TL;DR — You posted the flyer. You sent the emails. You even got local media coverage. So why did only 14 people respond to your big community survey? In 2025, outreach alone isn’t enough. Here’s how to investigate what went wrong and bounce back with a smarter, more inclusive engagement strategy.
You spent weeks planning.
And still? Crickets. Barely anyone showed up. The survey had a fraction of the responses you expected. And the comments you did get didn’t reflect the full community.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Here’s the hard truth: Just because people saw your message doesn’t mean they connected with it.
Many well-intentioned public initiatives fall flat because they check the boxes of outreach—but miss the mark on connection. The result? Wasted time, low trust, and community fatigue.
Let’s look at what might’ve gone wrong.
“Take our survey now!”
It’s a call to action, sure, but is it a reason to care?
Outreach fails when it feels like a task rather than an invitation. Residents want to know:
Sending an email blast? Easy. But did it land in the inboxes of the people most affected?
Outreach fails when it reaches the wrong audience, or no audience at all.
Even the best messages flop if they hit people at the wrong time:
Engagement requires people’s attention, and attention is limited. Outreach fails when timing is driven by internal deadlines instead of resident rhythms.
You may have asked for 15 minutes. Residents thought it would take 45. Or maybe the survey was mobile-unfriendly. Or the language was too complex.
If residents gave feedback before and never saw the results—or worse, nothing changed—they’re less likely to show up again.
List every platform you used—and who actually uses it. Cross-reference that with your intended audience. Then ask: What’s missing?
Look beyond government-owned media:
Every message should answer:
Lead with outcomes, not bureaucracy. Make the ask feel like a contribution, not a chore.
Think about moments of high attention:
Pair your outreach with what’s already on people’s minds.
Let people:
The easier you make it, the more voices you’ll hear.
This is the #1 trust builder. Even if the outcome isn’t popular, showing how feedback was considered earns respect.
Use statements like:
“We heard you wanted more shade in parks. The Parks Plan now includes tree canopy targets for all new developments.”
That’s how you turn passive observers into active participants.
Engagement is built on trust, relevance, and repeatability. If your outreach flopped, it doesn’t mean people don’t care. It means it’s time to listen differently—and connect more meaningfully.
Polco helps governments:
Polco brings over 30 years of experience helping governments listen better, engage smarter, and act with confidence. Born from a legacy of scientific research and civic innovation, Polco has supported hundreds of communities in moving beyond performative outreach to meaningful participation. Whether it's through benchmark surveys, interactive simulations, or data-rich dashboards, Polco helps local leaders reach the residents they’ve been missing, gather input that reflects the full community, and turn that feedback into decisions people can trust. These aren’t just tools—they’re proven pathways to better governance.
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