Comments for DavePress

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by Tom

Tom — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:15:54 +0000

If a high level of online skills are assumed, to make something unique I think the key areas are contact and feedback.

Integrate something like http://getsatisfaction.com for getting in touch and reporting issues, and as Toby said, use something like Eventbrite for booking in surgery sessions.

As well as promoting a skype contact showing online/offline, you could arrange and let people book hangouts on Google+ for topical discussions (again using eventbrite).

Getting more social, link in a foursquare account so show where they are and what they’re doing.

For it all to work it’s got to be updatable on the move – wordpress, foursquare, skype apps running on a smartphone would keep them connected all the time if they’ve got the skills.

Getting councillors to think digital and social when on the move all the time will be quite a challenge – it could be a terrible failure if the content isn’t there.

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by Steph Gray

Steph Gray — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:07:08 +0000

She’s not a local councillor, but Jon Worth has recently been doing some work for an MEP which I think is quite an interesting site for a politician:

http://www.marietjeschaake.eu/

I still like Simon D’s newsfeed approach on Lynne Featherstone’s site, too:

http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:13:59 +0000

Thanks James, great to get your insight here. And yes, my plan is to use WordPress. Seems the consensus is that content is the key feature. Who’d have thunk it?

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by James Cousins

James Cousins — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:54:42 +0000

Is this a trick question?

WordPress, WordPress, WordPress.

I wish I could think of a sexier answer, I know I’m always trying to think of something sexier to do with mine, but the numbers of people who want something really sexy are very small and few if any are ward residents: the cost of time probably outweighs the benefit.

While I’ve got a number of people who seem to be regular readers, most people come across it via a Google search, which says to me that local content is the ‘killer app’. And when it comes to contact email dominates. Virtually no-one writes to me anymore (either via the Town Hall or my home address) and I get very few phone calls. Everyone emails and, if they are looking at a website I’d bet there’s a 100% chance they can email.

I’ve toyed with other ideas. Like video, or FaceTime surgeries, but keep coming to the conclusion that simplicity is the best.

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:36:33 +0000

You may dare.

Also, you’re right re: media.

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:36:06 +0000

Thanks Ben – am investigating some google maps stuff – fingers’ crossed they do what you describe.

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:35:28 +0000

Thanks Simon!

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:35:15 +0000

Thanks Toby – I’ve been asking all those questions!

Thanks for the other tips too!

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:34:22 +0000

Hi Will – I get where you’re coming from! However I saw this as an opportunity to do something a bit different and maybe put some bits together that work exactly as a councillor might want.

Comment on What does a councillor’s website need? by william perrin

william perrin — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:15:54 +0000

wouldn’t it be best just to train them to use wordpress.com help with some domain mapping and offer top up classes after a few months – teach a man to fish and all that

see this one http://callylabourcouncillors.org.uk/ in kings cross which is simple and efective