Since our early days, Go Vocal has worked with over 500 local governments and organisations across 20+ countries. And that has taught us a thing or two. For example, that community engagement doesn’t have to be hard, and that it should be accessible to all local governments and organisations. All it takes is an adequate community engagement strategy. Now, let’s take a look at what that entails.
6 pillars of an effective community engagement strategy
1. A clear purpose
Community engagement doesn’t have to be hard, but it does have to be intentional. Never underestimate the power of a clear purpose. Aligning on the “why” upfront can help you grow buy-in internally and within your community, stay on track with your timeline, and adjust your strategy if needed.So before you start, articulate your goals. Are you aiming to:
- increase the overall participation from community members?
- engage specific groups?
- improve transparency?
- become more data-driven?
It's entirely possible to combine different of these goals in your community engagement strategy. By doing so, you can create a more comprehensive, effective, and impactful approach.
Deep dive? Check out our beginner’s guide on digital community engagement to help set you up for success from idea to execution.
2. Smooth internal organisation
Often, we’re so focused on engaging our communities that we forget to convince our internal teams. Along the way, you might need to get your mayor on board, or engage other departments in the process. They’ll also need to know how you want them to be involved, who leads and supports projects, and how they can launch their own community engagement efforts. Community engagement is a team effort, and internal organisation can make or break your chances of success.
Deep dive? Read our guide on building a community engagement culture and discover ways of organising internally for a smooth and successful project.
3. An inclusive approach
If you’re looking to engage your community, setting up an inclusive project that represents its unique diversity is vital. All voices should matter equally, and special efforts should be included in your engagement strategy to empower those who aren’t usually heard. Only by involving different groups and demographics within your community can you develop solutions and policies that truly benefit all.
An impactful effective community engagement strategy includes a diverse range of engagement methods and recognises the unique strengths and values of each method. Today, community members want to participate on their terms and on their preferred platforms. In other words: wherever they are, whenever they want, and via the medium that best suits their preferences.
By combining online and offline methods – across the different rungs of the participation ladder – and proactively reaching out to community members, you can ensure that everyone has opportunities to participate.
Deep dive? Learn how to set up an inclusive community engagement project that is accessible to all and represents a variety of voices.
4. Clear and continuous communication
Actively involving community members starts with the basics. Making sure people know about your project and have all the information needed to participate. A solid communication strategy will help you reach your target audience(s), identify the right channels, and tweak your messages accordingly. By bringing people along on your project’s journey, they’ll feel more committed to it.
Deep dive? Read all about setting up a communication strategy to make sure your engagement project is seen, heard, and trusted by the community.
5. Clarity on how you’ll measure the impact of community engagement
If you're committed to continuous improvement in your community engagement efforts, you need a clear understanding of your current performance. Measuring community engagement KPIs helps assess your participation projects and strategy, improve processes, and show how public input shapes decisions. Make sure to define the key metrics you'll track in your engagement strategy.
Deep dive? Learn more about measuring the impact of community engagement to make your efforts count.
6. A continuity mindset
Once you’ve made an effort to engage your community, why not keep it going? Setting up cycles of engagement, rather than isolated or stand-alone projects, is a surefire way to keep your community engaged and receptive. On top of that, it shows community members you’re serious about involving them. This, in turn, will make them more motivated to participate in future projects.
Deep dive? Read more about strategies for closing feedback loops to ensure you maintain trust and promote continuous engagement with your community.
Community engagement strategy – the summary
These six pillars provide a comprehensive framework for effective community engagement. Are you ready to put them into action? Download Go Vocal’s self-developed community engagement strategy template!
