How can team facilitators use data to measure their impact in community organizing?

Without clear goals you have no idea whether the time you are putting into the work you are creating is worth anything. We will always have 1 area that we are measuring with the realistic idea that other measurable factors could arise from it. However, it is key to keep in mind the original goal. Once you have this data, you can then look to go back and us the same or slightly amended details to measure what else was highlighted in the moment. There is no point starting with measuring one thing and then diverting of course to make it a success somewhere else. You need to know what did and did work to ensure that your original project was worth the time and effort it was created for.

When you are measuring data you need a starting point and it needs to be documented and managed throughout the process. We measure taking screen shots, recording times and places. It is all dependant on what you are measuring as to where date is found but that data also needs to be consistent with the outcome you are trying to reach. You also need to consider other defining factors. If you are trying to succeed reach on social media, do you first need to look at how many followers you have to start with as these are organic point of contact. Maybe the first goal should be to build a following and then work on reaching the following. Does your end goal align with what you are trying to do?

Do not try to amend the data to suit the results you want. Learn from it and amend practices that will enable further succession in what you are looking to achieve. I would also advise running the test a number of times with only minor alterations so that you can see what positive/negative impact this have. By only changing 1 element on a campaign you know what altered, changing 5 and you cannot be certain which one was the impactful marker. Once you have the best result run with it however, don't rely on this forever, keep checking back as the slightest of changes can alter the results and you may need to tweak moving forward.

Share the date with the team so that you can all align your goals to ensure that the end result is going to be the most beneficial in what you are looking to produce. This will also showcase to your audience that you are listening to them and hearing what they have to say in the feedback they are providing you whether that be direct or via the analytics you are receiving from them.

Sometimes the best data can come from asking people direct. I have read data and analytics and yet once I have spoken to people it showcases something very different. It will also enable me to find out when they are just looking and when they are most likely to act. Sometimes we get caught up on the reach as apposed to the direct actions being taken. It great to see 1000 views but if only 10 people act and buy for example that a 1% success rate. 100 people view but 10 act is a 10% success rate. It isn't always about quantity, it is always about quality.