Mastering and boosting your online communication

 

As part of the “Communication plan for an association” training course, a day was allocated for a group of 16 people by videoconference on Zoom. The aim of this training day was to disseminate the methodology of communication in an associative environment, in order to support and enable other actors in the environment to be more visible, more coherent in their approaches and ultimately more effective.
Several training workshops were conducted to bring the participants together and confront them with exercises, in order to put into practice the methodologies assimilated during the training day. The workshops helped to define an effective communication strategy in an associative environment.
The participants in the training workshop were actors in the local voluntary sector, who requested support in the methodology and tools necessary for communication in their respective work.
This report presents the objectives and expected results of the workshop, the methodology used, the activities carried out, the corrections and the recommendations made.

Objectives and Expected Results

Objective of the workshop

The general objective was to train the participants in communication in an associative environment, with a view to facilitating the implementation of an effective communication plan adapted to their needs, and the follow-up of information disseminated in the field. (Newsletters, press releases)
The specific objectives of the training workshop were to:

  •  Define the best communication tool (according to the orientation of their association)
  •  Identify the actors involved and determine their roles
  •  Inventory free online services and tools
  •  Be aware of the media, methods and frequency of dissemination
  •  Understand the main lines of associative communication
  •  Learn about strategic planning

Expected results of the training workshop
The expected outcomes of the training workshop were:

  • Participants mastered the appropriate terms and their uses
  • Participants understand the method of information dissemination according to the tools
  • Participants have a full knowledge of the methodology to be applied
  • Participants are able to develop materials and define appropriate dissemination methods and frequencies
  • Participants understand the challenges of creating a communication strategy
  • A training report is available

Methodology
Following the training workshop, the trainers provided the participants with a training evaluation form to assess the content to be developed for subsequent training sessions. In this training workshop, each module was developed around an operational pedagogical objective and a precise timing. All the modules were formulated in an essentially participatory approach for maximum involvement of the participants.
During the training, each presentation elicited the participation of the members through targeted questions, accompanied by illustrative examples that allowed each participant to better understand the subject. At the end of each presentation, open discussions took place on questions of understanding, organisational issues, the multiplicity of tools and the time needed to learn these tools.
The different modules were accompanied by exercises to ensure that the participants had a good understanding and were able to identify the best communication tool or to encourage their implementation in their association.

Conclusion and Recommendations
The framework of this training workshop aims to familiarise participants with the challenges of e-communication and to highlight the means to be put in place in order to succeed and better understand and control their online communication.
By working on various tools and media, the participants not only practice their working methods in an associative environment, but also become aware of the information that appears on the site and can make a difference in their next communication campaign.
Overall, the participants appreciated the training workshop. The remarks of the participants on the shortcomings of this training workshop were mainly related to the lack of time and means given to the learning of such tools in their structures and wanted to know if AMSED organised more precise and complete training courses on each tool/software referenced.