Develop an engagement strategy

Planning for impact

Planning for impact is important. Having an engagement strategy will help you to identify the groups and individuals you want to reach, to build relationships with them, and to tailor your approach to suit those audiences.

Engagement is a crucial component in translating your research into impactful outcomes and informed decision-making. By connecting with stakeholders and end-users, you can gather feedback and perspectives that inform your projects, create shared understanding, increase public trust and the uptake of research findings. 

Visit Plan for Impact for an in-depth look at impact planning, stakeholder mapping, and engagement strategy. 

Publications

Choosing where to publish is very important. To increase the visibility and range of your research, you want your publication to be:

  • discoverable
  • accessible
  • relevant.

If you want to engage with a specific group, consider particular outlets that are favoured by those groups. Visit the Think section of [Strategic publishing] for advice and factors to consider when choosing your outlet.

Data visualisation

Wherever you share your work, presenting your data visually can be an effective way to communicate your research. 

Visit the Choose the Right Tool module to see our recommended tools for:

Find training sessions on data analysis and visualisation offered by the Library. 

Websites or blogs

Create webpages that showcase your research.

Websites or blogs can increase the range of your audience from academics to other potential end-users. You want to use:

Events and conferences

Organise events around your research area and invite key people your research benefits.

Attend events and present at conferences to:

  • promote your research
  • network with potential end-users
  • build or improve collaborations
  • gain insight on where your research fits in your field.

Media and news

Raise your research profile and reach a broader audience through media attention, such as television or radio. You can promote yourself as an expert for interviews or providing opinion on relevant topics.

Visit Marketing and Communications for advice and training on how to promote your work positively and consistently in news and social media.

Social media

Use social media for:

  • collaborating
  • sharing
  • public engagement
  • promoting your research and yourself
  • keeping up with other developments and interest in your topic.

You can use platforms such as X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram to share content and build a following.

To learn more about using social media:

Identifying and using #hashtags and keywords can help you find an audience or help people find your research. 

  • Google trends examines interest in a topic over time and by region. It can help you determine keywords and phrases used for your topic.
  • Social Searcher lists hashtags and keywords used within posts.

Collaboration

Check who is citing your publications or talking about your research to identify potential partners. Visit Find Metrics to learn how to find your citation metrics. 

Use LinkedIn for networking with industry or other professionals.

The UQ Strategic Partnerships team can help facilitate interactions with UQ researchers and external partners, including industry, government, and community. 

Influencing policy

Engaging with policy and policy makers can:

  • promote yourself, your research, and your institution
  • shape further research needs and priorities
  • strengthen links with other researchers.

The University of Cambridge guide on policy impact outlines strategies for engaging with policy makers.