6 ways public sectors can communicate critical information to their diverse community

With all the challenges this year has brought, it has never been more important for public sectors to effectively communicate with citizens. Although this may seem like a simple problem that has a simple solution, it is anything but. With such a diverse community, it is important that solutions are able to be reached by everyone regardless of their access to luxuries like technology.

To create more effective solutions, we sat down with six experts and asked them to weigh in. Keep reading to learn about their innovative ideas!

Make website content audio accessible

More public sector services are being delivered online, and provisions need to be made for people without basic digital skills. One idea for public sector and government sites is to make website content accessible through audio. By utilizing a tool like ReachDeck, website visitors that struggle to self-serve without the necessary accommodations can enjoy an extra layer of support. This can help more people browse and access critical information on a website.

- Brett Farmiloe, Markitors -

Have a designated Community Relations Officer

Consider that not everyone has equal access to the internet, so you need to be able to spread critical information among communities that do not require it. Have a community board or designated community relations officer on foot for each community to help spread important messages.

- Court Will, Will & Will -

Utilize diverse communication

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for public sector communication. The task will vary greatly across agencies and localities, by platform and channel, and ultimately depending on what the message is and who needs to hear it. I believe that to properly communicate with a diverse community, governments need to use diverse communication. Utilize all the communication tools that we have at our fingertips to get messages across.

- Denise Gredler, BestCompaniesAZ -

Ensure all press conferences are adequately televised

The government serves a wide range of people and organizations. When they have critical information that needs to reach mass amounts of people, there could be several ways to go about it. In particular, one way that they could ensure they reach as many people as possible is by making sure that all press conferences are adequately televised, even for those who do not have cable. Because the government serves people on different economic scales, it is crucial to make sure that there is a simple and accessible way for the majority of citizens to hear critical information on a local channel. 

- Vicky Franko, Insura -

Omni-channel communication

Omni-channel communication is the standard in marketing for a reason - it's effective! You need to deliver similar messages in many different ways using text and email, voice, video, social media, etc.

- Joni Holderman, Thrive! Resumes -

Create an application for announcements and communication

In today's society, most people's lives are connected to the internet one way or another, in terms of social life, taxes, and also public records. One way the public sector can better reach diverse citizens is by creating an application and setting up accounts specifically made for each individual. These accounts will be user friendly which means it can accommodate any personal disability or issue of the owner. Announcements or any other necessary information can be easily sent to all or some specific individuals depending on the situation.

- David Meltzer, East Insurance Group LLC -

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At Texthelp, we help organizations around the world to make their digital content more available and accessible to everyone. Our inclusion tool, ReachDeck, provides web visitors with instant access to supportive features, helping to reduce barriers between your digital content and your diverse online audiences. Learn more!