When we’re honest about the experiences that we share with our audiences, and how these differ from — and may inform — the lived experiences of others, we uplift the issues at hand and empower our audiences to be a part of the change we want to see.
As communicators, we’re often asked to help people with different lived experiences consider, even a little bit, the lives of others. But how do we communicate about issues that we, and our audiences, don’t have lived experiences of? We’re so happy you asked! Let’s break it down.
Public school enrollment continues declining, and the U.S. Department of Education has the data to prove it. We’re sharing more of the fresh stats – and of course tips for your next steps.
Your brand identity – from your name to tagline to logo – is your first introduction to your most important stakeholders. By approaching it with strategy and centering your audiences, you can ensure you’re building a strong brand that helps you accomplish your mission. We are including three tips here!
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Easy-to-read messaging is kind. It helps your audiences understand your work and what you want them to know. On the flip side, when a message uses big words, acronyms and jargon, it is – by definition – exclusionary. Today, we’re sharing more about how we recommend approaching your messaging.
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Is your team stuck in a rut? Need some skills-building? Looking for a laughter-filled get-together centered around learning? Our marketing and communications workshops are jam-packed with helpful how-tos. You and your team will walk away with confidence and the knowledge you need to take (successful) action. Plus, we’ll have fun while we’re doing it! Here’s a (sampling of) what we’re offering this spring and summer…
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: long, clunky annual reports are a thing of the past. Your audiences want to see your impact in minutes, not hours. So when you’re Marie Kondoing your annual report, how do you cut content – but still show impact? We have two tips.
You know you have a good story – one people need to hear. So how do you break through the noise and get your news covered? Former reporter and Forthright VP Emily shares insider tips to help you with your media relations efforts.
Communicators like us face disinformation and misinformation spreading through social media, the news and in our communities every day. We’re sharing a few tips about how to combat this misinformation here — starting with why people believe it in the first place.
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Each year, as we wrap up before the holidays, we take a moment to send out our annual client survey. As part of our commitment to continual improvement, we ask our clients to reflect on what parts of our work together are going well, and what we could do better. And as always, it’s one of my favorite times of year. Feedback is a gift. I’m always so grateful when our clients take a minute out of their busy days to tell us how our work together is going. Here’s what we heard.
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When your own colleagues don’t understand the communications department’s role and what your teammates do all day, you’re in trouble. So what’s a communications director to do? What we do best. A branding campaign. Except this time, it’s internal, and your colleagues are your target audience.
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Our old ways of brute force and hustle culture never served us. Why bring those attitudes into the new year? Here, we’re sharing three ways to ensure your communications goals for 2023 are smart and focused on your team — and set you up for success, too.
To us, consent means ensuring that every person we interview feels comfortable, confident and even empowered about sharing throughout the interview process. In other words, consent is so much more than asking for permission to share a story. Gathering consent during interviews is just one of many critical parts of ethical storytelling. We're sharing how we approach the process in this blog.
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As a parent who is aware of the schooling options available – one who *wants* to send her kids to public schools – I’m sharing a few steps I wish my local school district had taken over the past few months.
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Millions across the US choose to swipe right on, or decidedly say no thank you to, potential partners on dating apps every month. And much like hopeful (or jaded) singles swiping through profiles, your potential supporters, partners and stakeholders often make the decision to learn more about you – or write you off – in mere seconds. I bring this up because thinking about your organization’s brand personality as a dating profile…can actually be a great exercise! We’re including an example here.
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As I think about tomorrow’s election, I’m listening to The Final Countdown on repeat. Our campaigns are on their final stretches – and our country’s future is in our voters’ hands now.
No matter what the results are, I know many of us will be making the tough decision of whether to issue statements or responses about the election results. Or not.
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As experts who focus on messaging, we’re always advising our clients to make strategic choices about the information they share, the comparisons they make, and the words they use. Knowing more about framing can help you win campaigns, change hearts and minds, and move your work forward.
There are typically three framing scenarios that communicators face when leading a campaign. Let’s dive into them.
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Through her work with school districts and nonprofits, Forthright senior advisor Lauren knows how to reach a variety of audiences. Today, Lauren is sharing how organizations and districts like yours can better include grandparent caregivers in your tactics and build more inclusive communications.
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There’s a buzz in the air, tempting you with ideas like: “Can we stand up a whole campaign next week? Can we land that shiny New York Times piece? Can we push out all of our fresh data to everyone across digital?”
And maybe, “You know what… we’re gonna need some help with this.”
Ultimately, knowing if and when you're ready to engage a communications firm helps make sure that you’re making a sound investment and sets you up for a solid, successful partnership!
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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.
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