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How to get people to remember your message

How to get people to remember your message

We all have our favorite stats. (Okay, maybe not all of us. But at Forthright, we have our favorite stats. We’re nerds.) One of mine is about what it takes for people to REALLY remember your message. It’s called the Marketing Rule of Seven, and it’s pretty simple.

A person has to see or hear a message about seven times before it starts to resonate. Add to this number (say… 14 times) if your topic is particularly tricky, such as infant mental health or adolescent brain development.

Today, we’re including tips to make sharing that same, powerful message easy.

Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, School District Marketing, Nonprofit CommunicationsNiki JuhaszJanuary 20, 2026how to save nonprofit team time, save foundation team time, how to make communications easier, creating nonprofit materials, creating foundation materials, Marketing Rule of Seven

How to edit AI to sound like you

Something felt off… I was reading the latest newsletter from a health group I’ve admired for years. While I’ve always felt connected to the leader whose expert voice I trust, this time, her voice was gone.

The warmth and personality were replaced by sentences that felt a little too perfect, a little… familiar. It was the unmistakable voice of careless AI.

That icky feeling was a reminder: When our writing sounds like it could have been written by anyone, our audiences lose connection.

Here’s how to manage using AI to write, while still connecting with your audiences.

We dare you to say less

We dare you to say less

Starting my career in policy, I loved the long and winding wonky road. I believed more detail meant more credibility, and my early training taught me to love a 10-dollar word instead of a perfectly perfect 10-cent word. Our most important job, especially in 2025, is to be generous with our audience's time. That means doing the hard work of making our message simple. Here’s how to make it happen.

Digital and Social Media, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Storytelling, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisOctober 15, 2025nonprofit communications, advocacy, clear messaging, jargon, storytelling, call to action, strategic communications, simple writing, core messages, nonprofit leadership

Get cooking on LinkedIn 📈

Get cooking on LinkedIn 📈

In the advocacy world, LinkedIn feels like The Place to Be right now. Partners, funders, nonprofit leaders… decision-makers are all in the room, and the conversation is not quiet.

Maybe your executive director shares bold takes, or your VP of Programs highlights on-the-ground partners.

❓But, is your organization’s LinkedIn page doing what it should be?

If LinkedIn is the room where it happens, are you using this space to drive connections with the people who matter most and the people who make decisions … or is it more like a bulletin board without a strategy?

Communications Campaigns, Digital and Social MediaKatie Test DavisSeptember 19, 2025LinkedInStrategy, NonprofitComms, DigitalStrategy, LinkedInforNonprofits, SocialMediaStrategy, ContentStrategy

KAK Orlando Conference Recap

KAK Orlando Conference Recap

The Forthright team just got back from sunny Orlando, Florida, for the annual Krimes Against Kids conference.

It’s a powerful event that brings together everyone from law enforcement and child protective services to survivor advocates.

Honestly, being in a room with so many people dedicated to protecting children was just incredible. As a firm that only works with organizations that help kids and families, we left feeling totally inspired.

Niki and I even had the chance to present on a topic we're incredibly passionate about: Reaching Families Without Internet Access.

In a world that’s so online, it’s crucial to remember that not everyone has the same level of connectivity.

Digital and Social Media, Writing and Messaging, Storytelling, Nonprofit Communications, About ForthrightKatie Test DavisAugust 21, 2025Krimes Against Kids, Florida, Florida communications firm, Florida public relations firm, Florida child advocacy, Communications for Florida advocates, Nonprofit marketing, Children's advocacy centers, Social media for nonprofits, Community outreach, Conference recap, Digital divide

Why we love photos of real people

If you want to gain attention in the ever-crowded online world, you have to put yourself out there. That is, you have to put your face out there.

There’s research that shows using authentic photos of you and your colleagues is not just a powerful way to get people to pay attention – it can help build trust, too.

Here’s four reasons that will convince even introverts like me to use real photos in digital communications:

Digital and Social Media, Brand/Materials CreationKatie Test DavisJune 5, 2025website design, social media design, photography, headshot, photo shoot, video, psychology, cognitive science, trust, authenticity

The lawn sign that changed my life

The lawn sign that changed my life

It’s finally – FINALLY starting to warm up. (Your girl is not meant for the winter.) That means some days, I’ll take a lunch run to enjoy the sunshine.

I was on one of these runs last week, bored and thinking about needing to mix up my exercise routine. And then I passed a lawn sign. It simply said:

Free Outdoor Workout Classes

And then included a QR code.

While I’ve been a TAD dramatic saying it changed my life, this is brilliant marketing.

Here’s why:

Nonprofit Communications, School District Marketing, Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and MessagingNiki JuhaszMay 20, 2025billboard best practices, lawn sign best practices, smart marketing for nonprofits, smart marketing for associations, smart marketing for foundations, how to catch my audience's attention

Perfect your post-conference email

Perfect your post-conference email

It’s the last day of your conference. You’ve been pounding the hotel hallways and working from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. You’re exhausted and ready to sleep in your own bed. But there’s just one thing left to do – send the final, perfect email to cap off your perfect conference.

Here are four tips to hit a game-winning home run for your last email to conference attendees.

Nonprofit Communications, Digital and Social Media, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisMarch 27, 2025conference, email best practices, association conference best practices, nonprofit conference best practices, your conference email sequence, how to send smart conference emails, what to send after your conference

Get the right eyes on your new report

Get the right eyes on your new report

So you have new data, and you want to share that information with the world!

A report release can be a wonderful way to get eyes on your organization. But, take it from me – as someone who LOVES a good, ole’ fashioned report release – they can be a TON of work.

Before you start putting pen to paper, I want to share a few key questions to ask yourself as you prepare for your own report release.

Digital and Social Media, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Storytelling, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test DavisFebruary 17, 2025report, report release, report writing for nonprofits, public relations for research reports, data visualization for reports, education research dissemination, nonprofit report release strategy, early childhood policy report, how to engage stakeholders with data, visualizing data in education reports

5 web basics to know before designing a website

5 web basics to know before designing a website

You’ve used a bad website before.

It takes forever to load. You can’t find what you’re looking for. The text blurs as you try to read it.

You can avoid these mistakes by going back to the basics of web design. Whether you’re revamping your decade-old website or starting from scratch, ask yourself these five questions:

Accessibility, Nonprofit Communications, Digital and Social MediaKatie Test DavisFebruary 3, 2025web design, web writing, bad website, web requirements, homepage, call to action, creating a nonprofit website, how to create good websites, how to start a website, smart web design

Avoid reacting 24/7 in a new year of noise

Avoid reacting 24/7 in a new year of noise

Political transitions can feel like drinking from a firehose. Headlines spark fear, social feeds rile people up, and your team looks to leadership wondering: should we say something about this?

Over the next few months, the noise is only going to get louder and louder.

But here's the thing – you can’t sprint against the wind for months or years at a time.

And you definitely can't let each bill proposal or sound bite throw your communications strategy out of whack and put your team on the defensive line.

Here are three tips to prevent your team from living in reaction mode for the next year (or four).

Storytelling, Writing and Messaging, Nonprofit Communications, Digital and Social Media, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisJanuary 21, 2025internal communications, strategic planning, message fatigue, social media, narrative clarity

How to help overwhelmed parents

How to help overwhelmed parents

Parents and caregivers need our help.

I’ve led work that supports parents and caregivers for two decades.

I’ve also been a parent for nearly 13 years.

And over time, I’ve noticed a growing trend. Parents and caregivers are overworked, overstressed and overwhelmed – and it’s impacting their health.

As communicators and leaders, there are three easy guidelines you can follow to ensure your messages break through the noise to reach this overwhelmed (but critical!) audience.

Behind the scenes of one of my favorite projects this year

Behind the scenes of one of my favorite projects this year

“Close your eyes, and imagine an America where we have gotten childcare right.

The Reimagine Childcare Project has spent the last two years co-creating and building a radical new Vision of childcare.

It imagines a future where childcare looks and feels abundant.

One where we make sure every child, parent, guardian, and provider is whole and happy. One where everyone has exactly what they need to become who they are meant to be.”

GAH, doesn’t it just give you goosebumps?

Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Storytelling, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisOctober 26, 2024Innovative Childcare Solutions, Early Childhood Advocacy, Supporting Families and Caregivers, Childcare Resources and Tools, Building Childcare Equity, Childcare Policy and Change, Holistic Child Development, Community-Based Childcare

How to reach families without internet

How to reach families without internet

Reaching families without internet access isn’t a new challenge for communicators. As of last year, one in five households in America were unable to get online at home.

But in April, millions more families across the country are poised to lose their online access as the Affordable Connectivity Program funding runs out.

This could make reaching kids and families in your district or community more challenging. So today, I want to take a moment and share what we’ve learned about reaching and supporting offline families.

Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Accessibility, Communications Campaigns, Digital and Social Media, Most Popular, School District Marketing, Storytelling, Writing and MessagingEmily SwartzlanderMarch 28, 2024broadband, internet, no internet, free resource, reaching families, tactics, Reaching families without internet access, Low bandwidth communications tactics

Not your grandma’s style guide: Tips to help your team remember the why

Not your grandma’s style guide: Tips to help your team remember the why

Have you ever read or updated your organization’s style guide and paused to think, “Wait, why do we do it this way?” You’re not alone.

After countless communications audits and years of helping organizations discover what they need to say to reach their people, we’re convinced — good rules require great reasons.

Here are three tips to help you create a style guide that shows your team how to communicate and helps them remember why it matters.

Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Accessibility, Writing and Messaging, Storytelling, Nonprofit CommunicationsForthright AdvisingMarch 15, 2024Nonprofit style guide, Accessibility, how to create a style guide, style guide best practices

7 predictions for 2024 social media trends

7 predictions for 2024 social media trends

Social media brought many surprises in 2023. Will 2024 be a roller coaster too? Because my Magic 8 Ball told me “Reply hazy, try again,” I checked in with some of the biggest names in social media to see what they predicted for 2024.

Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, Digital and Social MediaKatie Test DavisJanuary 17, 2024social media, video, threads, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, SEO

A look back at how PR has changed

A look back at how PR has changed

A couple of weeks ago, my colleagues and I were reminiscing about “how PR used to be.” In addition to making us feel – well, like seriously seasoned comms professionals who have seen it all – it made us realize just how different things are.

So then I asked the rest of our teammates how PR has changed over their careers. Here are their answers, just for fun.

Writing and Messaging, Digital and Social Media, Media Relations, Communications Campaigns, Nonprofit Communications, School District Marketing, About ForthrightNiki JuhaszJune 12, 2023social media trends, media relations trends, press releases, media relations best practices, communications strategies, changing nonprofit tactics

The best ways to share your news this summer

The best ways to share your news this summer

We’re sharing the freshest data about how people are consuming news in 2023, so you can ensure your information gets in front of your target audiences, even while they’re sunning themselves at the beach.

Nonprofit Communications, Media Relations, School District Marketing, Digital and Social Media, Communications CampaignsKatie Test DavisApril 13, 2023data, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Radio, Broadcast, newspaper, breaking news over the summer, announcements

3 questions to ensure your images center DEI

3 questions to ensure your images center DEI

We’ve all heard the phrase a picture is worth a thousand words. And that’s true – but in marketing and advocacy, the images aren’t just about the pictures themselves and the words they represent. They are also about the feelings they evoke and the narratives they help shape.

School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Accessibility, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, StorytellingNiki JuhaszJune 9, 2022education, nonprofit