Tips For Writing Community Engagement Plans

B2B tech companies are addicted to getting you to subscribe to their corporate echo chamber newsletter graveyard, where they dump their latest self-love notes. It's a cesspool of "Look at us!" and "We're pleased to announce..." drivel that suffocates originality and murders interest. Each link, each event recap and each funding announcement is another shovel of dirt on the grave of what could have been engaging content. UNSUBSCRIBE What if, instead of serving up the same old reheated corporate leftovers, your content could slap your audience awake? Ego-stroking company updates are out. 1. The pain point deep dive: Start by mining the deepest anxieties, challenges and questions your audience faces. Use forums, social media, customer feedback and even direct interviews to uncover the raw nerve you're going to press. 2. The unconventional wisdom: Challenge the status quo of your industry. If everyone's zigging, you zag. This could mean debunking widely held beliefs, proposing counterintuitive strategies or sharing insights that only insiders know but don't talk about. Be the mythbuster of your domain. 3. The narrative hook: Every piece of content should tell a story, and every story needs a hook that grabs from the first sentence. Use vivid imagery, compelling questions or startling statements to make it impossible to scroll past. Your opening should be a rabbit hole inviting Alice to jump in. 4. The value payload: This is the core of your content. Each piece should deliver actionable insights, deep dives or transformative information. Give your audience something so valuable that they can't help but use, save and share it. Think tutorials, step-by-step guides or even entertaining content that delivers laughs or awe alongside insight. 5. The personal touch: Inject your personality or brand's voice into every piece. Share personal anecdotes, failures and successes. 6. The engagement spark: End with a call to action that encourages interaction. Ask a provocative question, encourage them to share their own stories or challenge them to apply what they've learned and share the results. Engagement breeds community, and community amplifies your reach. 7. The multi-platform siege: Repurpose your anchor content across platforms. Turn blog posts into podcast episodes, summaries into tweets or LinkedIn posts and key insights into Instagram stories. Each piece of content should work as a squad, covering different fronts but pushing the same message. Without impressive anchor content, you won't have anything worth a lick in your newsletter. 8. The audience dialogue: Engage directly with your audience's feedback. Respond to comments, ask for their input on future topics and even involve them in content creation through surveys or co-creation opportunities. Make your content worth spreading, and watch as your audience does the heavy lifting for you. And please stop with the corporate navel-gazing. #newsletters #b2btech #ThatAshleyAmber

👍 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

Like many in B2B, I’ve seen my clients struggle with building an engaged community. That's why we decided to try something out of the ordinary: focusing on relationship-building over broadcasting. Here’s how we did it: Step 1: Engage with your audience on a personal level. Step 2: Create value-driven content that sparks conversation. Step 3: Build a space where your audience feels heard (forums, groups, etc.). Step 4: Consistently nurture those relationships with follow-ups. These steps address the challenge by fostering genuine connection instead of just pushing content. The results were nothing short of remarkable: Increased engagement by 60% in just three months. This experience has taught me that community-building is key to sustainable growth.  It's clear that the power lies in creating two-way conversations, not one-way broadcasts. Have you ever considered or tried something similar in your field? #b2b #communitybuilding