What type of user are you?
|
Top Ten Tips
- Check external perceptions of your centre/programme among potential target audiences before you start. This will help you develop a communications strategy that gives you a distinct and credible voice.
- Begin with a statement of your objectives in communicating the project, don't simply restate the objectives of the project itself. Make them clear, simple and measurable.
- Be clear on the principles underpinning your strategy. Some may be self-evident, like producing honest, succinct, credible and cost-effective communications. But also think about what you are prepared to do, and not do, as part of your communication strategy.
- Develop some simple messages and model how these might work in different contexts - a press release, a report, a newspaper article, a website page. Remember that you can be succinct without 'dumbing down'. Make sure your project is branded in line with your communication objectives.
- Be clear about your target audiences and user groups and prioritise them according to importance and influence relative to your objectives. Don't just think about the 'usual suspects'.
- Think about both the actual and preferred channels your target audiences might use and challenge yourself about whether you are planning to use the right ones for maximum impact.
- Include a full list of all the relevant communications activities, developed into a working project plan with deadlines and responsibilities. Keep it flexible but avoid being vague.
- Keep it manageable and don't underestimate the time involved in communication. Include key deadlines, milestones and review points.
- Estimate the time and money involved. The ESRC recommends that around five per cent of the total funded research budget should be allocated for communication. Ensure value for money by targeting communication effectively: prioritising the audiences and channels and focusing on high impact/low cost activity. Buy in specialist help where necessary.
- Build in some simple evaluation measures at the start so that you'll know if and how you have succeeded in meeting your communication objectives.
|
|
|