Dissemination, Marketing and Networking Conference for Socrates Project Co-ordinators and Partners

Between Ideal and Fait Accompli

Useful generic tips for successful dissemination and marketing of educational projects and product:

• Think about dissemination constantly.
• Plan your partnership so as to include media and multiplier organizations.
• Plan the impact of your dissemination activity.
• Choose the form of the dissemination, its timing, place, and target audience. All these will be dependent on the aim of the dissemination: awareness raising (early in the life of the project), changes to practice, influence on policy, long-lasting effect, invitation to participation, piloting, exploitation of results, etc. (once the work is well under way).
• Identify your target audience very clearly.
• Use those dissemination activities that seem to be the most efficient for your target audience.
• Consider dissemination activities in areas you have not originally considered.
• Look for experts’ help when you do not have the optimum solution; seek for professional advice / consultants.
• Make more extensive use of the media.
• Get in touch with local press.
• Involve well known publishers specialized in teaching.
• Settle copyright/intellectual property issues from the beginning.
• Use professional designers for website and publications.
• Consider sponsorship and commercialization from the onset.
• Connect with other projects, learn from each other.
• Network widely: get as many other language institutions or other stakeholders involved as possible.
• Involve potential users while the project is still emerging, prior to the piloting phase, especially for projects focusing on development of new methodology and practices.
• Involve partners in the dissemination plan and in the marketing strategies from the beginning in order for them to approach this aspect with a feeling of ownership, as otherwise commitment will vary.
• Target publicity (to recruit learners or pilot volunteers) effectively – e.g. make sure it describes the event clearly in the places where potential learners will see it.
• Budget sufficiently for this aspect of the project.
• Thoroughly plan a wide free distribution of project outputs.
• Publish articles in professional journals or in local newspaper.
• Draw a detailed valorization plan with both a ‘top-down’ and a ‘bottom up’ approach.
• Connect and learn from other projects: identify and implement dissemination areas not planned initially but which other projects use successfully .
• Go for international awards, e.g. European Language Label, etc.