Choose A or B or BOTH for Maximum Value and Learning

Social Media 101: How To Successfully Leverage New Media Tools In Your Organization And Achieve Organizational Buy-In

In this in-depth workshop, you will learn about emerging new communication strategies and technologies and explore ways to use them to better connect with your stakeholders. You will gain an overview of the latest tools in the social media and social networking sphere, hear specific government case studies, and explore and discuss ways these tactics can be implemented in your agency.

• Use blogs to communicate with the public
• Embrace social networking sites to foster deeper levels of communication
• Leverage networked media tools and wikis to spread up-to-date information
• Incorporate text messaging into your communication strategies

A significant portion of the workshop will also focus on how to achieve internal buy-in from superiors and colleagues for implementation of these ideas. We will also spend time discussing what quantifies as success in achieving these initiatives.

At the end of this workshop, you will leave with many new ideas, tools and techniques to implement these strategies into your organization.

WORKSHOP LEADERS: Mike Panetta is currently the Vice President for Public Affairs and Emerging Media at Grassroots Enterprise where he manages a number of the firm’s non-profit, trade association, and political clients and leads efforts to embrace new technology for political and advocacy purposes.

Kevin McCann, Executive Vice President of Client Services at Grassroots Enterprise has built and launched online campaigns for Fortune 100 corporations, political campaigns, national non-profit groups and the Canadian and U.S. governments.

12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch On Your Own

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
AFTERNOON PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP B

Blogging 101: A Step-By-Step Process To Starting A Blog And Understanding How It Can Help Your Organization Achieve Its Mission

Blogs are probably the most popular social media tool – according to Technorati, there are more than 112 million blogs! As free blogging sites like Typepad, Wordpress, Blogger, and even MySpace have grown, blogs have truly become the mouthpiece for the masses.

Because ANYONE can create blog, they can be formal, informal, silly, controversial, truthful, deceitful, pointless, or influential. It's entirely up to the blog's author to determine the purpose and usefulness of his or her blog.

However, just because you can create a blog doesn't mean you should create a blog. Blogs are like any other communications tool in that you've got to have a purpose for it – what do you want to accomplish with your blog? Are you creating a blog as part of your communications strategy or are you creating it because it's the "cool" thing to do right now? What makes a good blog? What makes a bad blog? What should you consider before starting a blog?

• Learn if your organization is ready to start a blog
• Understand the differences between an official government blog and a personal blog and how to negotiate your way through the unique federal government policies and regulations
• Create your own blog using step-by-step instructions
• Get to know some of the more successful public sector blogs and learn what makes them successful
• Arm yourself with the right resources, questions, and facts to show your organization the value in blogging
• Learn how to leverage other blogs to achieve your mission

WORKSHOP LEADERS: Steve Radick is an Associate at the global consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Steve is one of Booz Allen’s chief social media experts, working with clients to leverage a variety of social media strategies and tactics to increase collaboration, improve knowledge management, and foster virtual communities.

Daniel Williams is a Senior Consultant at the global consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Daniel works with several clients on social media technical implementations using a variety of software platforms and tools. In addition, Daniel provides technical guidance to the Booz Allen's internal social media initiatives.