Know-How Exchange : Strategy

HCR,

Can you involve the public policy makers and thinkers? Pick a few that have visibility and name recognition among their peers, and get them talking about the ideas you're germinating in your think tank. Produce some white papers, write press releases, and as aosterday says, don't be afraid of controversy... but I'd be careful not to make your "guests" look like idiots.

If those Guest Thinkers already have a strong public presence, then you're gaining credibility and a better likelihood of exposure for your think tank.

Initially, it seems to me that you'll have to take each paper or report as a separate "product" and quickly devise tactics to get it, and/or the writer, some press coverage, guest spots on interview shows (radio / tv), etc.

This seems especially significant if the data or topic is timely, corresponding to something in the news, or in the "ether" of the day.

Work on the writers becoming interesting interviewees. Be sure they know their talking points about the think tank itself, as well as are conversant and dynamic on their topic. Can they make it relevant and timely, maybe even newsy, in a variety of interview environments.

If your authors are credentialed specialists, get them listed or known with various media types as an expert to call on specific subjects.

Have pre-prepared media kits about the think tank and the topic, and bios of the authors ready.

Use good press releases to targeted media at every Reasonable opportunity.

Stage press conferences when they're called for (but never do this frivolously).

A long talk with a PR specialist would help you out here quite a bit.

Work on branding the think tank to appropriate interest groups, public and private.

Develop blogs or discussion boards online for each topic/concept or paper. Encourage public interaction and feedback.

A list like this can be long, so I hope this general description helps stimulate some thinking...