Its an almost impossible task — reach out to, connect to, inform and empower the roughly 22 million veterans. But that’s exactly what the Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to do and they are using social media to make it happen.
Brandon Friedman is the Director of Online Communication. Its a job that was created just for him in 2009.
His goal is to use twitter, Facebook the VA’s blog Vantage and other social media tools to get out VA news quickly and efficiently.
He told Chris Dorobek on the DorobekINSIDER program the biggest benefit to new media tools is the personal one-on-one connections he is able to make with vets.
FRIEDMAN talks connecting to Vets. by cdorobek
But the new tools also bring up some challenges like training personnel and managing all the data. Friedman tells Chris how the agency is tackling those problems.
FRIEDMAN talks social media challenges by cdorobek
Friedman says all the Deparment’s social media success couldn’t have happened without Director Roger Baker. He says Baker has fully supported all the new media ideas.
What does your department need to be more forward thinking when it comes to new media?
Nothing, I work for the VA.