How can you create a sense of urgency in your community outreach message?

1 Define the problem

The first step to creating a sense of urgency is to define the problem that your community outreach message addresses. You need to show your audience why they should care about the issue and how it affects them or others. Use clear and specific language to describe the problem, its causes, its consequences, and its scope. Avoid vague or abstract terms that might confuse or bore your audience. For example, instead of saying "Climate change is a serious threat to our planet", you could say "Climate change is causing more frequent and severe wildfires, droughts, and floods that endanger lives, homes, and ecosystems".

2 Explain the solution

The next step to creating a sense of urgency is to explain the solution that your community outreach message offers. You need to show your audience how they can help solve the problem and what benefits they will gain from doing so. Use positive and actionable language to describe the solution, its feasibility, its impact, and its value. Avoid negative or passive language that might discourage or disempower your audience. For example, instead of saying "We need to reduce our carbon emissions to prevent further damage", you could say "We can reduce our carbon emissions by switching to renewable energy sources and saving money on our bills".

3 Create a deadline

The third step to creating a sense of urgency is to create a deadline for your community outreach message. You need to show your audience that they have a limited time to act and that delaying or ignoring the message will have negative consequences. Use precise and realistic language to set a deadline, its rationale, its urgency, and its implications. Avoid ambiguous or unrealistic language that might undermine or exaggerate the deadline. For example, instead of saying "We need to act now before it's too late", you could say "We have until the end of the month to sign this petition and urge our government to adopt a green recovery plan".

4 Call to action

The final step to creating a sense of urgency is to call your audience to action. You need to show your audience what they need to do and how they can do it. Use simple and direct language to give a clear and specific instruction, its purpose, its ease, and its reward. Avoid complex or vague language that might confuse or distract your audience. For example, instead of saying "Please support our cause and spread the word", you could say "Click the link below to donate $10 and receive a free reusable water bottle".

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?