How to use Blogging to Improve How to use Blogging to Improve Communications and Establish Communications and Establish a Stronger Sense of Community a Stronger Sense of Community

Mayor Bill GentesMayor Bill GentesRound Lake, ILRound Lake, IL

www.eroundlake.com/blogwww.eroundlake.com/blog

About MeAbout Me

Senior Manager in the Non-Profit WorldSenior Manager in the Non-Profit World– International MarketingInternational Marketing– CEO for 8 years of various organizationsCEO for 8 years of various organizations

14 years of Elected Leadership 14 years of Elected Leadership (6 as Mayor)(6 as Mayor)

About Round LakeAbout Round Lake

High Growth 5,400 to 18,000+ in 6 years.High Growth 5,400 to 18,000+ in 6 years.

Long-term projections put us at 30-35,000 Long-term projections put us at 30-35,000 people by the year 2020.people by the year 2020.

27 to 83 employees in 6 years.27 to 83 employees in 6 years.

72% of residents are new!72% of residents are new!

Growth segments are white collar Growth segments are white collar and foreign.and foreign.

Business FocusBusiness Focus

Changing the Organizational CultureChanging the Organizational Culture

ProfessionalizingProfessionalizing

Building a CommunityBuilding a Community

Communication was and is key.Communication was and is key.

My History of BloggingMy History of Blogging

Private political blog during my Private political blog during my 2005 re-election.2005 re-election.– CatharticCathartic– EffectiveEffective

Issue definingIssue defining– Galvanized my supportersGalvanized my supporters– Landslide!Landslide!

Why a blog for the Mayor?Why a blog for the Mayor?

My Initial Goals for the BlogMy Initial Goals for the Blog

From the first postFrom the first post– I thought that this venue would allow me the greatest I thought that this venue would allow me the greatest

freedom to reach the greatest number of Round Lake freedom to reach the greatest number of Round Lake residents quickly and efficiently.residents quickly and efficiently.

So on this blog I am going to try to address issues So on this blog I am going to try to address issues that are affecting our community and my feelings on that are affecting our community and my feelings on various issues in the community and in the area…various issues in the community and in the area…

Since I have a sense of humor, my guess is I will Since I have a sense of humor, my guess is I will have some humorous stories as well thrown into the have some humorous stories as well thrown into the mix.mix.

Posted April 26Posted April 26thth, 2005, 2005

My Blogging RulesMy Blogging Rules

Anonymous CommentingAnonymous Commenting

Un-moderatedUn-moderated– No family stuffNo family stuff– No swearingNo swearing– No LibelNo Libel

The 7 Points I UseThe 7 Points I Use

Or my attempt to clarify a Or my attempt to clarify a chaotic blog to my audience.chaotic blog to my audience.

Point 1– The TruthPoint 1– The Truth

To hear the story of what's going on, To hear the story of what's going on, straight from the horses mouth (the Mayor) straight from the horses mouth (the Mayor) so rumors and half truths can be so rumors and half truths can be addressed immediately. addressed immediately. – Prairie PointePrairie Pointe– Police ChiefPolice Chief– Commentary SeriesCommentary Series

Point 2-- IdeasPoint 2-- Ideas

To solicit comments that could result in To solicit comments that could result in good ideas for the community.good ideas for the community.– BaseballBaseball– Stop SignsStop Signs– Transportation Transportation

CommentsComments

Point 3-- CommunityPoint 3-- Community

To develop a sense of community, from To develop a sense of community, from the disparate variety of communities and the disparate variety of communities and residents in the Village.residents in the Village.– Run/WalkRun/Walk– Local EventsLocal Events– Get more people Get more people

involvedinvolved

Point 4-- MePoint 4-- Me

To humanize the face of elected officials To humanize the face of elected officials and let citizens know where they stand and let citizens know where they stand and what they intend to do. and what they intend to do. – HumanizeHumanize– SchedulingScheduling– National Butter National Butter

ReservesReserves

Point 5-- DiscussionPoint 5-- Discussion

To increase public involvement, staff To increase public involvement, staff involvement and outside involvement involvement and outside involvement through readership. through readership. – CommentsComments– Staff reads itStaff reads it– Set the agenda Set the agenda

and toneand tone– Emails easierEmails easier

to answerto answer

Point 6– Issue LeadershipPoint 6– Issue Leadership

To promote yourself, create issue To promote yourself, create issue leadership on a broader scale then you leadership on a broader scale then you would ordinarily get from your relative would ordinarily get from your relative status.status.– 120 Bypass120 Bypass– TransportationTransportation– Get your point acrossGet your point across

Point 7– Big PicturePoint 7– Big Picture

To talk about big projects and what they To talk about big projects and what they mean to the Village.mean to the Village.– HospitalHospital– Downtown Downtown

DevelopmentDevelopment

Results UnintendedResults Unintended

UnintendedUnintended– Readership Levels (400-500 unique a day)Readership Levels (400-500 unique a day)– Newspapers reading the blog and then Newspapers reading the blog and then

writing articles on the post topic.writing articles on the post topic.– County and Statewide leadership on issuesCounty and Statewide leadership on issues– More Mayoral blogs and mentoringMore Mayoral blogs and mentoring

(international, national and local)(international, national and local)

Results IntendedResults Intended

IntendedIntended– Increased CommunicationIncreased Communication– Community BuildingCommunity Building– ApproachabilityApproachability– Email answeringEmail answering

Thoughts on BloggingThoughts on Blogging

Be GenuineBe Genuine

Write RegularlyWrite Regularly

Use PicturesUse Pictures

Use LinksUse Links

Promote your blogPromote your blog

QuestionsQuestions

www.eroundlake.com/blogwww.eroundlake.com/blog