Online consultation : How to make my consultation known ?

Just because it's online doesn't mean it's magic! Think about how much you, yourself, are solicited on Facebook, LinkedIn, radio and other media. Your consultation needs to carve out a little space between the pretty chat images, the teacher email and the Facebook events.

• Your available budget for this step: plan it now
• Your expert resources: what you can do in-house versus what will be done under contract
• Your target audience: be where your audience is!
• Identify the content and try to reuse the same content several times

“Traditionnal” Medias

• Invite a journalist to write an article on the subject of your consultation; it's free
• Buy an ad in the local newspaper
• Advertise on the radio
• Print posters and put them up in public places visited by your target audience
• Distribute invitation cards in mailboxes
• Participate in a television show on the community channel

Electronic Médias 

• Promote it on your website: an article, a banner, in the drop-down menu, a "Participate in the consultation" button
• Host a webinar to provide relevant information about your consultation topic
• Offer a live, online Q&A session to address citizens' concerns
• Write an article in your email newsletter

 Social Medias

• Post an image that represents your consultation well, is polished and will catch the eye
• Post examples of contributions such as a community proposal that stands out for its popularity or originality
• Share the evolution of participation (25 people have already spoken, will you be next?)

Be Creative...

• Put up a banner inviting participation in the locations where your consultation will take place, such as a standing "flag" in a park or on the side of a boulevard
• If you are targeting a less connected or technology-savvy population, offer the option of participating on paper or by phone 
• Offer prizes to all consultation participants: a pair of tickets to a show, a meal at a local restaurant, artisan products