This time on the CONSOLE project blog we want to tell you the secrets of the website’s success in the dissemination and communication process.

The CONSOLE project website is framed in Work Package 6 (dissemination and outreach) and its main objective was to enhance the impact of the project towards Public Administrations, stakeholders (farmers, agricultural associations, research groups, etc.) and society in general.

A problem arose since traditionally in research projects (national, European and non-EU), the web page appeared as a static element where only the composition of the research groups that were part of the project, of the study areas that were included, and relevant documentation such as deliverables.

Potential stakeholders do not have the ability to guess that the project exists or where they can find information. Therefore, it is mandatory to publicize the work that is being developed through digital channels (Internet).

There was no doubt that we should resort to implementing a digital marketing strategy based on offering quality content.

We got to work

The first thing we decided to do is create a web page that, due to its own structure, would allow us to position ourselves in the main Internet search engines, such as Google. To do this, we develop the web platform with a simple code that will allow fast loading. It is recommended that web pages load in search engines in less than three seconds.

Another key to having a presence in the first searches of users is to offer quality content. And to carry it out, a publication calendar, which has changed according to the tastes of the users.

What better way than to publicize this content than through social media (facebook, twitter, LinkedIn). It is essential to create profiles on the main social networks. Each social network has a specific audience, so we thought about attacking as many audiences as possible: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn were the chosen social networks. What’s more, we developed a plugin so that blog posts will be published directly on social media (after a review process to avoid hackers).

Other tools were the creation of an e-newsletter where users could register; Email marketing strategies, which have worked perfectly in the call for meetings; leaflet development, etc.

A restricted area

We have commented that the CONSOLE project website must be a page with life. That is, it has to be managed by both users and project partners.

In the second case, a private area was developed where members could access private information, such as the Office templates used for the various presentations. Potentially, this area is prepared to install internal communication elements between partners.

Guaranteed success

Success was guaranteed. Since its birth, the number of visits has skyrocketed. Through the use of web analytics, we have been able to know which are the preferred contents by users, at what time of day they visit us, the number of visits by localities (countries, regions and cities), etc.

Once again, technology has democratized research, making it reach everyone in a fairly simple way. For this reason, we must encourage all research projects to be accompanied by a digital marketing strategy, rather than a simple website or profiles on social networks in which we publish in a timely manner.

At the end of last year, the partners of the CONSOLE project published on our website a deliverable (7.2.) entitled report grouping with other projects.

This deliverable provided information on the coordination with sister projects financed under topic RUR03. In particular, it tried to list the actions carried out during the first six months to promote coordination and the main points agreed upon with the other sister projects.

 In the introduction, the grouping activities with other projects financed under the same theme were listed, such as:

1.  The first contacts between project coordinators and facilitation of connections between partners working in the same country;
2.  Update on deliverables and planned activities;
3.  Reciprocal participation of the coordinators in the ABs of the other projects;
4.  Joint dissemination activities;
5.  Connect and disseminate information through the website and social media.

 Therefore, this particular document lists the actions taken during the first six months of the project activities to establish contacts and foster coordination with the EFFECTS and CONTRACTS2.0 projects.

 In short, consulting this document is highly recommended for the activities and coordination strategies developed to support coordination between projects are listed, and which may be useful both to provide general information on those activities, and to apply the subsequent actions or projects models.

Definition

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common concern or passion, a set of problems, or an interest in an issue and who come together to meet individual and group goals.

The goal of the CoP is to share best practices and create new knowledge to promote mastery of professional practice. Continuous interaction is an important part of this.

What is the origin of community of practice?

Cognitive anthropologists Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger coined the term “community of practice” when studying, learning as a model of learning, a term referring to the community that acts as a living curriculum. Once the concept was articulated, researchers began to see communities everywhere, even when there was no formal system of learning.

Characteristics of Communities of Practice

We must be careful with the meaning “community” since not all have the same objective. For example, a neighbourhood is known as a community, but it does not have the following characteristics:

Domain. A community of practice is not simply a club of friends or a network of connections between people. It has an identity defined by a domain of shared interest. Therefore, membership implies a commitment to the domain and, therefore, a shared competence that distinguishes members from other people.

Community. By pursuing their interest in their domain, members participate in activities and actions jointly, also sharing information. Therefore, they build relationships with each other.

Practice. A CoP doesn’t just share interests (for example, a group of people who meet on Sundays to watch football or rugby). Members of a CoP are practitioners. They develop a repertoire of resources (experiences, tools, etc.), ways of tackling recurring problems, and so on.

The CoP of the CONSOLE project

The Community of Practice (CoP) in CONSOLE project is expected to play a key role in driving innovation in the effective and durable delivery of Agri-environmental climate public goods (AECPG). The CONSOLE CoP will be organized around professionals with experience in the provision of AECPG and those interested in it, and will be nurtured throughout the life of the project.

Therefore, the CONSOLE CoP is intended to facilitate knowledge exchange and mutual learning, mainly through virtual contacts. Participation in the CoP is based on the principle of sharing and reciprocity. A central objective of these guidelines is to ensure sound management and facilitation of the CoP of all CONSOLE partners in order to optimize the input of CoP members in project activities. Members within a national or local CONSOLE CoP are:

1. CONSOLE partners;
2. Practitioners, mainly farmers and foresters, who practice test and implement the contractual models, and
3. Experts, who may have specific interventions at the CoP.

A vibrant CoP with the active participation of its members is crucial for the evaluation and testing of improved and novel voluntary measures for the delivery of AECPG. For each of the CONSOLE countries, a national contact person is designated to assume the role of national focal points for CoP activities in their country and serve as the CoP facilitator. These facilitators are responsible for ensuring participation throughout the various project tasks foreseen in various WPs and for overcoming possible language barriers. The national contact person can be supported by other CONSOLE partners in their country for local activities. At the local level, the CoP benefits from the existing contacts of CONSOLE partners with professionals, including experts interviewed for the analysis of the case studies within WP2.