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Pretest Messages

If possible, test your messages with members of your target audience to determine whether the messages achieve your communication objectives. You can do this by incorporating the messages into preliminary drafts of materials (such as fact sheets or flyers) and distributing them to members of your target audience for feedback.

Audience members listening to someone

Pretest questions to ask target audience members:

  • Which of these messages gives you the most important new information? (This question explores whether your message is attention-getting and helpful.)
  • What is this message trying to say? (This question explores whether the message is understandable.)
  • Do you feel these messages are meant for you or for someone else? What about them makes them relevant/irrelevant to you?
  • Will this message motivate you to take action?