Communication plan

Each story can be adjusted for different audiences and different platforms—from short posts on social media and brief video productions to conference presentations and annual reports. Stories can help you raise funds and engage partners and the community. In order to maximize the use of your stories and to make sure they are contributing to the age-friendly vision and mission, it is important to develop a communication plan.

Developing a communication plan will help you stay on track with consistent messaging about age-friendly.  Your communication strategy will help you:

1. Strengthen commitment to your mission. Develop content that consistently reflects your core age-friendly goals. Think of each social media post, presentation to elected officials, media interview, brief video, and conference presentation as another paragraph in the ongoing story of age-friendly. By telling a consistent story, you will engage multiple audiences and build your case for maintaining and expanding age-friendly.

2. Support fundraising. Nothing excites funders and donors more than seeing the real-life impact of age-friendly. A consistent communication plan not only encourages future donations but also reassures your funders (including your municipality) that the money is being well-used.

3. Attract volunteers and engage the community. The content you develop isn’t just another pretty picture, it is meant to be read, discussed, shared, and ignite action. Great content gives people in your community, partners, and others something they want to share with friends, neighbors, and work colleagues.

4. Build presence. Partnerships and collaborations are critical for age-friendly sustainability. High quality, consistent communication adds to your reputation locally and regionally.

The sample Communication Planner will help you develop a communication plan to guide your team's efforts to tell the story of age-friendly impact. 

• Local newspapers and newsletters

• Letters to the editor

• The community Facebook page, the city or mayor’s Twitter account (when suitable, use hashtags like #transportation or #housing)

• Posters, fliers or brochures placed in locations where the target audience gathers

• Community access television

• Public service announcements on radio and television

• Press releases and news conferences

• Presentations to local clubs, fraternal organizations, town committees, etc.

• Word of mouth

For more ideas, see the Lifelong Maine Publicity Toolbox