Where do we go from here?
This afternoon I’m meeting with some guys from Wycliffe UK to discuss how we progress using Web 2.0.
Currently, if you search around, you’ll find that not only do we run a website, but we also have a blog, Twitter feed and some individual people and Wycliffe related groups appear on Facebook.
The question that needs answering at the moment though is, why? What are we looking to achieve with all these communications tools? Are we using the right medium for the messages we are trying to convey? Are we missing something? Where do we go from here?
It would be good to hear from anyone who connects with Wycliffe in any of these ways. Why you use them and what you like about, the blog, Twitter, etc, etc…?
Or to hear about what you think we should be doing and why?
Thanks
That is such a good but hard question. it is very much the issue of the moment and the main conversation at several conferences i have attended recently!
The general problem seems to be that no-one really has any definitive answers as it is all too new and changeable. Different mediums suit different users, but even web 2.0 users are of a particular demographic so it will always be restricted in its reach. also you have the difference between those who consume and those who interact. those who interact are easier to cater to as you receive feedback and it can be a dynamic relationship, but there are so many more that are just consumers of the information and never respond – how do you know if you are meeting their interest?
there seems to be a progression in people’s use of web 2.0 as they become more familiar/comfortable. to start it seems to be mainly used to increase the methods of communication between people/organisations who are already familiar (eg Facebook being all about keeping up with friends already known). So these mediums are great for keeping people already involved informed, as you well know.
the move to branching out to unfamiliar people/organisations can be quite a step but is beginning to take place (eg following people on twitter they have never met). as with all things tech comparing the UK and US can illustrate this! there seems to be a wider acceptance of wider contact. Also the issue of culture and familiarity can be illustrated by the acceptance of teenagers that having on-line friends they have never met is not unusual. So what does that mean if you trying to start dialogues with people not yet familiar with the organisation? Information is still mainly passed contact to contact – be it viral advertising, links, interesting organisations. it is not so much a case of people going looking (google for that!). so how do you get people to pass it on? that becomes a case for the content rather than the methodology. it doesn’t matter which latest 2.0 medium is the ‘in thing’ but the person involved has to care enough/ be amused/ surprised (etc) enough to pass it on.
Sorry, i’ll stop there as this seems to have turned in to something of an essay! and i’m sure most of it is nothing new to you but i couldn’t resist as it is a topic i am v. interested in
hope the meeting goes well.