Effective Outreach

Group Learning Goals:

• Learn new ideas about effective outreach and retention for programs and collaborations
• Explore the skills, behaviors, and practices required for successful outreach and retention
• Reflect on what you've learned and how you can apply it to your work

Agenda:

• Elements of effective outreach
• How do partners do effective outreach?
• What tools do you share with colleagues or partners to help get the word out about what you do?
• Major Successes in Outreach/ Challenges for specific types of programs
• Retention - what works?

Learning Goals:

• What Are YOURS?

5 steps of effective outreach

• Establish connection
• Create interest
• Present your program
• Respond to "objections"
• Sign them up and Ask for referrals

2 reasons someone says no:
1. They don't know there is help
2. They know but don't think they could benefit/"don't need help"

2 reasons someone says yes:
1. They are convinced they need it
2. You made them want it

How do you make someone want your program?
Talk to them within their belief system

1. Establish connection as equals

Using Compliments:

• "I like"
• Quote something someone else said about the person
• Peer Compliment - "I've been told you are the best in this area"
• Action Compliment - Compliment their Action
• Anyone use these?

2. Create Interest
Startling Statement, Tell a Story, Give an example, Exhibits, Ask Questions, Provide example, statistics, or testimonials
How do you do this?

3.Present Your Program - Share Program Benefits not just program services
Fact + Benefit..
Because...
Which means to you...
And the real benefit to you.....

Take their temperature: "Can you see how your children would benefit from .....?"

4. Respond to Objections

• Reverse it - that is the very reason you should use us, explain why
• Explain it - go over the most important information again
• Admit it - "yes of course it will be hard to find time, but think of what you will get from making the time to attend"
• Deny it - if it reflects negatively on your program and isn't true
• Ask - Why - "You must have a reason for saying that, do you mind if I ask what it is?"

5. Sign them up

• Why don't I sign you up for next Wednesday's class
• Give them a choice between two options - would you like to start this week or next
• Classes are filling up...
• If we get you enrolled now you'll get...
• Let me call over there now and get you registered

“Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say, ‘We have done this ourselves’” -Lao Tzu

Ask:
Who else do you know that could benefit from our program?

Retention:
What works?

6 Elements

1. Inspiration

2. Agreements

3.

4. Acknowledgement

5. Renewal

6. Mastery

6 Elements of Collaboration

Reflection

Thanks to Doug Wilson who did a presentation for the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona that this presentation is based on

Thanks to Planning Team, You, and Cooperative Extension for financial support

Deep Thoughts

• How can everyone most powerfully pursue a purpose that transcends us all?