Ocean Communication and Content Strategies
Strategic communication planning for ocean science, research, innovation, policy, and sustainability.
Why a strategy matters
For ocean research projects, organisations and initiatives, a clear communication strategy can make the difference between work that reaches and influences the right people and work that struggles to gain attention.
A good strategy starts with understanding what you want to achieve, rather than simply what you want to say. I'll work with you to clarify your goals, identify the audiences you need to reach and decide how communications can help.
Depending on your needs, this might involve developing an overall communication strategy, a more detailed content strategy or a combination of the two.
Who this is for
Ocean research projects needing clear, consistent communication across partners and work packages
Teams experiencing communication drift, conflicting messages, or unclear priorities
Scientific organisations, nonprofits, and marine technology companies launching or repositioning an initiative
International programmes seeking communication that supports policy, practice, or other real-world outcomes
Organisations that know they need a strategy but are unsure where to begin
How I can support you
Understand your goals
Define what you want your communications to achieve, what change they can realistically support, and how success will be assessed.
Know your audience
Identify who needs to know, understand, use, or respond to your work, and what each audience needs from you.
Develop your core messaging
Develop clear, consistent core messages and a messaging framework that reinforce your identity and purpose across all audiences and channels.
Choose your channels
Select the channels and formats most suited to your audiences, goals, resources, and project stage, from briefings and articles to events, newsletters, social media, and video.
Plan your delivery
Create a communication strategy document, a content strategy, or an editorial calendar – or a combination of all three.
Set your foundations
Establish the practical foundations for consistent communication, including brand and style guidance, roles and responsibilities, editorial processes, attribution, approvals, and responsible use of data and images.
Explore further
The Communication Brief
Thoughts, research, and perspectives on communications for the ocean world.
You might also need
Many clients combine strategy work with other support. Depending on your needs, you might also be interested in:
Written and visual content: when you need help producing the content your strategy calls for
Website and online presence support: when your strategy identifies a need to strengthen your online presence
Event communications: when events are an important part of your engagement approach
Communication training and workshops: when your team needs the skills to deliver the strategy consistently
FAQs
What's the difference between a communication strategy and a content strategy?
A communication strategy defines the big picture – your goals, audiences, key messages, and the outcomes you want your communication to drive. A content strategy is more operational, focusing on what to create, when, and for whom. The two often go hand in hand, and I can support either or both depending on what you need.
How long does a strategy engagement typically take?
It depends on the scope and complexity of your work. A focused strategy for a single project might take a few weeks, while a broader organisational strategy takes longer. I’ll give you a clear timeline after an initial conversation.
Do I need a strategy if I already know what content I want to produce?
Possibly not, but it's worth a conversation. Many clients come to us knowing what they want to produce but find that a light-touch strategy helps them prioritise, avoid duplication, and make their content work harder. Others are ready to go straight to production, and that's fine too.
Can you help with a strategy for a multi-partner or EU-funded project?
Yes. I've worked on complex, multi-partner initiatives, including Horizon Europe projects, and understand the communications challenges involved, from coordinating partners and reaching different audiences to meeting funder requirements.
What does the process look like from first contact to delivery?
I'll start with a conversation about your project, your goals and what you need help with. From there, we'll agree on the scope, timeline and approach. Strategy development is a collaborative process, so I'll work closely with you and your team throughout.
