How do I know which CORE category my topic fits under?

 

Each category has a little description underneath explaining what it means. Think about the outcome you are trying to achieve when deciding – are you empowering someone to make a change in their behaviour? Ensuring operational effectiveness? Building greater understanding of council policies, processes and decision-making? Or is it simply about making council look good?

 

Still not sure? Give someone from the communication and events team a call and we can help you out.

 

What if it fits under more than one?

That’s a-ok! A lot will fall under more than one outcome. Choose what you think is the more important objective, but also the more obtainable.

 

How do I know what the outcome is?

Every time we undertake an activity there is a cost involved. Sometimes it’s just time, sometimes it’s time and a material cost, like advertising. And there’s the ancillary cost of providing the public relations service, such as our subscriptions and IT.

 

Therefore, if we undertake an activity, we need to evaluate whether the time and effort we spent was worth it! 

 

Every activity must have an outcome—something that you want to achieve—a goal.

 

If you want to inform people of a new service, then the goal might be that 100 people sign up for the service by a particular date. 

 

If you want to explain a rates rise, the goal could be less complaints received through customer service and more positive sentiment on social media.

 

How do I evaluate success?

Set a tangible measurement from the get-go.

 

This shouldn’t be a tick and flick exercise, there should be a real outcome you are trying to achieve and this communications piece, marketing campaign or promotion should help you to get there.

 

The number of media mentions or participants in a survey don’t necessarily equate to success.

 

Think about the true goal – if it’s to raise awareness of the libraries First 5 Forever program, success would be an increase in participants. If it’s to explain the local laws governing responsible pet ownership it would be less infringement notices. A greater understanding of the budget process? It might be a survey before and after which shows an improvement in your target audience’s awareness and sentiment.