If social networking is taking off big time in the private business sector then somewhere that’s a more difficult call is the public sector. This blog post exemplifies what can go so spectacularly right but also highlights some of the cultural issues that make it difficult to integrate it. Look carefully at the content - there’s a lot of considered placement of Tweets, of looking for re-Tweets, doing all the right things. On the other hand have you ever seen anything as long as that talking about a medium that restricts you to 140 characters?

If the Internet alone has taught people one thing then that thing ought to be brevity. I’m as guilty as the next person of course, but this is a particularly lengthy example. People won’t, mostly, be willing to read for that long on the Web, they’d rather have short bursts and the success of Twitter serves as evidence of this. Add that to the mix of advice in the piece and it carries a load of excellent advice.

Tags: public sector, twitter, engagement, online communities

Following a wish to be a bit more flexible about adding stuff to the blog and suchlike I’ve decided to move it here, partly to keep all my web identities in one place - old entries are still available here so there’s no problem with staying in touch! Further rants on social networking will appear shortly.