How to Improve Community Update Communication

👍 If I were the Public Information Officer or Communications Director for a city—even just for one day—here’s exactly what I’d do to deliver measurable impact. 🎯 First, I’d ensure existing residents feel informed, valued, and included. That starts with clear messaging across social media, email newsletters, and neighborhood groups. I'd prioritize timely updates, upcoming events, and city initiatives that actually affect their daily lives—because consistency builds trust. 🎯 Second, I’d establish a new resident onboarding strategy. When someone moves into the city, they should automatically be welcomed with a digital or print “Welcome Packet” that introduces key services, contact info, event calendars, trash and recycling schedules, and how to stay connected with city updates. This builds immediate engagement and prevents confusion. 🎯 Third, I’d create a direct line of communication with existing businesses—not just when permits are due, but throughout the year. That could include a monthly “Business Brief” email with updates on city projects, economic initiatives, grant opportunities, or upcoming public works that may impact foot traffic or operations. When businesses feel supported, they stay longer and reinvest in the community. 🎯 Fourth, for new business license recipients, I’d trigger an automated outreach campaign—perhaps an email or personal welcome letter from the mayor’s office—thanking them for choosing the city. I’d link them to business support services, networking groups, ribbon cutting opportunities, and a city contact they can actually call. ✔️ The common thread? Proactive communication that’s tailored, timely, and genuinely helpful. Too often, cities are reactive. But if you plan ahead, you can build systems that engage the public year-round, not just when there’s a road closure or an emergency. ✔️ Smart communication isn’t loud—it’s strategic. And if I were running a city’s communications for a day, that strategy would reach the right people with the right message at the right time. #PublicRelations #CommunityEngagement: #CityCommunications #ResidentOutreach #NewResidentWelcome #SupportLocalBusiness #TargetRiver #TheTargetMarketer

Develop a Multi-Channel Communication Strategy using this 7-Step Framework I crafted a framework to create a dynamic, inclusive & repeatable communication strategy to keep residents informed, engaged & motivated to participate in community activities Here's my 7-step framework to develop & implement this strategy: 1️⃣ IDENTIFY AUDIENCE Importance: Understanding the audience helps us tailor the communication methods to their needs & preferences Actions: 1. Segment audience based on demographics (e.g., older residents may prefer direct mail, while younger residents may favor social media) 2. Gather input through surveys & conversations to learn which communication channels most used 3. Identify key community groups (e.g., families, small business owners, students, seniors) & unique interests 2️⃣ CHOOSE RIGHT COMMUNICATION CHANNELS Importance: Not everyone consumes information the same way, so using multiple channels maximizes reach Channels to include: 1. Direct Mail: Ideal for older residents or those without reliable internet access. Send postcards or newsletters highlighting key events 2. Social Media: Use platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) to share updates & details 3. Website & Bulletin Boards: Place posters/flyers in high-traffic areas 4. Local Media: Work with newspapers/radio/TV to promote events 5. Email Newsletters: Create an opt-in email list for those who prefer digital updates 3️⃣ CREATE CONSISTENT MESSAGING Importance: Clear & consistent messaging builds trust & strengthens engagement Actions: 1. Use a friendly & inclusive tone 2. Highlight impact of participation 3. Keep messages concise & visually appealing 4️⃣ DEVELOP CONTENT CALENDAR Importance: A content calendar ensures regular updates & prevents communication gaps Actions: 1. Plan posts & mailings a month in advance For example: Wk 1: Send a community newsletter Wk 2: Post event reminders Wk 3: Share success stories Wk 4: Promote upcoming initiatives with a call-to-action 2. Schedule reminders for key dates like meetings or volunteer events 5️⃣ ENCOURAGE 2-WAY COMMUNICATION Importance: Engagement improves when residents feel heard & involved. Actions: 1. Include feedback forms in mailings, social media, or newsletters 2. Host live Q&A sessions on social media or during in-person events 3. Create a designated email or phone line for residents to share ideas/concerns 6️⃣ MEASURE & ADJUST Importance: Regular evaluation ensures #strategy is effective & responsive to community needs Actions: 1. Track participation metrics (e.g., attendance) 2. Collect feedback through surveys or informal discussions 3. Adjust strategy based on what works best 7️⃣ BUILD SENSE OF COMMUNITY Importance: Creating a sense of belonging encourages participation Actions: 1. Share stories & spotlight resident contributions 2. Use visuals to showcase outcomes 3. Celebrate milestones! What else do you think we should be doing? #Government #innovation

The Resident Relationship Gap: Why Your Communication Strategy Deserves a Second Look. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬: You might be undermining your resident relationships without realizing it. When was the last time you evaluated all of your communications for tone? Most resident messaging falls into one of three tones: ▪️Authoritative ("Our policy is...") ▪️Indifferent ("This is to inform you...") ▪️Caring ("We're working to resolve this for you...") How residents perceive the tone, impacts their feelings about your community and management team. 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Review all your regular notices and automated messaging: ✔️Applicants ✔️Service requests ✔️Temporarily out of service ✔️Emergency repairs ✔️Renewal offers ✔️Inspection notices Could you revise the tone to be more positive or reaffirming? 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: Gate Malfunction Notice 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞: "The main access gate is currently not functioning. Our gate repair company has been notified. We apologize for any inconvenience." 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: "Our team is actively working to bring the main gate back online, which is temporarily out of service. For your convenience, we've secured the gate in the open position until our vendor completes repairs. We appreciate your patience and will update you once everything is back to normal." The second version maintains professionalism while showing residents you value their experience and recognize the impact of the situation. Small adjustments to your communication tone can transform transactional relationships into community connections that drive retention and referrals. Do you think the residents might respond differently to the two messages about the gate? Besides the 2nd message being warmer, what else does it say that the 1st message does not?