—Recently, President Obama and the White House joined the budding social media network Google+ to bring constituents behind the scenes campaign information, photos, and videos. In an effort to get in touch with the public, the President will be hosting a Google+ Hangout on Jan. 30 to answer questions submitted by YouTube users. This is the first Google+ Hangout the President has participated in, and the event will kick-off with a speech at 5:30 p.m. on the White House’s page. Participants can submit questions via video or text, and the President will answer the top-voted questions. Obama joined Google+ in late November and has accumulated nearly 320,000 followers. People can follow the Hangout on the White House’s website, Google+ page, or YouTube channel.

—While the adoption of social media in government has been steady, the mediums still pose some big questions and cause some debate. In a recent NextGov article, blogger Joseph Marks addresses one of the more unclear issues: should government agencies ‘follow’ other tweeters? Agencies have established varying policies ranging from following only other government agencies to following back many of their own followers. While many agencies want to get information out to the public as quickly as possible, others worry about the implications or reactions by the public. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer or government-wide policy to answer the question. How do you feel about being “followed” by the government?

—With the increase in use of social media in government, the need for education in the social sphere is a growing. Fortunately, the General Services Administration is offering a twelve week course in Facebook, Twitter, Wikis, and other social networks and applications. The course will feature presentations from government officials and industry leaders, projects, and lectures. Keeping in mind the diversity of social media policies and objectives, the course will cover a wide variety of goals, missions, and tools. The goal of the program is less about aligning policies and goals, and more about educating people on the opportunities, tools, and uses of social media and its various mediums. The course will begin February 7 via GSA’s Web Manager University in Washington, D.C.

—Interested in learning more about the Mobile Gov Wiki? On Tuesday, January 31, there will be a “Bring a Friend” Mobile Gov Wikithon in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, Md. The event will be aimed at teaching participants how to create content for the Mobile Gov Wiki. The open-house event will run from 3 – 5 p.m. in two locations and will be focusing on Mobile Gov Practices and mHealth.

—In an ongoing attempt to help other agencies navigate the social media sphere, the U.S. Army has released a quick guide giving tips on how to effectively review and handle social media comments. As more government agencies join the social media platforms, managing community engagement has become more important. The Army published a Social Media Roundup with 5 tips for social media community management. First, the Army recommends establishing a policy, followed by expectations. Then change settings and use free tools provided by the platforms, such as HootSuite or Facebook settings. The Army recommends engagement, so drafting common responses will help when faced with questions from users. Lastly, stay calm and maintain professionalism.

—Shortly after President Obama announced his debut on Google+, the White House has followed suit. On Friday, the White House launched a Google+ page promising news, photos, and videos plus opportunities to engage with administration officials. Being the latest in the social media efforts of the Obama Administration, the Google+ page is already listed in almost 7,000 users’ circles. With the election less than nine months away, the page will provide visitors with another platform to interact with government officials, including Google Hangouts and behind-the-scenes media.

—Conducted in December 2011, a survey of 200 federal IT workers revealed nearly half of respondents use their mobile devices for work-related activities. According to the results, the top three applications are e-mail (93%), project management tools (36%), and social media (20%). Of those that use social media, 68% turn to Facebook, while 21% use Twitter, 16% use Google+, and 11% pick LinkedIn. Mobile phones are quickly becoming the norm for federal employees while PC’s are becoming less important for work purposes.

—While social media might be a rapidly evolving environment, knowing the basics is key to a successful social media program. OhMyGov! has put together a list of top 10 facts to know about social media for communications professionals. The list includes trends and statistics that outline user behavior globally, such as the fact that the average Twitter user logs in for 23 minutes. In addition to the list, the blog provides three helpful infographics: “How the World Uses Social Networks,” “The World Map of Social Networks,” and “In 60 Seconds.” While the information might only apply to global users rather than national segments, the post provides interesting insight into user behavior that can help in a pitch, presentation, or daily strategy.

—On Tuesday, the State Department launched the Virtual Embassy Tehran to bring Iranians and Americans together. While there is no physical embassy in Iran, the virtual embassy will open up communications between the two countries. Even though the embassy cannot issue visas, it contains videos from public officials addressing the Iranian people, Voice of America news articles, and information about U.S. study abroad programs and travel visas. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton addressed the visitors in a video message urging open dialogue and more understanding between the two nations. While the U.S. has no diplomatic presence in Iran, the website is an attempt to circumvent the system and create a safe space for conversation without fear.

—Thursday, the New York Times released its 2012 Election App as a resource for political coverage and campaign news integrating online content with its own editorial coverage. Through the central news feed, users can access articles, blog posts, videos, and tweets aggregated by the application. Currently, the app is only available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but is free to download. The app’s content is also accessible from a desktop browser, but only New York Times subscribers have access to all the content.

—— On the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, people all over the world remembered, discussed, and honored those who fought and died. Unlike decades past, people took to social media to commemorate the day, including the Department of Defense. The Navy turned to social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and blogs, to engage the public in the week leading up to December 7. Through social media, the Navy shared content and stories of Pearl Harbor encouraging comments, sharing, and conversation. The military used social media to connect, show the relevance of the past, and remember those who fought and lost their lives seventy years ago.

—While NASA has a knack for developing engaging and desirable applications for public use, it has now launched a mobile apps store for agency personnel and contractors to access information from their mobile devices. The store is aimed at providing employees with access to information crucial to their jobs anytime, anywhere. While the Apps@NASA store isn’t open to the public, it shows the level of commitment to embrace technology despite constraints and obstacles. Currently the apps will be able to be access by those using iPhones and Andriod devices. While there are only two apps in the store, NASA expects to have more in the near future.

—As agencies make the move to develop presences on social networks, a study has found that few federal agencies are actually engaging with citizens. The study, Federal Social Media Index, counted how many times the agencies asked for feedback and how much feedback they received. The top ranked agencies were the U.S. Mint, Homeland Security Department, Marine Corps, and National Park Foundation. These agencies averaged the highest response rate for the initial week of the study. Over the first week, agencies asked 231 questions on Twitter with 178 responses for a 77% percent response rate. The goal of the study is to bring the people behind the accounts together, help them learn from current efforts, and inform other agencies about to tackle social media.

—On Wednesday, President Obama officially joined Google+ with a verified account. While the President himself isn’t managing the page, it’s a space to get connected with the 2012 campaign. The new addition to Google+ is an important one for the network as the President has been on social media since 2008 using it to boost his previous campaign and engage with citizens. While the page has yet to receive fanfare similar to his Facebook and Twitter feeds, it’s yet another channel to reach out and access the public.

From books and video games to movies and TV shows, zombies sell. Content marketers have taken notice, jumping on the zombie bandwagon to promote everything from emergency preparedness to content marketing itself.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) drew an unprecedented amount of traffic to its blog when the government agency published a blog post about preparing for the zombie apocalypse. While much of the blog post’s real estate was actually devoted to preparing for a more likely emergency, like a hurricane, it was the zombie angle that turned the blog post into a content marketing success story.

Last month, just in time for Halloween, the CDC continued its outreach campaign with a zombie comic book, “Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic.” The new zombie comic book is a content marketing win for several reasons:

• The comic book looks and feels like part of a comprehensive campaign, further strengthening the connection between the CDC and its message of being prepared for a pandemic.
• By providing important public health and safety information in a visual format, the comic book helps the agency educate a broad audience using storytelling and plain language methods. The CDC also offers an accessible text version of the comic.
• The promotion takes advantage of not just one but two pop culture moments: comic book nerds are cool now, didn’t you know?

While the CDC pretty much has the zombie market cornered when it comes to government outreach campaigns, my hope is that the CDC’s zombie campaign has inspired other government agencies to turn to pop culture to promote their message.

On Halloween, the USDA tapped into the zombie phenomenon too, transforming its ChooseMyPlate.gov icon into a meal better suited for the living dead. But like other pop culture phenomena, the zombie craze will wane. And in the meantime, zombies aren’t the solution to every communications challenge.

Need inspiration for your next outreach campaign? Here are a few tips for getting a dose of pop culture:

• Browse the shelves at your local bookstore (maybe even a comic book store).
• Watch a popular TV show—including all the commercials.
• If you usually watch indie flicks, watch a blockbuster movie.
• Next time you’re in the grocery store checkout line, pick up one of those silly entertainment magazines you never buy.
• Talk to the teens in your life. What bands are they listening to? What shows are they watching? What comic books are they reading?

When it comes to content marketing, you don’t have to be a pop culture columnist, but it helps to think like one.

—Only fitting its trailblazing social media tendencies, NASA seems to be the first federal agency to have joined Google+. The NASA Google+ page went live on Monday, the day that Google opened up the service to corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies. Two days later, the page had garnered 15,280 followers. As of Friday, NASA has 21,505 followers with four in its circle. NASA’s page is similar to a blog with posts about discoveries, video, and photos.

—The Army is bringing together resources to help military personnel, veterans, and families stay connected through social media. The new Facebook page and application is part of an initiative to better serve and appreciate those who served and still do serve our country. Additionally, the Army will partner with Blue Star Families to create a social media guide and CNN.com to provide inspirational stories.

—In honor of Veterans Day, Mashable put together a list of eight online ways to thank our troops. As social media becomes more ubiquitous in everyday life and daily communication, it also provides a means of outreach and support. Using the hashtag #HappyVeteransDay isn’t a bad way to start! Some other ways include the Veterans History Project, an online collection of war veterans’ accounts; the U.S. Military Facebook page mentioned above; and the History Channel’s Thank a Vet campaign. As the History Channel reminds us, it’s never too late to say ‘thank you.’

—On Thursday, the Department of the Interior launched a new online tool that pulls together government-produced maps that users can add to and edit. Using crowdsourcing, Interior has created a geospatial platform that will be a place for trustworthy place-based information. The platform will allow for a diverse set of data to be added to the maps providing users with information on topics ranging from pollution to where to get fresh produce. Being that it will be created by a federal agency, data from the previous user will be stored for the next, reducing duplication and inefficiency.

—With three governments overthrown in the Middle East and uprisings across the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security is looking to social media to garner intelligence information and learn more about public sentiment. With Twitter and Facebook playing a large role in the toppling of Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, officials have become more aware of the impact these technologies can have on public opinion and the power they can potentially wield. Currently, Homeland Security is not monitoring any social networks but can access any ‘open source’ information which is available to anyone. While the agency is eager to develop social media guidelines, it is cautious when it comes to gathering information. Homeland Security is developing guidelines to protect citizens and their privacy while protecting national security and urging people to report suspicious activity.

—As Halloween was on Monday, two agencies jumped on the opportunity to promote good health and staying safe – from zombies! Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control created a clever campaign for emergency preparedness called Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse that went viral. In another attempt to teach people about the importance of being prepared, the CDC has published a graphic novel, “Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic” which will entertain and inform! On a similar note, the Department of Agriculture tweeted to followers, “Have a Safe, Happy & Healthy #Halloween – or Zombie Apocalypse.” The Twitter picture urges followers to have fun and eat healthy.

—To add to the list of social media platform, the Obama Administration has joined the popular blogging platform Tumblr to keep supporters informed in a more informal way. Run by the 2012 campaign staff, the Tumblr, Obama for America, is all about grass-roots support, behind-the-scenes shots, and user submissions. Additionally, visitors can choose to donate, ask a question, and sign up for updates. While the blog is on the lighter side, it’s sure to have an impact and gain a large following similar to Obama’s other social media efforts.

—After its first software development challenge, the National Institute of Health’s National Library of Medicine honored five applications yesterday. The “Show Off Your Apps: Innovative Uses of NLM Information” had five winners and five honorable mentions including an app that searches and investigates biomedical literature, a free tool that helps answer questions, and one that provides 3D molecular modeling. The challenge asked developers to find ways to make the large amount of NLM data available for use.

—Yesterday, the White Horse Digital Futures Group released a study on federal mobile apps revealing the top seven and reviews of 30 popular government apps. Top ranked apps included the White House, Smithsonian Channel, 9/11 apps, the National Science Foundation’s Science 360, the General Service Administration’s USAJobs, USArmy News, and Smithsonian’s Leafsnap. What all these apps have in common are they successfully identified their users, offered an interesting experience with compelling benefits, and took full advantage of the platform.

—Monday is the deadline for federal agencies to submit their action plans for improving customer service after President Obama issued the executive order back in April. With the deadline approaching, OhMyGov compiled a list of seven things every agency can do to improve customer service. While the mandate is ambitious, there are a number of things to implement without too much trouble, such as creating an easily identifiable FAQ in multiple formats and post the agency customer service pledge. Other recommendations include making use of mobile technology, soliciting and responding to feedback, and using visuals to explain complex processes. While the deadline is fast approaching, customer service will improve citizen opinions on government efficiency and illicit a more responsive system.

—While Facebook has traditionally been where we interact with friends, the social media platform wants to also help you get a job. Thursday, Facebook announced a partnership with the Department of Labor and three other job-related agencies to help alleviate the high unemployment rate. With the country’s unemployment rate approximately 9%, the project will take job hunting to Facebook with a possible job posting system. Recently, Facebook launched “Social Jobs” which makes Department of Labor, National Association of Colleges and Employers, DirectEmployers Association, and National Association of State Workforce Agencies educational content and tools more accessible. The Social Jobs page will be promoted in the 10 states with the highest unemployment rates and Puerto Rico. While the job posting system is a future goal, Facebook is not limiting itself in the possibilities of the partnership.

—According to a study released Tuesday, only 19% of agencies ban access to social media sites like Facebook , Twitter, and LinkedIn. Last year, nearly 55% banned access. As agencies are lightening their restrictions, more federal employees are using the networks for personal and work use, according to the Social Media in the Public Sector study by Market Connections. Nearly 900 public sector employees participated in the study which revealed that 74% of all respondents access social media websites at work, and 70% on their mobile phones. Interestingly, 37% of the respondents noted they are permitted to use social media as representatives of their agency, versus 9% last year. While social media use is growing exponentially, public sector employees still cited many challenges to using social media in their agencies.

—While many government agencies are looking to Facebook and Twitter to get social, four agencies are engaging with YouTube for outreach in the social space. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been uploading videos for a year and a half, the agency continues to see the benefit to utilizing social media and plans to keep it in its communications strategy. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) uses the medium to reach the largest audience possible to spread information on a variety of health topics and issues with videos increasingly available in Spanish. After three years of YouTube membership, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) decided to turn off comments as they were unable to monitor in real-time. As a social media front-runner, NASA has one of the top channels viewed on the network and is using the platform to educate and excite audiences about events and information. While many agencies host videos on their own websites, YouTube allows members to post HD quality video and embed videos into other sites.

—While many military branches have published social media guides for employees and members, the Navy has recently published a social media handbook for public affairs officers. The handbook outlines principles, best practices, emerging media, and social media tools. While the handbook was written for PAOs in the Navy, it offers great insight into how other military and government agency PAOs might use the technology. For those interested in learning more about emerging media, the basics, or the innovative ideas coming from the technologies, the Navy handbook is a great read! The 52-page document is full of infographics, pictures, graphs, and step-by-step instructions on all things social media.

—If you’re looking to get into the realm of social media for the purpose of interacting with a wide variety of demographics and audiences, you need to understand to whom you’re marketing and how they interact with social media. Government media blog OhMyGov took a look at the U.S. social media audience in 2011 and analyzed what they found. According to Quancast, Facebook and YouTube are almost even for the title of most visited platform meaning nearly half of all Americans check into the sites at least once a month! There are more women than men on Facebook with a 55:45 ratio; women post between 10 and 26 times per month while men only post between 7 and 17 times. Twitter and YouTube are more diverse platforms with 31% and 27% of members being non-white, respectively. Surprisingly, social media is fairly representative of the U.S. as a whole.

—On Thursday morning, as South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak arrived at the White House, several dozen tweeters were on the scene to chronicle to the event. In addition to foreign dignitaries and the usual reporters, the White House invited a number of tweeters to witness and report the event via social media. While the White House and Obama Administration are known for their active status on social media platforms, inviting tweeters to the scene was a new approach to getting the news out!

—With a digital revolution afoot in the federal government, Mashable took the opportunity to learn more about the role of technology in diplomacy through State Department Senior Advisor for Innovation Alec Ross. In charge of expanding the use of technology in U.S. foreign affairs and development, Ross works with the State Department to help develop communities around the world through innovation. As the international community makes leaps and bound in technology innovation, cities and countries around the globe have the opportunity to access resources previously unknown or unavailable, such as a place to voice grievances and opinions. Through technology innovation, people have the ability to network and access organizations that can better their communities and way of life.

—While you may really like your freedom, do you really “like” it? In a social media experiment, the Constitution has been broken down into parts – the Bill of Rights, All Amendments, or Full Constitution – and given individual Facebook “like” buttons. Amendments with the most ‘likes’ are moved towards the top of the page. At the top, the Likeable Constitution has garnered 917 ‘likes’ for the First Amendment and 404 ‘likes’ for the Fourth Amendment. While the experiment is a fun way to rank the most American of documents, it’s an interesting look into the public knowledge and recognition of the Constitution while expanding people’s awareness.

—With the increasing government interest in social media, the industry giants are realizing the benefits of hiring Washington policy and lobbyist figures to better prepare themselves for the road ahead. In the wake of Twitter’s recent hires, Facebook recently announced it’s continuing hiring with White House and privacy experts. Aligning itself with the political world, Facebook looks to add well-connected people as policy resources and decision-makers as privacy issues become more a hot topic in the media. As online security and safety continue to be a public concern, Facebook is looking for leaders in those areas to boost government relations and reduce fear of breaches or problems in the systems.

—With the challenges piling up, the National Institutes of Health is joining the movement but offering a different sort of prize. Through Challenge.gov, NIH is asking people to participate in a challenge by submitting a video or music lyrics that celebrate healthy living or the dangers of drug abuse. The winner, announced during Drug Abuse National Drug Facts Week, will be invited to attend the GRAMMY Awards Backstage Experience in Los Angeles to check out the artists rehearse before the show. First through third place winners will have their entries posted on the GRAMMY365 website, MTV Act blog, and Above the Influence website. Submissions are due October 10.

—While the U.S. Army supports mobile technology, it’s not so easy to get the software applications. The Army’s Chief Information Officer Maj. Gen. Mark Bowman says there are two hurdles slowing down the process of arming soldiers with smartphones in the field. One issue is the intellectual property associated with development. As public and private developers continue to innovate, intellectual property rights and monetization becomes more difficult. The second issue is the Army’s tendency to aim for perfection. Instead, Bowman encourages developers to go for it, test in early stages, and then move forward if plausible. To take advantage of all these apps, what the Army really wants is a great battery – one that holds charge for long periods of time.