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Study guide for Task 1 of WGU's D647: Evaluating a Communications Strategy course.
Task 1 Overview
Objective:
In Task 1, you are required to evaluate a past or hypothetical communication strategy to identify
strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. The task involves using key performance
indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of the strategy and provide actionable
recommendations.
Key Steps to Complete Task 1
1. Choose a Communication Strategy to Evaluate
o Select a real-world or hypothetical communication strategy for evaluation.
o Ensure the strategy has clear objectives and measurable outcomes.
o Examples of strategies to consider:
A company’s internal communication during a merger.
A nonprofit’s fundraising email campaign.
A social media campaign for a product launch.
2. Describe the Communication Strategy
o Provide a detailed overview of the strategy, including:
The objectives (e.g., raising awareness, increasing engagement).
The target audience (e.g., employees, customers, stakeholders).
The methods and channels used (e.g., emails, social media, in-person
meetings).
o Example:
“The strategy involved a social media campaign to promote a new
product. The target audience was young adults aged 18–25, and the
primary channels used were Instagram and TikTok.”
3. Identify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
o Explain how the success of the strategy was measured.
o Examples of KPIs:
Internal Communication: Employee survey results, participation rates in
meetings.
External Communication: Social media engagement metrics (likes,
comments, shares), website traffic, customer feedback scores.
, o Example:
“KPIs included the number of website visits, click-through rates from
social media ads, and the number of followers gained on Instagram during
the campaign.”
4. Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Strategy
o Analyze the data associated with the KPIs to determine how well the strategy
performed.
o Address both successes and shortcomings.
o Example:
“The campaign achieved high engagement on Instagram, with a 20%
increase in followers. However, the click-through rate to the website was
below the expected target, indicating a gap in converting interest into
action.”
5. Discuss Strengths and Weaknesses
o Identify aspects of the strategy that worked well and those that need
improvement.
o Use specific examples to support your analysis.
o Example:
“The use of visually appealing content resonated with the audience and
boosted engagement. However, the lack of a clear call-to-action likely
contributed to low conversion rates.”
6. Propose Recommendations for Improvement
o Suggest actionable changes to enhance the strategy’s effectiveness.
o Examples of recommendations:
Adjusting the target audience or message tone.
Incorporating additional communication channels.
Implementing A/B testing to refine messaging.
o Example:
“Future campaigns should include clearer calls-to-action and optimize
landing pages to improve the conversion rate.”
Suggested Outline for Your Submission
A. Introduction
Briefly introduce the communication strategy you are evaluating.
State the purpose of the evaluation and its importance.
B. Description of the Communication Strategy
Outline the objectives, target audience, and methods used.
C. KPIs and Metrics