The power of positive publicity can’t be underestimated. It isn’t just important for the morale of your group, you never know who might be listening, reading or watching. It could be potential volunteers, sponsors, fundraisers or policy makers, the list goes on!
There are lots of communications channels to choose from and new trends are always emerging. We’ll be keeping this information as up to date as possible with hints and tips, so please keep checking back.
If you need any further support, please contact our Marketing and Communications Team.
What are you trying to achieve? Your constitution should clearly set out your aims and objectives which will inform your approach to any publicity.
Who are you trying to reach? Having a clear focus will help you to define your audience before you to decide which communications channels to use. Keep reading for more information on the key channels available.
What is your budget? Design support, printing and advertising all cost money. The good news is there are plenty of free platforms and tools available to help you publicise your activities effectively.
This could also be a great opportunity to secure some in kind support. Do you know someone with graphic design, marketing or communications experience? Perhaps you could ask them to volunteer some of their time support your group.
If you’re looking for new volunteers, a simple first step is to make sure you’re on our Community Group Map, which brings together details of groups across the country.
This is where we signpost any potential volunteers who want to make a difference in their community for the long-term.
To get your group on the map, you just need to complete a short form, letting us know what you do, when you meet and how people can get in touch.
The world of social media is always changing, and new channels come and go. Whichever platform you choose, you’ll need to dedicate time to looking after it. This means making sure the information in your profile is kept up to date, interacting with your followers and, crucially, posting regularly. Here’s an overview of three of the most popular channels and why they’re so useful to community groups:
Facebook is still the largest social media platform in the word. It’s great for storytelling and sharing information about your group. Local Facebook pages and groups are a great way to share news and events. We have our own Facebook Group designed to support volunteers and community groups.
Instagram is a visual platform, based around pictures and videos. If your group has a lot of budding photographers and filmmakers, Instagram may be the one for you. It’s a good opportunity to showcase the impact of your work. Think ‘before and after’ photos, timelapse videos and short interviews with your volunteers.
X (formerly known as Twitter) is all about having real-time conversations. You’ll find lots of journalists, Members of the Senedd and Members of Parliament on X – this is useful if you’re looking to run a campaign. With a 280-character limit, be sure to keep your messaging snappy and to the point.
Did you know, tens of thousands of social media posts are sent every second? This can make it difficult to stand out. Here are a few tips to help ensure people stop and click on your posts.
Posts that include photos and videos always perform better than those without. But please don’t forget that consent must be gathered before sharing anyone’s image.
Social media graphics can also help grab attention; just make sure any wording is kept as short and snappy as possible. Free design tools like Canva are packed full of templates for different social media platforms.
Hashtags act as labels, grouping together conversations, which allows people to find similar content. Most popular on X and Instagram, hashtags are a great way of connecting with a wider audience.
Don’t forget to use our main hashtags:
By using our hashtags, you can join the conversations being had by our followers and supporters and boost your group’s profile.
All social media channels give the option to tag other accounts in your posts. By doing so, you can encourage better engagement with your content, and therefore increase the reach your posts have, through exposure to those channels’ followers.
Emojis are an easy way to convey feelings. Including up to three emojis will help give your posts personality.
However, it is worth noting that too many irrelevant emojis can switch a reader off!
Every channel enables you to see how your posts are performing. By regularly looking at the analytics or insights you can start to develop a better understanding of who you’re talking to, when they’re online and what posts they’re enjoying the most.
Follow or like relevant groups, individuals, and organisations. Take inspiration from their content and engage with their posts. This will help with your own following by alerting individuals, with interests similar to your group, to your channels.
Looking for inspiration? Pontardawe community group, My Green Valley My Green Valley utilised social media to help get their Green Pitch Pledge off the ground.
> Read My Green Valley’s story
Linking to your social channels on any publicity materials will help direct traffic to your most dynamic means of communication; this could be on flyers, QR codes on posters or even on press releases.
It may seem obvious, but local media (newspapers, websites and broadcast channels) want good local stories, or a local angle on a national story, especially with a human interest.
A well-written press release is a quick and cost-effective way of raising awareness and reaching a broader audience. The brilliant team at Cardiff-based PR agency Working Word have put together a short guide on how to write effective press releases.
> Download the guidance
Most local newspapers will provide contact details for journalists on their websites or Facebook pages. You can also submit stories directly on a lot of online news sites, such as In Your Area.
Word of mouth is still an incredibly powerful tool – particularly when it comes to attracting new volunteers. Don’t be afraid to ask your current volunteers, supporters, friends, and family to help you spread the word. Perhaps this could be a regular call to action at the end of your events?
