How can your agency build a positive reputation to better your ability to serve the public? There’s no more effective and efficient way than through the use of social media.

Communication with constituents is essential to running a government. But sometimes elected officials can find themselves in a tough spot if they’re not aware of how certain actions on social media are perceived or if those actions cause more harm than good. Here are best practices for elected officials on social media:

Seeing that people are engaging with your posts is one way of knowing that they are getting important information through their social networks and if there is room for improvement depending on the feedback they provide.

But how can governments know whether the public is engaging with the content they create?

Social media is a must-need tool for government in times of crisis, such as life-threatening weather events. In an study published in Public Relations Review, researchers surveyed more than 300 local government officials on use of social media tools for crisis communication and management.

Hashtags are a simple way to make your posts on most social media platforms seen. For local governments, this is another great way to ensure important information reaches the eyes of the public.

With the availability of social media opportunities like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, maintaining an online presence has become an integral part of how many people choose to interact. Social media’s ability to disseminate information to groups cannot be matched by traditional mail, automated phone call systems or even email, making it an important tool for local governments to utilize. To get the most out of your government’s social media experience, consider what, why and how you’ll pass information along.

Pinterest is known as a go-to site for personal style inspiration and crafty do-it-yourself projects. For local governments, it can be a tool to further connect with the public while keeping messaging to the point.

With its grid-like feed, Pinterest is a visual platform, which gives municipalities an opportunity to simplify information and not overload people with too much wordiness.

Scan your local Facebook or Instagram feeds, and you’ll see a plethora of posts with obvious spelling, punctuation, or content errors. If the post is originating from a friend or family member the problems might be forgivable, but when a business or government agency creates a post that is full of mistakes, it is downright unprofessional. Read through our suggestions on what to check before you hit that publish button.

If local governments are not on social media, they’re missing out on countless ways to connect, inform and engage the public. For government agencies, social media provides more channels to let the people know what’s going on around them, from information on an urgent weather event or upcoming community gathering, and promoting what officials have accomplished. It’s a way to be more accessible and a part of citizens’ daily lives.