What?
ABS's Facebook is in beta. We are trialling Facebook to get your thoughts about what our Facebook should do for you. We're leading with a variety of content, but with an initial focus on graduate and cadet recruitment. The recruitment information will move from focussing on career fairs to providing FAQs about applying to work at the ABS. Among other things, on the Wall you'll see some interesting ABS data, videos, and links to other interesting Facebook pages. You also have our Twitter product release feed. But what works for you, and what doesn't?
Why?
Just about everyone knows about Facebook. We believe well over 60% of Australians have a Facebook account. It is estimated that 1 in every 13 people on Earth has a Facebook account and about half of them log in every day. So why wouldn't ABS want to use Facebook to engage with the public?
When?
Your feedback and participation on Facebook during the beta phase (ending 30 June 2011) will assist us in tuning our presence to meet community needs.
#1: Ingrid
Hello, have you thought about pushing a few 'teasers' from Betaworks onto your Facebook page? Might diversify the feedback you're getting...
#2: Grant
Hello Jo,
what lovely feedback. Kind thanks!
You've so elegantly explained from a customer's perspective what we're hoping to achieve through Facebook!
We think the vast range of ABS data is really pretty endlessly interesting. We reckon it can inform anyone about almost any aspect of their life. We want to have our data resonate with you. And we want to engage with you about what you want from our data and from us as an organisation.
If we're doing that for you and others, that's absolutely fantastic news.
We invite you to share your ideas for ongoing development of the ABS Facebook. If there's anything you'd like us to improve we'd love to know.
But for now, many thanks for your contribution to the Facebook comments thread! And for making us feel like we're on the right track for you!
Grant
#3: Grant
G'day Jody
Thanks for your feedback and constructive ideas.
Mobile Geeks do have good consistent branding in each of the channels that they're active. As you suggest, we are working toward doing something similar.
For starters, we're doing what we can to embed our social media icons in the ABS website skin.
While perhaps our solution will be slightly more conservative than Mobile Geeks, it's in keeping with our current website branding and functionality.
You'll get to see what we've done on the ABS website from 11.30am on 7 June.
Did you know we do have an ABS-branded Twitter page as well? Check out www.twitter.com/absstats. We regularly tweet interesting release information with links and news about ABS - and we engage too!
Many thanks again for your ideas, your great feedback, and for your interest!
Grant
#4: Su
I am starting to think ABS is in serious danger of becoming hip to what it takes to communicate with all we "time-poor" info junkies!
I had to post because today I've seen on your Facebook a concept I've been wanting to see from you on your website for ages. Those simple infographics highlighting the key National Accounts and Retail figures on your Wall, and accompanied by simple explanatory text ...... LOVE THEM!
You can instantly see whether the figure is an increase or decrease and if you're interested in the data of the day or in what the figure might relate to, you can read on starting with the basic information. I like that you explain how to drill down for more info in that National Accounts example, and I really like the way you weave an engaging question into your Retail post.
All that said, the indicator graphic works up to point ....... it's a small and rather dodgy low-res graphic and it's really only the number that's instantly readable. That's OK for starters because at least it draws the eye and provokes action ...... in my case it encourages me to click for more. Also I think you should use this way of posting numbers sparingly. Maybe just stick with your really important indicators because if you overuse it I think it will get a little bit old :).
I love that I can get my Twitter feed from your Facebook too!
I've also been really entertained by your posts linking your data to significant days, and posting about your latest releases in a more down-to-earth or approachable way. The previous poster Jo said it "reminds people that ABS data is highly varied but also useful" and they are right. As a taxpayer it's great to see you recognising that and celebrating and sharing it more on Facebook.
Keep it up and I fully support you sticking with this communication concept once the beta phase is over. Thank you! (Thanks for BetaWorks too ..... it's so great that you are interested in our feedback!)
#5: Jo
I think the Facebook page is great. The way you have chosen to post statistics relevant to the day (e.g. Sorry Day) reminds people that ABS data is highly varied but also useful.
It (and the ABS Twitter accounts) put the organisation in the public sphere and help to let people know it is 'up with the times'.
Well done guys!
#6: Grant
Hi Angus
Many thanks for the great feedback about ABS Facebook.
You've also hit on a very important consideration for us.
We do not want the ABS Page to be a forum for spam.
Indeed, the Facebook was carefully and deliberately developed with two reasons in mind.
Primarily we wanted to connect more interactively with our audience. On a secondary level, the Page was conceived to reclaim the ABS brand from its identification with other spam and undesirable content on Facebook.
In going into βeta with Facebook, we developed an administration policy that seeks to protect the ABS Page from misuse. We monitor the Page constantly, including on weekends, to ensure dodgy content is - as our Facebook Terms say - "removed as soon as possible".
We do that because we really want the user experience to be positive. And because we take our responsibility to the ABS brand very seriously as we trial Facebook.
Facebook gives us tools to remove spam material, report and/or block the spammers. We feel confident that we can rely on these mechanisms to assist us in delivering a positive and engaging experience to people interested in information about Australia and Australians.
Grant
#7: Angus
Facebook is a good idea but won't it be used irrasponsibly by teenagers?
#8: Jody
I really like the idea that the goverment is moving with the times, getting a facebook page upto date is the first step. I suggest adding a custom twitter page as well and brand it like a product. A good example is www.mobilegeeks.com.au they have logos that work well with facebook/twitter.
Just an idea.
#9: Grant
Many thanks for your question, Ann. We considered the question of advertising prior to launching Facebook and thought we had two options.
Firstly, we thought we could take the approach adopted by many other government agencies and personalities active in Facebook. They have accepted that advertising will appear on their pages like all others in Facebook and that their users will understand no endorsement is implied. In addition, Facebook, unlike some other social media platforms, allows its users to control display of advertisements. Anything undesirable to the user can be blocked.
The alternative is to include a disclaimer that the appearance of advertising on ABS's Facebook page does not in any way imply endorsement. Our reading of the Australian Government's Web Guide policy on disclaimers is that such a statement should be included. The problem here is that such statements quickly become redundant and that they also appear 'stuffy' and 'bureaucratic' in Australian government social media spaces. If a whole-of-government disclaimer was able to be linked, that would be ideal.
So, at least while we are testing the waters, we have decided on taking the former approach.
I hope this answers your question.
Kind regards
#10: Ann
Will you "allow" the usual advertising on your site?