communications strategy

Communications Strategy

Consolidation & Engagement

John CheneryDirector of Media and Communicationsjchenery@iBOL.org

iBOL Board MeetingNew York, NY

April 28, 2011

The Elements

1. Introduction2. Review3. Strategic Priorities4. Audiences5. Key Messages6. Tools and Products7. Branding8. Resources9. Feedback10.Timeline

1. Introduction

2. Review

Signage

Newsletter

Nagoya

Website

Launch

Events

2. Review

3. Strategic Priorities

1. Building new channels2. Putting more “i” in iBOL3. Switching to High Definition

4. Audiences

1. Primary targets• Members• Collaborators• Partners• Media2. Secondary targets• Governments• Science institutes/centres• Museums etc.• Educators

5. Key Messages

Answer the key questions:• Who are we?• What do we do?• Why is it important?(outreach and ‘in-reach’)

6. Tools and Products1. Website

- More depth with more detail

2. The Members’ Channel- Utility of connect.barcodeoflife.net

3. Social networks- Connecting insiders with outsiders

4. Newsletter- Remedial measures and economies

5. Media Relations- Targets of opportunity

6. Print, Signage, Merchandise- Annual Report, new brochure

7. Events- Adelaide, Frontiers of Science . . . .

7. Branding

Visual ID Manual Branded items

Being “on brand” . . . - Means recognizable and consistent communications- Tells the world who and what we are- Applies to both visual identity and messaging

8. Resources

Hard choices among competing priorities• Web products• Newsletter• Annual report• Special events• Media campaigns• • •

9. Feedback

1. Making expectations explicit2. Cultivating our communicators3. Asking questions, listening to the answers4. Evaluating progress

10. Timeline

Planning and managing the information flow:• Special events (e.g. BOL conference)• Constant updates (website)• Opportunities (project milestones)• High-profile outputs (annual report)

Discussion