Overcoming Community Disengagement with PublicInput’s GovTech Solutions

Public engagement practitioners face a key challenge: overcoming disengagement. A recent PublicInput survey on resident perceptions found that while 69% of residents say they respond when invited by their local government, over 30% still don’t. Why? The main barriers include:

• • • 24% said they lacked enough information to contribute their input.
    • 29% didn’t feel strongly about the issue.
    • 11% found participation options difficult or inconvenient.
    • 13% didn’t believe their input would be valued or used.
    • 10% found the topic too confusing or complicated.

These barriers show why traditional engagement methods often fall short. The good news: the right tools can help overcome these challenges.

Community engagement software like PublicInput provides a comprehensive solution to  increase participation, improve inclusivity, and build stronger connections with residents. Here’s how GovTech can transform your engagement strategy.

 

Why Is Public Engagement Still a Challenge?

Traditional outreach methods—like council meetings and newspaper ads—often miss reaching a broad and diverse audience. Barriers such as limited access to information, lack of trust, and time constraints prevent many residents from participating. Modern engagement tools can help break down these barriers and create better opportunities for public participation. Here’s how PublicInput makes that happen:

 

1. Increase Awareness and Accessibility

Improving engagement starts with making information easy to access.  PublicInput’s survey found that 24% of residents didn’t feel informed enough to contribute their input. PublicInput serves as a centralized hub where residents can find updates on community issues, events, and decisions—all in one place. With a single platform, governments can streamline communication and keep residents informed without needing to search multiple sources.

Below Example: The Buncombe County, NC portal, powered by PublicInput, is a one-stop shop where residents can find everything they need to stay involved.

 

2. Targeted Outreach for Greater Impact

Not everyone is interested in every issue, and that’s okay. PublicInput allows agencies to target specific groups with relevant messages. Whether it’s a neighborhood, local business owners, or underrepresented communities, targeted outreach ensures important messages reach the right people. 

Case Study:  The City of Rancho Cucamonga, CA uses PublicInput’s Resident Relationship Manager (CRM) to track feedback and create targeted campaigns based on demographics and preferences.

 

3. Multi-Channel Communication to Meet Residents Where They Are

When 11% of residents find participation options inconvenient, relying on just one communication method doesn’t work. Some people prefer social media updates, while others respond better to emails, texts, or face-to-face conversations. PublicInput supports multiple communication channels—including email, social media, SMS, newsletters, and live public meetings—so agencies can engage residents in preferred ways. This multi-channel approach ensures messages reach more people and increases participation.

Case Study: Frederick County, MD successfully used a mix of online surveys, phone calls, in-person events, and social media to gather community input on budget priorities. This approach gave them more comprehensive feedback that better represented their community.

 

4. Removing Barriers to Participation

Not everyone has equal access to technology or feels comfortable using it. When 13% of residents don’t believe their input will be valued, trust issues arise. PublicInput overcomes these challenges by offering both online and offline engagement options, plus transparent reporting that shows how public feedback influences decisions. By making participation inclusive and showing residents their input matters, governments can build stronger relationships with their communities

Cases Study: Hillsborough County, FL uses PublicInput’s dynamic reporting to create interactive, shareable reports for project managers, decision makers, and stakeholders—showing everyone how community input shapes outcomes. 

 

5. Data-Driven Decision Making

Collecting feedback is just the beginning—making sense of it is where the value lies. PublicInput’s built-in analytics and AI-powered insights help agencies analyze public input in real time, spot trends, and adjust engagement strategies.  With data-driven decisions, governments can better serve their communities and show they’re listening.

Case Study: The Genesee Transportation Council used real-time feedback and analytics from PublicInput to boost participation in regional transportation planning, leading to more representative engagement and smarter decisions. 

 

Ready to Overcome Disengagement?

Community engagement software is a powerful tool for government agencies looking to connect with residents,  promote inclusivity, and make informed decisions. PublicInput helps agencies streamline outreach,  improve communication, and ensure meaningful public participation.

See how PublicInput can help. Schedule a personalized demo today and discover how our platform can help you build stronger, more connected communities.