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always checking to see if our social media strategies are working. By working closely with nearby cities and parishes, we can streamline communication and have a bigger impact. Social media isn’t just useful during a crisis; it’s a powerful tool for building and keeping the trust and confidence of our communities every day. By being open and honest in our communication and purposefully sharing both our successes and challenges, we create a bond based on mutual respect and understanding. As we face the ups and downs of emergencies, let’s take the lessons we’ve learned to heart and work to unlock the full potential of social media. By connecting with, informing, and empowering our communities through these digital platforms, we can change the way we communicate, work together, and overcome any crisis that comes our way. The message from the recent LMA Mid-Winter Conference is loud and clear: by collaborating, innovating, and staying dedicated to our communities, we can make it through any storm. With its incredible reach and flexibility, social media is ready to be our partner, making sure local leaders have what it takes to tackle challenges head-on and keep those vital connections with the people they serve in this digital age. Five Steps to Leverage Social Media in Crisis Management 1. Create a Social Media Crisis Plan • Analyze your community demographics to understand who you need to reach during a crisis • Consider factors such as age, occupation, and preferred social media platforms • Segment your audience based on their communication needs and preferences • Determine the primary goals and objectives of your social media crisis communication • Identify the most effective social media platforms for reaching your target audience • Establish a clear chain of command for content creation, approval, and dissemination • Create pre-approved message templates for common crisis scenarios to ensure quick response times • Develop a content calendar that outlines the frequency and type of updates to be shared during a crisis • Assign roles and responsibilities to your social media crisis team • Establish guidelines for engaging with the public • Implement a system for monitoring social media channels and tracking public sentiment during a crisis • Collaborate with local influencers, community organizations, and media outlets to amplify your message and reach a wider audience • Plan for post-crisis communication to keep your community informed about recovery efforts and resources 2. Build a Strong Social Media Presence • Consistently post content that is relevant, informative, and valuable to your audience • Encourage two-way communication by asking questions, seeking feedback, and responding to comments • Host live Q&A sessions, webinars, or virtual town halls to foster direct interaction with your constituents • Celebrate community successes, milestones, and events to showcase the positive aspects of your locality • Recognize and appreciate community members, organizations, and businesses that make a positive impact • Participate in local hashtags, trends, and discussions to show that you are actively involved in the community • Be transparent about the challenges your community faces, such as budget constraints, infrastructure issues, or public safety concerns • Provide regular updates on how your administration is addressing these challenges and the progress being made • Acknowledge and take responsibility for any mistakes or shortcomings, and outline the steps being taken to rectify them • Share success stories and positive outcomes resulting from your administration’s efforts to showcase the good work being done • Encourage open dialogue and solicit feedback from your constituents on how to tackle community issues collaboratively • By being transparent about both successes and challenges, you build trust and credibility with your audience Page 10 LMR | MARCH 2024
3. Establish Your Social Media as a Reliable Source of Information • Consistently share accurate, timely, and verified information from official sources • Provide links to official websites, documents, and resources to support the information you share • Clearly distinguish between official statements and personal opinions to avoid confusion • Regularly update your social media channels with the latest information, especially during rapidly evolving situations • Monitor your social media channels for misinformation and rumors, and quickly address them with facts and official sources • Partner with local media outlets, influencers, and community organizations to amplify your message and reach a wider audience • Develop a consistent visual brand across all your social media channels to make your content easily recognizable and trustworthy What’s happening?!?! 4. Integrate Social Media into Emergency Procedures • Train Your Staff on Social Media Crisis Management Develop a comprehensive training program that covers: o Your social media crisis communication plan and objectives o Platform-specific best practices and features o Crafting effective crisis messages and updates o Responding to public inquiries and comments with empathy and professionalism o Identifying and reporting misinformation or harmful content Conduct regular training sessions to ensure staff members are up-to-date with the latest social media trends, tools, and best practices Provide resources such as guidelines, templates, and case studies to support staff in their social media crisis management roles • Conduct Practice Drills and Simulations Schedule regular drills and simulations to test your social media crisis response plan Create realistic crisis scenarios that cover a range of potential emergencies, such as natural disasters, public health crises, or infrastructure failures Assign roles and responsibilities to staff members during these practice drills to mirror real-life crisis situations Evaluate your team’s performance during the drills, identifying areas for improvement and providing constructive feedback Use insights from practice drills to refine and update your social media crisis communication plan • Monitor and Evaluate Your Social Media Strategies Regularly assess the effectiveness of your social media crisis communication efforts using metrics such as: o Reach and engagement (e.g., likes, comments, shares) o Message clarity and consistency across platforms o Response time to public inquiries and comments o Sentiment analysis of public reactions and feedback Gather feedback from your staff, community members, and partner organizations to identify areas for improvement Stay informed about the latest social media trends, features, and best practices, and adapt your strategies accordingly Continuously update and refine your social media crisis communication plan based on your evaluations and lessons learned LMR | MARCH 2024 Page 11
Page 1 and 2: 02.24Louisiana Louisiana MUNICIPAL
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS | MARCH 2024 DEPUTY DIRECT
Page 5 and 6: PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Seeing the Lo
Page 7 and 8: Reaching Young People Bank-at-Schoo
Page 9: Leveraging Social Media in a Crisis
Page 13 and 14: INDUSTRY LEADING QUALITY TRAFFIC SI
Page 15 and 16: 2024 MID-WINTER CONFERENCE Program
Page 17 and 18: 2024 MID-WINTER CONFERENCE local le
Page 19 and 20: LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ADVISORY AND TE
Page 21 and 22: RISK MANAGEMENT, INC. RMI - LMA Res
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