Raising Hometown Voices to a New Level of Influence SC City County Management Association January 18, 2008

Big picture questions to consider What are your city/county’s strategic goals? How do you develop a common message around these goals and ensure everyone is using these messages? What are your resources to communicate these goals? How do you illustrate these goals for residents and businesses?

Why Plan? Gives your day-to-day work a focus Helps you set priorities Provides you with a sense of order and control Keeps everyone on message Protects you against last-minute, seat-of- the-pants demands from internal and external sources

The “5 A” elements of a plan Aim - What is your goal and message? Audience - Who are you trying to reach (think beyond the “general public”) Action - What do you want them to do/remember? Avenues – What tools do you use to communicate? Accomplishment – How do you know if you succeed?

How do you measure success? News clips “Fingerprint” index Web hits Formal surveys Call to action results Intangibles

Hometown, SC Aim – Raise hometown voices to a new level of influence Audience – Key influencers and policy makers Action – Advocate on behalf of strong cities Avenues – Variety of resources Accomplishment - “Fingerprints” of the message/positive news

Hometown, SC approach Media relations Events Grassroots/grasstops advocacy Content/resources – Hometown Happenings, “Cities Mean Business” campaign

Questions? Reba Campbell