This section offers a step-by-step guide to putting together a strategy. Every strategy is different, but you can use these steps as a template to develop your own.

Your strategy takes you from where you are now to where you want to be. It doesn't have to be a lengthy document but it does have to be a living document.

The key points are to:

• Keep it simple
• Make it targeted – do the right things; don't try to do everything 
• Involve the whole research team – gather ideas and build ownership
• Communicate it effectively within the team
• Communicate it to the ESRC if you are a large investment that has received ESRC funding
• Build in review mechanisms to measure effectiveness and plan ahead 
• Update it regularly in the light of experience and opportunities 
• Share successes and knowledge about what works and what doesn't

This step-by-step guide covers:

• Setting objectives
• Developing messages
• Targeting audiences
• Choosing channels
• Planning activities
• Allocating resources
• Measuring success