13 Steps to Community Engagement

Communities sometimes struggle with effective engagement. Below are 13 steps that have helped other communities.

Not all steps will necessarily suit all situations so you may wish to pick and choose. (Note that the first 3 steps are what I'd call foundational rather than action oriented).

1 - Adopt a Marketing Mindset

2 - Do it Properly or Not At All

3 - Don't Engage for the Sake of Engagement.

4 - Prepare a Pithy Positive Passion-filled Purpose

5 - Form a Planning Group

6 - Identify Your Stakeholders (the 'Whole System')

7 - Identify Your Major Stakeholder Groups

8 - Identify Stakeholder Group Needs

9 - Use Appropriate Messages Based on Stakeholder's Needs

10 - Use Appropriate Channels Relevant to Each Stakeholder Group

11 - Describe the Initiative in Your Communication

12 - Build Credibility for the Initiative

13 - Offer Incentives If Necessary

More detail on each of these steps is available in our free report The Facts About Community Engagement - 13 Steps To Raising the Right Crowd.

If anybody has any others, lets hear them.