Community outreach is a vital skill for connecting with diverse audiences and creating positive social impact. But how do you share your best practices with other outreach pros? In this article, you'll learn some tips and tools to exchange ideas, feedback, and resources with your peers in the outreach field.
One of the easiest ways to share your best practices with other outreach pros is to join online communities where you can network, discuss, and learn from each other. There are many platforms and forums where you can find like-minded people who are passionate about outreach, such as LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups, Slack channels, Reddit subreddits, and Quora spaces. You can also look for niche communities that focus on specific topics or sectors related to your outreach goals, such as education, health, environment, or social justice. By joining online communities, you can showcase your work, ask questions, offer advice, and discover new opportunities.
Another way to share your best practices with other outreach pros is to attend virtual events that are relevant to your field and interests. Virtual events can range from webinars, workshops, and conferences to podcasts, panels, and interviews. They can help you stay updated on the latest trends, insights, and best practices in outreach, as well as connect with speakers, organizers, and attendees. You can find virtual events on platforms like Eventbrite, Meetup, Zoom, and YouTube, or follow your favorite organizations, influencers, and media outlets that host or promote them. By attending virtual events, you can learn new skills, get inspired, and expand your network.
A third way to share your best practices with other outreach pros is to create and share content that showcases your expertise, experience, and achievements in outreach. Content can include blog posts, articles, case studies, reports, infographics, videos, podcasts, or social media posts. You can create content on your own website, blog, or portfolio, or contribute to other platforms that accept guest posts or submissions. You can also share your content on the online communities and virtual events that you join or attend, or use hashtags, keywords, and tags to reach a wider audience. By creating and sharing content, you can demonstrate your value, build your reputation, and attract potential collaborators.
It’s so important to share because we learn together through this process. Community outreach should never be viewed as a competitive effort because rising tides lifts all boats.
A fourth way to share your best practices with other outreach pros is to participate in peer mentoring programs or initiatives that match you with other outreach professionals who can offer or receive guidance, support, and feedback. Peer mentoring can be formal or informal, one-on-one or group-based, short-term or long-term, depending on your preferences and needs. You can find peer mentoring opportunities on platforms like MentorCruise, MentorCloud, or MicroMentor, or through your online communities and virtual events. You can also create your own peer mentoring circle or group with people you trust and respect. By participating in peer mentoring, you can exchange knowledge, skills, and perspectives, and grow together.
A fifth way to share your best practices with other outreach pros is to use collaboration tools that enable you to work together on projects, tasks, or goals that involve outreach. Collaboration tools can include project management tools, communication tools, file sharing tools, brainstorming tools, or feedback tools. Some examples are Trello, Slack, Google Drive, Miro, and SurveyMonkey. You can use collaboration tools with your existing team, partners, or clients, or with new people you meet through your online communities, virtual events, or peer mentoring. By using collaboration tools, you can streamline your workflow, improve your efficiency, and enhance your results.
When I was a Ph.D. student, Trello and Dropbox helped me to organize, set goals, and archive my writing drafts for my dissertation and other academic materials for future instructional use. I would also suggest Microsoft Teams and Google drive for document collaborations, editing personal writing, and resource sharing.
A sixth way to share your best practices with other outreach pros is to experiment and adapt your outreach strategies and methods based on your own data, feedback, and learning. Outreach is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and what works for one situation, audience, or goal may not work for another. Therefore, you need to constantly test, measure, and improve your outreach performance and outcomes, and share your findings and lessons with other outreach pros. You can use tools like Google Analytics, Mailchimp, or Hootsuite to track and analyze your outreach metrics, and use platforms like Medium, SlideShare, or YouTube to share your experiments and adaptations. By experimenting and adapting, you can innovate, optimize, and share your best practices with other outreach pros.