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Create an effective billboard for your district

I was driving across North Carolina, headed for a quick weekend getaway in Belhaven, along the Pungo River. It was my favorite kind of drive, through all that my amazing state has to offer – beautiful water views, farm fields and cypress swamps.

But along with the landscape, there were billboards. So many of them.

And I got to thinking about what a great opportunity billboards can be for school district communicators – but only when done purposefully and with best practices in mind. (There are, I have to tell you, some pretty confusing and visually crowded billboards out there…)

Here are a few tips for creating an effective billboard ad for your district.

School District Marketing, Brand/Materials CreationKatie Test DavisNovember 15, 2022education

Prepare your after-election messaging

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.

How to create messages that change the world

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.

Don’t forget Grandpa!

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.

How to win your school bond campaign

The lawn signs are out, the commercials are on, and the handshakes are happening. You know what that means: it’s election season! And for many of our partners, that means securing funding for your school district is on the ballot.

We recently reviewed successful and failed bond campaigns across the US, and here are some key takeaways!

When is the right time to engage a PR firm?

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!

New Communications Director? Tips for how to thrive.

So you just landed a job as a communications director. Welcome to the big leagues, my friend! Whether you earned an internal promotion or you’re new to the organization, as someone who has stood in your shoes multiple times over the years, I’ve got a few tips to help you make the most out of your new role.

How to handle hard questions from reporters

I’ve had clients tell me that they’re nervous to do live television appearances or even speak with a reporter. “What if they ask me something I don’t know the answer to?” they ask us, dread in their voices. “What if they ask me about something I don’t want to talk about?”

Well, friends, you don’t need to be nervous, you just need to pivot.

I’m concerned about the future of PR

As a PR firm founder, it’s my job to watch for macro-trends and patterns across our work. I’m keeping an eye on the big picture and constantly taking a pulse on the audiences (parents, school district administrators, child care providers, etc.) we frequently target through our work.

And honestly? I’m concerned.

7 of our favorite ice breakers

Every couple of months, our all-remote team joins together for virtual happy hours. Or, as my colleague Ashley calls them, snacky hours, since Forthright founder Katie sends us delightful snack boxes to enjoy during these get-togethers.

During our last snacky hour, Katie asked us to come prepared with our favorite ice breaker. Hilarity – and learning about each other – ensued.

Today, I’m sharing more about why community activities benefit your organization – and some of our winning ice breakers, too.

About Forthright, Hiring and PeopleKatie Test DavisAugust 29, 2022education

Easy & fast tips for your back to school stories

Honest question: How full is your inbox right now? Has it reached hundreds of unread emails yet? In the days leading up to the first day of school, it is totally normal to have an overwhelming amount of information thrown at you.

Buried in many inboxes are great story “nuggets” that deserve to be told. Maybe it is the student who learned to love science during the fun summer camp she took. Maybe it is a teacher who is bursting with fun, new blended learning ideas to engage his social studies class after the professional development session he attended in July.

An easy tip for writing for your community

I was in DC this spring, and I spotted someone wearing a tee shirt reading “words mean things”.

My husband, a software engineer, didn't understand why I instantly fangirled over this shirt.

But as leaders and communicators, you get it — words DO mean things. We have a responsibility to choose them wisely and understand how they land and how different people interpret them.

3 steps to win your next nonprofit campaign

I grew up the middle child – not the first born, not the baby of the family. Yet I can confidently say that (as a future communicator) I was still the best at convincing our parents to do what I wanted.

My secret? Thinking about what was personally important to them…and then matching what I wanted with what they valued.

And that secret, my friend, is the entire secret to good communications.

The power of 1

It’s overwhelming out there, these days, eh? A flood of news. Constant notifications. According to recent health data from OnePoll, we’re all feeling overworked and exhausted.

So as changemakers, how do we break through the tired and overwhelmed in order to move our work forward?

The answer is simple:

One.

Three simple questions you should ask about your audiences

Earlier this year, we asked you to share the skills you're most focused on building in 2022.

Many of you said that you'd like to do more around audience analysis for communications planning. You want to gain a better understanding of your audiences' values, motivations and their pain points – ultimately setting the stage for an effective campaign.

So, we put together an easy three question checklist to get you started on smart audience analysis.

3 recruitment tips to make your life easier

The teacher who knows how to make calculus interesting. The coach who took her team to state championships three times in the past five years. That team member – the perfect team member for your district – is out there. And they are job searching, seeking the perfect district for them.

But the competition is fierce. Here’s how your district can stand out in a crowded job market for educators.

School District Marketing, Hiring and PeopleNiki JuhaszJuly 8, 2022education

The Twitter rules all advocates need to know now

Twitter has made its intentions clear: to keep your feeds free and clear of this kind of “disruptive,” duplicative posting.

We waited a beat to see how this rule was playing out in our feeds, the algorithm and in our partners’ social strategies. Here's what *we know* this means so far for all of us and our Twitter experiences.

Stop doing this after a crisis.

I’ve scrolled past endless LinkedIn posts, tweets and Facebook comments these past few weeks -- all with the same sentiment. What we’re living through now isn’t acceptable, and we want it to be different.

Here’s the communication problem with the “something must change” posts: they unintentionally perpetuate the idea that the problems we face are too big.

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.

How to get policymakers to actually hear you

We know your work – all of our work – is directly impacted by recent tragedies and crises. Dallas, Buffalo, Laguna Woods, Uvalde. The formula crisis, attacks on necessary equity efforts in our schools and child care shortages. These all signal the need for a major revolution.

So what do we want? Long-term, sustainable policy change to help our children and families thrive. When do we want it? NOW. (I mean, years ago, really.)

So that’s what we’re focused on today. We reviewed more than 10 peer-reviewed journal articles, book excerpts and research studies (in addition to years of experience working with policymakers!) to ensure that you have what you need to succeed in your advocacy.

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Smart communication strategies for organizations that love kids.