We’re happy to partner with communities, researchers and other organizations to make the internet better for everyone in Canada. Running CIRA’s Internet Performance Test (IPT) not only provides you with accurate feedback on the health of your own connection, but also contributes valuable, real-time and crowdsourced information to support connectivity across the country.
To gain the most meaningful data, participation from internet users in your community is a must. You can do your part by promoting your test page, helping individuals understand why they should test and providing insight into the results.
Social media
We’ve developed downloadable social media posts with suggested wording. Please feel free to change and edit as you see fit. You can also create your own posts that speak to your community or constituent’s particular issues around broadband access.
Logos and brand guidelines
We encourage you to use our logos when communicating about your test page. However, we ask that you contact us when using our logo so we can review it.
Please allow CIRA 48 hours to approve all uses of our logo.
‘CIRA’ [pron: Cee-rah] is the way we communicate about our organization. The Internet Performance Test is part of Net Good by CIRA. Please use uppercase letters with no periods when mentioning our brand.
Please refer to our program as CIRA’s Internet Performance Test or Net Good by CIRA.
Social media is all about visuals. We’ve created these graphs to enhance your promotional efforts. They can be used on a standalone basis, or in conjunction with wording from the social media posts.
Use the square images on Instagram; the rectangular images will display better on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
Promoting on web and social media
Promoting your test page on your website and social media channels is an effective way to encourage testing. This leverages the trust and reach, that your organization has already built, ensuring higher visibility and credibility. You might even reach a user who’s having internet issues in the moment, and they can run a test instantly to figure out what’s going on!
Posts should be straightforward with a clear call to action that leads the user directly to the test page. Most communities and organizations determine their own cadence of posting, which is normally based on how frequently they post in general. We’ve found concentrated “campaigns” that are particularly effective run for a set period, several times a year. Posts should ideally be frequent (several times a week) reminding people to test, test often and at different times of the day.
Tips for wording your posts
The tone for promoting the IPT usually speaks to individuals’ frustrations around their own broadband service not meeting their needs. This is an effective way to communicate the need for test taking, as it highlights the IPT’s underlining goal to help stakeholders address broadband service gaps.
However, using a tone that encourages test-taking for community building reasons helps attract a more diverse audience like those without immediate concerns about their broadband connection. Attracting users with and without internet service issues adds diversity to your results and helps paint a more complete picture of the service in your area.
Other ways to promote
Mail: this is especially effective for communities and organizations that have mailing lists. Send informative letters to residents explaining the benefits of participating in running tests and how to access the tool online. If there’s a specific area you want to generate tests from, you can target only the addresses in that area.
Print: use your community newsletters to highlight the importance of gathering crowdsourced information for improving local internet services.
Flyers/hand-outs: distribute flyers at community centres, libraries and other public spaces detailing the steps to participate in running tests.
Events: promote the IPT and your efforts to improve broadband at community events with presentations and booths with live demonstrations and assistance.
Radio: broadcast short, catchy radio ads on community radio explaining the benefits of running tests on the platform; share the website link for easy access.
Tips
Using a variety of media to promote your test page ensures broader reach and engagement by targeting different demographics. This multi-channel approach increases awareness, accessibility and credibility, ultimately generating more participation.
Regardless of which form of promotion you use, make sure you remember to include your test page’s URL!
About CIRA:
- CIRA is the national not-for-profit best known for managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians.
- CIRA represents Canada on both national and international stages by helping shape the future of the internet.
- As a member-based, mission-driven not-for-profit, CIRA’s goal is to build a trusted internet for Canadians.
About Net Good and the Internet Performance Test:
- As a leader in Canada’s internet ecosystem, CIRA offers a wide range of products, programs and services. The Net Good by CIRA program supports projects, communities and policies that make the internet better for all Canadians, including the Internet Performance Test (IPT).
- The IPT platform offers advanced and detailed diagnostic data enabling communities, researchers and decision-makers to better understand and improve internet access in Canada.
- Each year, CIRA proudly funds its Net Good program from the revenue generated through .CA domains and cybersecurity services.
What to avoid
Internet access, or lack thereof, can be a frustrating and an emotional discussion for some.
Here’s a list of a few topics to avoid, along with the reasons why they may not be helpful:
Technical jargon: overly technical language can intimidate or confuse participants, reducing engagement. Keeping the messaging simple and relatable ensures that a broader audience understands the purpose and importance of the test.
Negative comparisons to other communities: highlighting poor performance compared to other communities can create a sense of inferiority or defensiveness, which may discourage participation. The focus should be on improving local internet services rather than competing with others.
Blaming local internet service providers (ISPs): directly criticizing local internet service providers can strain community relationships and deter collaboration. It’s more constructive to focus on how the test can help identify areas for improvement and work with ISPs to enhance service quality.
Unrealistic expectations: overpromising immediate improvements or changes based on test results can lead to disappointment if those expectations are not met. Set realistic goals and communicate the long-term benefits of participation.
Contact us
Need support? We’re here to help!
