Adapting in the Ever-Changing Media Landscape
Ventura County Public Works Agency uses National Public Works Week (NPWW) as an opportunity to bring positive attention and awareness to the multitude of ways in which they serve the community of Ventura County. Launched in 2012, the event has grown from a small poster display to touring over 1,000 students, teachers and the community for an in-person tour of VCPWA interactive informational booths, demonstrations, and hands-on learning opportunities focusing on what Public Works does for the community.
With the onset of Covid-19, CM+PR reviewed the situation, and also realized the youth, now working from home, needed additional curriculum! With VCPWA Consortium Media took on the challenge of adapting the in-person event attended by over 1,000 students, teachers, and families to tour the educational displays into a virtual event, accessible to everyone.
DELIVERABLES
Event Planning, Event Management, Website Development, Website Design, Social Media, Content Strategy, Radio Promotion, Press Outreach, E-Blast, Event Coordination, Video Editing
CM+ Solution
We saw National Public Works Day as an important opportunity for the public to connect with VCPWA, the ultimate goal of the in-person event was to engage schools through targeted outreach. After months of planning the popular in-person event, COVID-19 halted all plans from moving forward, so we switched gears and go virtual.
While there were no in-person demonstrations, CM designed a webpage that brought the curriculum of many innovative programs to students and teachers who were currently distance learning from home. The clean, user-friendly webpage housed the virtual curriculum that teachers, students, and their families could access from the safety of their homes. The virtual tour showcases the dedicated team at VCPWA using videos, demonstrations downloadable activity books, and other interactive materials.
In addition, CM utilized our 5 Pillars of Marketing Success to elevate the event’s brand awareness. Through strategic social media management, radio promotions, and press outreach to the local community, we were able to promote the event but also inform the community of the work VCPWA does for the County of Ventura.
CM+ Results
The website, which was launched Monday, May 18, had over 513 views in the first day, not including the views on VCPWA’s social media pages that contained video teasers and other various pieces of information to help highlight the event.
1,226
Web Page Visits
51,473
Social Media Impressions
14,295
Total Social Media Followers
“Excellent! Thank you so much! I really appreciate your efforts to get out this info to our students.”
– Keri Collier, Briggs Elementary School
“I am so excited to receive the materials. I told the kiddos about it on our Zoom call this morning and they were excited as well to get started with something new! I can’t thank you enough for dropping off new materials for us. This long-distance teaching has been a bit tough!”
-Susan Adams, New Harvest Christian School
“I am a principal in VUSD. I’m making the social studies content for all kids in grades k-5. A teacher shared your email about the public works virtual content. Is that something you’d be ok with me sharing across the entire district K-5 or even across the district with just 1 grade level. I’d love to give kids access to this cool content.”
– Elisabeth Harris, Poinsettia Elementary School