me look clever… think… think… and then, well see the list below and see what you think.

Now the list below is a list of 10 online tools that I either use or I’m attempting to use in my role as a Community Engagement Officer in Local Government. A list that shows how they could be used, maybe even a little example and to the most extent are FREE. However I have stepped back from the idea of listing them as favourites or in any particular order as in most cases with all community engagement tools some work better than others depending on the project, the objectives and the audience you are engaging. So without further ado here’s my list of 10 FREE (in basic form) online tools for community engagement (in no particular order of favourites or helpfulness, except maybe the last one, the 10^th, urgh)

1. Twitter

Ahh Twitter, my friend, my foe, my constant distraction. Twitter at 7 years old is still young as a form of communication but has millions of people hooked.

The popularity and power of the social media platform was shown only yesterday (24/04/2013) when a bogus Associated Press (AP) Tweet claimed that the Whitehouse had been bombed and led to $200 billion US dollars being wiped of the stock market. Imagine managing to harness that power for community engagement.

I mean, yes, in local government we don’t have the kind of followers say AP have but even with say an audience of 1000, using Twitter to ‘inform’ about a consultation, signpost to an important survey or feedback to the community about a council meeting, information is literally leaving the council and a split second later arriving in the homes of many. If only a third of those 1000 choose to act through RTs, direct action or response then you have reached more people in a split second than you potential will with a whole day street talk. Think about it, 140 characters in a few seconds to put out a call to action or stood on a street corner in the rain trying to invite people to the community centre to talk about a new development.

2. Facebook 

Ahh Facebook, my friend, my foe, my… well no. Personally I’m growing weary of Facebook but for work it is still a King amongst social media platforms.

Where else can you easily post a call to action, a linked story, a photo depicting the story and all the contact or engagement details to get involved whilst being able to test the mood of people on the post with ‘likes’ and shares whilst gathering responses through easy to track comments and all for free.

Facebook is interesting as it still seems to be a platform that both scares and intimidates local government yet has the potential to do so much for them. I have read about councils that don’t have Facebook pages for fear of the complaints and requests for service they will get via the platform and then not being able to deal with them. I’ve heard of a council that puts disclaimers on their Facebook posts stating they won’t except comments made about a consultation that they have just promoted on the platform via that platform. And I have heard of a council that won’t use Facebook as a Council for fear being drawn in to a conversation about council business they can’t control.

Heads up councils even without you being on Facebook all those things are happening. By being on Facebook not only can you get amongst what is being said and be an important part of any conversation you can actually start important ones. Personally I have used works Facebook page to ‘inform’, to ‘consult’ and to some extents ‘involve’ our community. We have certainly used it to feedback and by being there we have been able to understand issues in our community sometimes before they even start to become a problem.

Be there, be personal i.e. sign off a comment from a staff member not just a logo, and join in with what your community are talking about.

3. Pinterest

Relatively still new, Pinterest is basically like an online scrap book where you can pin pictures and comments.

For community engagement visual is important and I have used Pinterest to help our community collect memories about an old playground and get people reminiscing. For us as a council it helps us see that a, the playground is still loved b, which parts are the most popular and c, who is using it. Ideal when at some point we will be renewing the playground and need to understand the community’s feeling about it before consulting.

Pinterest can also be used to ‘inform’ through visuals and if you’re brave has the ability to let others add pictures to your boards so could be used to ‘involve’ the community around a subject such as planning. One bonus which most haven’t realised is the ability to embed a URL in the picture allowing you to direct traffic straight to your ‘Have your say’ or other significant council webpage.

4. YouTube

Seriously easy one. Make a video informing the community, upload to your YouTube channel and share with the community. Once you get the hang of it there is potential to involve the community too so instead of formal written submissions on a consultation maybe you’d think about video comments?

5. Survey Monkey

Does what it says on the tin. Survey tool that allows you to ask 10 questions free in the basic mode and has some analysis available too. If you want to ask more and analyse more you pay more. What I like about survey monkey is that even with 10 questions you get to be creative and the unique URL allows you to embed in a message on Twitter or send via email.

6. Instagram

A photo app for smart phones that allows you to take and edit photos instantly, share with friends and if using a hashtag (#) allows others to follow. For council it’s a way to again ‘inform’ and for community engagement this can mean instant pictorial feedback from the community.

Imagine if you will a 21 day consultation asking people to identify where in the council area pram/kerb ramps are needed, we don’t accept just comments but pictures to. They can do so via Instagram, use #Councilramps or your Instagram handle to share pictures. Get your phone, take a photo, edit, type message, add location, send using #Councilramps. ‘Involve’ is possible here.

7. Vine

As above really except with a quick 6 second video. The beauty with vine is that even with 6 seconds you can actually pause and shoot as much as you want allowing small detail to be captured. Definitely good for ‘inform’.

8. LinkedIn

I had to think about whether to include this one as a tool for community engagement but when you think about it, it is. I use LinkedIn a lot to discuss community engagement with my peers and I network so develop my skills in the field but I have also read about a project where an organisation engaged its community through LinkedIn by having a group on there. A majority of their stakeholders used LinkedIn and already had profiles so why not use the space to engage with them. We use as a discussion place as a peer group, they used as a discussion place as a community.

9. Padlet 

Now this a newbie and one I’m currently exploring but think has real potential. Originally called Wallwisher (a name that suited it better) it’s less than 4 months old. Basically an online corkboard it has lots of functionality from open public boards to ones you can customise, lock, invite certain people and moderate if necessary. The fact you can post documents, video, pictures and comments allows a lot of different uses and why I think we will see a lot more from this great little tool.

Finally we get to the Tenth…

10. Google+ 

Urm yes, well, apparently, one day…

Andrew Coulson

Community Engagement Officer at the City of Salisbury

Andrew Coulson is currently the Community Engagement Officer at the City of Salisbury and has previously worked in Housing, Adult Care and local government in the UK.