Ethelo Insight
Digital engagement means using electronic communication tools to expand and strengthen the relationship between organizations and the public. We have more opportunities to get involved in our communities, through a wider array of tools, processes, meetings, and apps than ever before.
Digital engagement is not meant to replace traditional face-to-face techniques, but to compliment them. These tools allow for much greater community participation and greatly enhances accessibility. Organizations can also sustain involvement with communities with up to the moment online and mobile updates.
According to Pew Internet over three quarters of the population are online and some of the most popular searches include looking for information about a public policy or services. It goes on to say nearly a quarter of internet users have participated in an online discussion related to public policies.
Digital tools increase your organization’s availability to the public and is more cost-efficient than traditional methods. It makes the process more interactive and tends to generate greater participation by reaching busy people, young families and disabled individuals.
If governments applied civic engagement with the same zeal as corporations like Amazon could we actually change the face of democracy?
What are the Benefits of Community Engagement? By Crispin Butteriss of Bang the Table
This presentation outlines eleven benefits of community engagement with a particular focus on the advantages of using the digital space for public and citizen focused engagement.
When we were first getting started in the online citizen participation space, Matt and I used to travel the country (Australia) talking ad nauseum about the benefits of web based community engagement. The problem with doing something over and over again is that you forget that the information you are presenting is novel to the listeners, and, if you are anything like Matt and me, you get bored retelling the same stories, anecdotes and arguments again and again. And so you move on to new things.
And that is a great shame. Because the arguments remain as compelling as ever five, six, seven years on.
