One of the most important things when using social networking in government is keeping things current. Nobody likes a dead page, and all-too-often project websites suffer from not being kept up-to-date. The same thing can easily happen to a MySpace or Facebook page.
Another important thing is prompt replies to questions/etc. People don't want to wait several days for an answer.
Things to keep in mind:
- Anything on the Internet is searchable, indexed, and stored.
- MySpace and Facebook pages for governments or projects are public documents. Be prepared for media requests about information, etc.
- The visual quality of such pages reflect on the government that is operating them. They should be visually pleasing, not gaudy. Keep animated stuff to a minimum. Pictures should be of plans/alternatives, pictures of public meetings, renderings of alternatives, etc.
If done properly, social networking can be a great way to augment the public involvement in any planning (or related) process.
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