1. Creative Ways to Communicate with Residents
Jason D. Grant, CPM

2. “One cannot not communicate.”
What is Communication?
Content that is created, arranged, articulated and presented strategically for the purpose of informing or positioning your audience to a particular point of view or to take a specific action
We often focus on tactics when it come to communication. Let’s put out a press release. Let’s send out an . Yet, we need to realize everything we do, and everything we do not do, is communicating something to our audience – even if it’s unintentional. Therefore we must be strategic instead of tactical.
“One cannot not communicate.”
Watzlawick, Beavin and Jackson

3. Modes of Communication
Messaging
Mass Media
Social Media
Website
Print Publications
Video

4. Measuring Creativity
How do we determine whether something is creative?

5. Effectiveness

6. Develop a Brand Identity

7. What is your core identity?
What is your reason for existence?
Who is your audience?
What do you offer to your customer?

8. Unified Voice Customer recognizes organization Any Department
Any Product
Any Service

9. Consistency in Decision-Making
Have a reason for everything you do
Always tie decisions back to your identity
Let the data tell you when you need to make a shift
“We are what we consistently do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit”
--Aristotle

10. Value Proposition to Audience
Create a unique place in the market
Identify the value of services and products offered
Clarity of role and value of the organization

11. Key Considerations

12. Mass Media Change in business of print media creates opportunity
How we communicate with the media needs to change
Mass media is changing. Newspapers are shuttering. Media outlets are scaling back on personnel. There is a greater opportunity to get your message to your audience by creating content that is informative. Gone are the days of press releases and pitching stories. In local communities, if you want your story out to the mass public, then put it out there.

13. Social Media
Facebook – hear about what other people are doing and have a dialogue with them to share information
Twitter – to TELL people about what you’re doing or what you’ve heard (retweet) - you don’t really care about their thoughts on the matter
Pinterest – to share with and learn from others who have similar interests as you
Flickr – share your family photo albums
Instagram – Show people you really are doing what you say you’re doing
Vine – give me a quick glimpse into what you’re experiencing
YouTube – A little longer glimpse into what you’re experiencing – or give me brief entertainment
SnapChat – Doesn’t remain. Easy way to give a glimpse into what you are experiencing. It’s casual conversation - chatting

14. The only thing we have to fear is…

15. The only thing we have to fear is…

16. The only thing we have to fear is…

17. The only thing we have to fear is…

18. The only thing we have to fear is…

19. The only thing we have to fear is…

20. Print Publications Infographics Engaging images Unique dimensions
Brand Standards

21. Video Production High Definition Online Audience Entertaining
Under two minutes
Entertaining
Quality Graphics & Infographics

22. Website Mobile Responsiveness Web Applications
Allows us to consider user expectations
Content based on device
Web Applications
Allows users to receive information and services anytime, anywhere, on any device

23. Website Provide Information Offer alternative business solutions
Enhance workflow processes
Reduce direct customer interactions
Your corporate identity and your #1 employee. Will interact with more customers than anyone in your organization. Can provide the customer service needs of your customer anytime, anywhere on any device if developed correctly.

24. Blogs Be consistent Provide links to other relevant sources
Persona
Point of View
Provide links to other relevant sources
Provide links to other blog posts on your blog
Identify the audience clearly and write to that audience

25. Keys to Success

26. We can all speak and write, but we can’t all communicate effectively!
Hire Professionals
Although we have established that “One cannot not communicate,” one can absolutely communicate poorly!
We can all speak and write, but we can’t all communicate effectively!

27. Everything is “News”
The sooner we accept the fact that anything we say or do can become public and put online the better off we are.

28. Cast where they’re biting
You don’t need to use every lure in the tackle box
You don’t need to catch every fish in the lake
If you want people to eat the fish, just put it on the dining table

29. Have consistent brand internally & externally
Everything you develop and produce should be on brand regardless of audience

30. Avoid Committee Branding Decisions
It’s not about how you do things
It’s not about what you prefer
It’s not about “changing things up”

31. The Public Owns It Have a reason for everything you do
More will be said about your discourse than what you said/wrote
Once it’s released, you can’t get it back
Once you provide it to the public, it’s out of your hands.
Whether s, text messages, reports, summaries, once your discourse is released to the public, you know longer control it.

32. Discussion