6 elements 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.
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? Learn from Stirling Council’s experience in 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 made 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.
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. Action, please!
The main goal of community engagement isn’t just to hear what your community has to say, but to use that input as a catalyst for positive change. Once you’ve collected and processed your community’s ideas and opinions, it’s crucial to turn words into action, set up an implementation plan, and measure the impact of your efforts.
Deep dive? Learn all about measuring the impact of your participation project 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
With these 6 elements in place, you have all the tools you need to facilitate a successful community engagement project. Ready to launch yours?
