Last week I had the opportunity to kick off a social media workshop as a part of the 2012 Confluence Conference. We started the workshop with this video. It’s a classic.
I thought before all my numbers got lost in the digital wind I would anchor them into this one infographic. I am sure these numbers will be wrong in a few months.
Here are three things I learned from others participants at the workshop.
- Still Unlimited Potential of the Youtube and Water Nexus. Matthew Brady, Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, explained how they use video and YouTube. They have produced an excellant series of educational videos. Here is my favorite video on how effluent helped restore the Great Swamp in South Carolina.
- Twitter and Water Utilities Can Mix. I met Alan Heymann, DC Water, on a media panel at the AWWA annual conference last year in Washington D.C. I was and continue to be impressed with DC Water’s use of social media, especially twitter. If your customers are already talking about you online, shouldn’t you join the conversation?
- A Social Media Ninja must Focus. The wonderful Anna Nodtvedt, Water Missions International, explained how they have revamped their media strategy with tangible goals and focus on content. Water Missions has an incredible story to share. You will hear more about Water Missions in the future.
Honestly, I was surprised about how many folks were interested in learning more with Social Media within the water community. Who knows what the media landscape will look like in a few more years?
Great post. I’m not familiar with the Confluence Conference, that looks interesting. Last year I gave a workshop at WEFTEC on how water utilities can use social media. It wasn’t well attended, which was disappointing, but I suspect that had less to do with the topic and more to do with cost and timing issues. Love that video from BJWSA…it’s fantastic.
Thanks for the comment. I think local and regional water conferences, like Confluence, are benefiting as it gets harder to go to some of these national conferences.