When it comes to research communication, many researchers feel they have nothing to share until they have findings. However, communication in the early stages of a research project is just as crucial as sharing results. By engaging key stakeholders from the beginning, researchers can build awareness, create buy-in, and set the stage for impact.
One of the most important steps is planning research communication at the proposal stage. Why? Because without dedicated funding, communication efforts often fall by the wayside. By integrating a communication plan early, researchers ensure they have the resources to
share updates, engage audiences and maximise the reach of their work.
What can you share in the first 6 months of a research project?
Even before you have findings, there’s plenty to communicate. Here are three key things you can share with your audience early on:
📌 A high-level summary – Why are you doing this research? What are the key questions? Who is involved? How long will the project run? A simple summary helps set expectations and brings stakeholders on board.
📌Anticipated findings – While results take time, you likely have some idea of what you aim to uncover. Explaining how your research could be useful to specific audiences helps build interest and relevance.
📌 Key concepts explained – Research is often complex. Take this opportunity to define essential terms and ideas. These may evolve over time, but a foundational explainer can engage non-specialist audiences.
Setting up communication channels for your research
To make early-stage communication work effectively, consider setting up simple platforms that can be updated throughout the project.
1. Create a project webpage
Universities often host project pages, but these can be difficult to update. Instead, consider setting up a simple, standalone page using Google Sites or another easy-to-edit platform. This allows you to direct people to a single, up-to-date source of information from your university’s
main site.
2. Think carefully about social media
Before launching new social media accounts for your project, ask:
- Do you have the time and resources to manage them?
- Are there existing platforms (e.g., institutional or partner accounts) where you can share updates instead?
- Could researchers on the team use their personal profiles to highlight key milestones?
Often, leveraging existing networks is more effective than creating and managing a separate, short-term account.
3. Identify key audiences and plan engagement
Consider who needs to stay engaged before findings are available. Who are the key stakeholders? Who benefits from staying informed about your project’s progress? Some audiences might require frequent updates, while others may only need periodic touchpoints.
Ask your team:
- Who should we keep engaged throughout the project?
- What frequency makes sense? Monthly? Quarterly?
- What formats work best (emails, webinars, blog posts, social media updates)?
A simple engagement plan ensures that updates are regular, relevant, and not overwhelming.
Early communication leads to greater impact
By planning for communication in the early stages of a research project, researchers can ensure that stakeholders stay engaged and that their work reaches the right audiences. Allocating the budget at the proposal stage, setting up simple platforms for updates, and sharing relevant information even before findings are available are all key strategies.
Research team from The University of Sheffield and Mihaela and Jamie from Research Retold at our workshop on research communication.
At a recent workshop with researchers at the University of Sheffield, we explored how to plan for early-stage communication in a 30-month project on reducing acute admissions. One participant summed up the value of this approach: “Thank you for the workshop – it was brilliant to get everyone on the same page and have these conversations early on in the project!” Read more about it here.
If you’re working on a research project, how are you approaching communication in the early stages?