Implementing Web 2.0

Paul Hayton

Metrics are important - available on flickr, wordpress, facebok, youtube, witter. Wikipedia doesn't.

Launch dates all refer to Dunedin Public Library's accounts.

Flickr:
consider using a secret email address; it negates most IT/Council security uploading hassles. Subject heading becomes title and body is description.
Flash-based tools may break so use the basic uploader
Pro account gives features that are worth it.
Link Flickr to blog, facebook, etc - facilitates crossposting.

Blog:
Started having news and reviews blogs. In Feb 08 merged to a single blog at wordpress.
Use Google Analytics. Hosting on own servers makes it easy to put code in.
Suggests posting every 1-3 days. Every day is too much, every week not enough.
Include youtube clips, flickr banner and links to other services down the side.

If doing more than one thing then reuse your content! Eg description on images / blog description of event. Push people through to different services by linking blogpost, photo, through to youtube video etc.

Post a little content often rather than a lot infrequently.
Link to other online spaces proactively
Review content using metrics to discover what really is popular content (eg topical links to Swayze-related collection)
Use categories, not tags to standardise search when running a blog with multiple contributors - forces authority control.

Wikipedia article - launched April 08. Anecdotally well-received but hard to read statistics. Have had one instance of vandalism - corrected by wiki community within 24 hours. When Paul started adding stuff he had people telling him he couldn't put up library-copyrighted stuff.
Tips:
Establish an account
Declare who you are
Start small, build content as time permits
Add images and links to other online spaces
Reference where you can
Seek other pages with related content and edit to include a link back to your own page

YouTube
Launched May 08; now 111 videos, average of 40-60 viewers per day.
Tips:
Invest in a tripod
Recording at 320x240 at 8 frames per second is fine and reduces both file size and upload time
YouTube has a 10min limit
Don't pan and zoom.
Be consistent in categories and tags

Facebook
Launched December 2008 - wanted to establish a profile and generate viral promotion; engage in dialogue with fans and deliver targeted promotional info to fans
Address is horrible - get a badge. (Me: if you have 100+ fans you can get a custom address)
Metrics interesting - fans are 64% female which reflects library membership. Highest fans are at 25-34%
Good conversation going.
Tips:
Have a response plan for if customers engage.
Establish a page, not a group.
Post links to other online spaces
Use the events feature and selectively send invites to fans
If you have a Twitter account, consider linking your status updates to it.
Import blog, flickr content etc to your page.

Twitter
Launched Feb 09
Can get statistics from various analytic sites eg tweetstats.com
Predominantly events stuff.
Tips:
Use web stats services to analyse account
Use the power of the + in http://bit.ly/1894XD+ to get stats on how often it's been viewed.
Firefox - install Power Twitter add-on.
"The more you give the more you get" - the more you tweet the more followers you get - but it's more about quality vs quantity.

Implementing:
- Strategy - be clear about why and where you're playing, but you don't need a full strategy before you dive in. No analysis paralysis!
- Staff/time - better to do one thing well than several things poorly. Look for something you like and do that.
- Learn by doing. Forgiveness vs permission, action vs policy.
- Proactively network with like minds.
- Spend time each week being a 'naive enquirer' to learn more.

Q: Release permission for filming booktalks, audiences?
A: Get permission for authors, performers. Camera is generally not on audience - only incidental and not very identifiable. Anecdotally - email from someone in a video who wanted a copy to send it around

Q: Problems with Wikipedia's rule against editing your own page?
A: No issues.

Q: YouTube filming at low resolution - shouldn't we film at high resolution for posterity and just upload a low-res version?
A: Yes, valid point - could be something we could do better at. But currently dealing with practical issues