Happy New Year! Many of us make New Year’s resolutions about our health, finances, or habits. What are your goals for 2019? What about making a resolution to improve the way your utility or city communicates with the public? Here are three resolutions to help you build on your current communications success.
1. Audit your website.
Many people go online first to search for information. Do you have broken links or outdated contact information posted? Fix them! You would be surprised how many edits you’ll find when you do a page by page audit of your own website. Resolve to improve your customers’ online experience by providing the most up-to-date info possible.
2. Create a content calendar.
It sounds daunting, but all you really need is a calendar. Start by looking at the first quarter of the year. What is on the agenda? Are there city events, construction projects planned, or holidays that will be observed? Seasonal reminders such as parking restrictions for snow removal come up every year. Put it on your content calendar so you remember to post the reminder on the website and social media. Check out Andrea Boe’s suggestions for creating a content calendar to begin the process.
3. Post more.
Resolve to post more frequently on social media in 2019. I recommend at least one post per week. (And be sure to check your account daily to respond to inquiries.) In addition to the ideas you’ve already outlined on your content calendar, here are some examples of additional information the public may be interested to see in their newsfeeds:
- Construction or infrastructure upgrades that will impact traffic, utility services, or cause billing changes. Include a photo of the construction site.
- Holiday schedules for city offices and garbage/recycling routes.
- Weather or natural disaster alerts that impact the city or utility services.
- Election information, including dates and times, polling sites, and measures or races that will appear on the ballot. (Remember the info must be strictly for informational purposes, not to persuade voters how to vote.)
And remember, the content doesn’t always have to be created by you. If the local media or a member of the community shares positive news about the city or utility, share it on your own channels!
These resolutions are not difficult, however they do require a time investment. For the website review and content calendar, a couple hours at the beginning of the year will ultimately save time throughout the rest of the year. If you have questions about implementing any of these resolutions, contact me at [email protected].
Happy New Year!!!