Capture people’s attention

Now that you have identified the specific policy need, the main audience, and clarified the problem, how will you capture people’s attention?

Develop “sticky” messages
One of the best ways to do this is through information that is new, unexpected, surprising or different. This will engage the reader and make the message something that is more likely to be shared.

Telling stories
Remember that public policies are ultimately about bringing positive change to people’s lives, so stories are a good way to connect with policy makers. Can you include a story that shows the human side of the data or evidence included in the analysis? Is there a way to demonstrate how people’s lives will be positively affected by a suggested policy?

Assembling the evidence jigsaw
A single study or piece of evidence is unlikely to have a policy impact. However, researchers can play an important role bringing together various pieces of evidence in support of a particular policy.