{"id":2890,"date":"2017-10-30T11:17:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-30T15:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=2890"},"modified":"2026-02-12T05:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T10:34:48","slug":"community-outreach-capture-keep-publics-attention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/community-outreach-capture-keep-publics-attention\/","title":{"rendered":"Community outreach: How to capture and keep the public\u2019s attention"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunity outreach: How to capture and keep the public\u2019s attention\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2017-10-30T11:17:00-04:00\">October 30, 2017<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Community outreach: How to capture and keep the public\u2019s attention\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/community-outreach-capture-keep-publics-attention\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/debcarpenterbeck\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/04\/CRE-Deb-Carpenter-Beck.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"CRE Deb Carpenter-Beck\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Deb Carpenter-Beck<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Engaging with the public on construction projects isn\u2019t what it used to be. Traditional public meeting participation, for example, is down. Faced with a whole new set of challenges, construction company communicators are looking for more effective ways to capture and hold the attention of their intended audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have to over communicate what we\u2019re trying to accomplish and develop great and easy ways for people to engage on our projects,\u201d said Theresa McClure, eastern region manager for strategic communications at HDR. McClure along with three other construction communications and risk professionals recently spoke at the Sage-sponsored ENR webcast, <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinexperiences.com\/scripts\/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10100&amp;ShowKey=43271&amp;LangLocaleID=1033&amp;AffiliateData=SAGE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cKeeping your project\u2019s public face clean: Community outreach and construction impact mitigation.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to McClure, today\u2019s community outreach is impacted by a new reality:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Our human attention span is approximately 8 seconds long.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The average American spends 5 hours a day on a mobile device.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Americans today are significantly less engaged with their communities than they were a generation ago.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social activism is on the rise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These and other factors are changing the dynamics of how construction companies need to reach out to communities. \u201cIt\u2019s about getting the public to authentically engage in your decision-making process, creating a process where they feel their input matters, and finding a platform where you can keep everyone informed on your project.\u201d McClure said. \u201cWe do this with powerful headlines, stories, and delivering them through interactive tools that resonate with people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Construction communicators have to find innovative ways to cut through the clutter and get their message across. How? McClure offered these tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Compelling content is a must.<br><br><\/strong>People want to understand how they\u2019re going to be directly impacted by a project. To address this, provide information in a way that is helpful, easy to understand, and relevant to your audience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Video is the number one tool to engage your audience<\/strong>.<br><br>In fact, 135% more people are reached with video on social or online platforms than photos, standard posts, or informational graphic. Videos are also more likely to be shared than any other content. Think about ways to use video\u2014both in-person and online\u2014to engage and inform your audience. Also check out stop motion video, a new edgy way to deliver content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Live streaming content can show a return on investment<\/strong>.<br><br>Using video live streaming through Facebook and Instagram allows you to target a specific audience group and actively engage them in their mobile and social community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transparency in the message is key.<br><br><\/strong> People want to know the facts. How much money is being spent? Is the project on schedule? Are commitments being fulfilled? How many sidewalks have been added? Providing a dashboard of project development helps keep people informed and engaged along the way.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The webinar also provided insights from risk management and public information professionals Mike Hastings of Hastings Risk Consulting, Kathleen Fuller with the Ohio Department of Transportation \u2013 District 9, and Erica Wiley of the Portsmouth Gateway Group.&nbsp;You can hear more from McClure and the other speakers by listening to the entire webcast online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinexperiences.com\/scripts\/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10100&amp;ShowKey=43271&amp;LangLocaleID=1033&amp;AffiliateData=SAGE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">View webinar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Engaging with the public on construction projects isn\u2019t what it used to be. Traditional public meeting participation, for example, is down. Faced with a whole new set of challenges, construction company communicators are looking for more effective ways to capture and hold the attention of their intended audiences. \u201cWe have to over communicate what we\u2019re [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":2854,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[192,173],"business_type":[40],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[50],"persona":[],"imagine_tag":[246],"coauthors":[522],"class_list":["post-2890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-construction","tag-construction-risk-management","business_type-small-business","industry-construction-and-real-estate"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Deb Carpenter-Beck","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/10\/DreamforceConferenceGuide.jpg","imagine_tags":{"246":"Construction"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2890"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35386,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2890\/revisions\/35386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/2854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}