Social media in the public relations strategy of the cities of Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to analyze trends and evaluate the role of social media in the public relations strategy of major cities of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province. Selected aspects of the activities of Polish cities in social media (public relations, image activity, and the strategy of entities responsible for city communication on the Internet) were analyzed. Design/methodology/approach: The research analyzed literature on the development of social media and its use by Polish cities. Compilations and reports covering users' online activity were analyzed. A survey was conducted by means of a Google questionnaire on groups associating residents of 3 cities in Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship. Findings: Social media is becoming a tool for thoughtful creation and strengthening of the city's brand, as well as proper two-way communication. Thanks to the activities undertaken as part of agglomeration marketing, residents present in the virtual space should become true fans identifying with their place of residence, and through this, ambassadors of the place. Research limitations/implications: Future research may be related to the creation of mentoring programs in the area under study. Practical implications: The results of the survey can be used as input for designing training programs in the study area. Social implications: Social media marketing means promotion conducted through a variety of means. This forces city managers to be dynamically flexible and look for solutions that can optimize promotional and communication processes online. The challenge facing the management of such communications is not only to encourage people to look at these profiles more often, but also to increase interactivity. Originality/value: This article is mainly addressed to city managers who want to implement and improve the image strategy of the metropolis. Keywords: social media, public relations, strategy.