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by NRC on March 19, 2020
Local governments everywhere are dealing with the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
So Polco / National Research Center experts have prepared a suite of surveys to help local governments monitor community health and respond to the current coronavirus pandemic. The surveys are pre-loaded in Polco as drafts ready for you to review, publish, and promote.
Or read the written version here
First and foremost, consider best practices for remote meetings as well as overall engagement principles and strategies. As with any successfully persuasive communication, make sure to briefly explain why the survey matters and how you will use the results. Prepare to deal proactively with negativity online that may come as a result of your communication. Use a variety of different types of outreach. Here are some ideas below:
This video, originally broadcasted in 2017, provides tips on key ways to publicize your survey.
If you are already in the habit of sending out press releases, consider sending one out about your survey. A strong press release gives local newspapers, television and radio stations a jumping-off point to report about the survey and drive awareness.
Does your community have a regular newsletter? Use that as a vehicle to promote the survey, what its purpose is, and where residents can go to ask questions or take the survey.
Your website is the first place people go to get more information about your community. Make the survey announcement visible and the details easy to find.
Many residents follow their city on social media and use their feeds as a source of news. So it’s a good idea to post about the survey on social media. Share details such as when to expect the survey and how the results will be used. If you conduct an online survey open to all residents, you can share that link on social media too. Consider best ways to use a hashtag and to tag posts, as well as other important digital marketing tactics more generally.
Market researchers have called video the language of the internet in 2020. Video is a major form of quick information sharing and driver of digital engagement right now. Having city management elaborate on camera how the survey will help the community can be beneficial for garnering participation.
Your communications professionals are essential staff in the event of a crisis. They are in-tune with how to best share important information with your community, and will be a top resource and ally for leadership moving forward.
For more information about how Polco/National Research Center is supporting local governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit this COVID-19 blog post.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for support during these trying times. We are partners in helping you communicate meaningfully with the people you serve.
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For up-to-date, accurate information on COVID-19, please visit the official website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more information regarding local government’s role with the Coronavirus pandemic, please see resources from:
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace direction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local public health departments, or providing healthcare practitioners.
Related COVID-19 Articles
Download your copy of "Make Informed Decisions with Confidence: Solving The Community Engagement Puzzle" today!
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