Communication
It is really important to make sure your event or project is advertised well. You want other residents to know about the exciting opportunities on offer. So you need to be able to spread the word in a visual and obvious way.
Posters
Posters are a great way of letting people know what is happening in their area. You want to make sure your poster is eye catching and clearly demonstrates what your project is about. If you are advertising an event make sure the date is clear. Key information needs to be bold and in a large type face so they can be seen from a distance as posters are usually printed A4 size. If you can include a visual that sums up the project that always helps, so for gardening why not have a trowel? for a halloween event - a pumpkin? Think about what would catch someone's eye and clearly tell them what was happening within a few seconds.
We have included some examples and there are templates in our resource pack.
Where to put your posters?
Are there any notice boards within your estate or outside any buildings in the surrounding area? Usually the estate office will have a key to these so why not ask them to pop one of your posters in their notice board so other residents can see when walking past.
Ask the estate office if they are happy to put one in their window. Or why not put one in yours and ask your neighbours?
Lampposts, storage buildings, sheds and space that is likely to get a lot of people passing by is a great place ( aslong as it doesn’t obstruct other important information and isn’t on someones personal property without permission).
Leaflets
You can only have one side of information on a poster, that’s where leaflets come in very handy.
As these are two sided, you can always re-use your poster design and add more details on the back side of the leaflet. For this it is always good to share a bit of info about the project, who you are and how residents can get involved. Make sure these are clear and readable as leaflets are usually printed smaller than posters - A5 or A6 is a good size to work with. When applying for your grant make sure to add in a cost for your leaflet printing. We would encourage you to use a local printer but there are also many options online that are quick and easy to use.
How to distribute your leaflet?
Hand posting your leaflets will ensure that everyone on your estate receives one, as you are the one in charge of distributing! Why not ask a neighbour to help as depending on the size of your estate this can take some time.
Door knocking
From experience, talking with your neighbours in person has always been the most successful way to spread the word. However during these times it is much harder to bump into your neighbours.
Door knocking is a great way to talk to your neighbours on their terms ( and nowadays it is more likely they will be in!). Make sure you choose a reasonable hour, nothing too late or early. It’s good to think about how you would respond to someone knocking on your door before you go ahead. It’s always good to have something to hand over when knocking so bring along your leaflets.
Recommended Do’s and Don’ts with door knocking and hand delivering:
- Do not enter someone elses home
- Introduce yourself and your reason for knocking
- If someone is busy or not interested, thank them and leave
- Only knock once, if you get no answer post your leaflet through their letterbox
On the next page is an example of a poster design and a bit of guidance on what to include. For leaflets you can print double sided, so why not use the poster design on one side and on the other anymore information you might need to include. You might want to ask residents to RSVP or bring certain materials which you can include on the other side.