Pretesting is an essential component of all communication messages and materials and ensures that what is designed is really suitable for the intended audiences. Even quick methods of pre-testing, such as rapid listening groups with different people nearby, can provide useful insight into how a behavior is understood or a message is perceived. Pre-testing helps ensure that your messages and materials have been contextualized properly.

Even during the most critical of times, we recommend that programmers try to get hold of key audience members to ensure that messages serve the purpose for which they are intended. See the tool on the following page for recommendations on what aspects of messages and materials to pretest.