Planning / Audience

3. Learn About Your Audience.

The first step in communicating effectively is thinking about the people you are trying to reach. The more you know about them, the better you can create communications that motivate them.

Consider these questions:

• Age.
• Gender.
• Language preference.
• Cultural attitudes toward
  • Parenting.
  • Child support enforcement.
  • Seeking government assistance.
• Education level / Reading ability.
• Custodial parent / Noncustodial parent.
• Primary type of child support services used.
• Motivation for using child support services.
  
• Preferred method of communication (in-person talks, written materials, radio, TV, or community events).
  
• Places they are most likely to see your information (such as in your offices, on TV, at local community organizations, at local stores, on buses).

The answers to these questions should guide every step you take in the rest of the communications process.

How can you find out more about your audience? Conduct research.