As communicators and leaders, we’re constantly having to put ourselves in other people’s shoes. At the heart of good communication is empathy—anticipating how our audience will receive information, and then customizing our approach based on that. I’m sharing my advice for how to do this here!
Read MoreOur hope for the holidays is that you find time to power down your big, beautiful brain long enough to enjoy a nap by the fire and enter 2021 equipped to incorporate self-care into your daily routines.
Read MoreAs one of our experts in education leadership, Forthright consultant Ashley tackles today's hottest topic: trust. Here, she offers three key steps you can take to ensure your outreach builds trust for your community.
Read MoreIf you’re struggling to slow down, remember this: your best work is produced when you are focused and calm. So what’s a chronic multitasker to do when faced with a global pandemic? Here are three ways we can all slow down.
Read MoreA recent Chronicles of Philanthropy report shared that your supporters and families want to hear from you during this pandemic. We’re sharing one of the best ways to communicate with them—and as always, we’re sharing the data behind our specific recommendations.
Read MoreMedia monitoring tools scour the internet for you and send you email alerts when the search terms you’re interested in are mentioned in the media. Here are our recommendations for the best (free) tools to use, along with a step-by-step guide for getting started!
Read MoreAs communicators, it’s our job to simplify our messaging so ALL our audiences understand what we’re sharing and why. That’s why we’re sharing why readability is important, what readability score writers should aim for, how to simplify complex messaging and how to use Microsoft Word to test readability through our blog and free PDF download.
Read MoreOur brains are wired to look for things we recognize and find patterns. So when you’re trying to make a complicated concept easy to explain, comparisons are your friend! We’re including tips on how to use them in your messaging here.
Read MoreBeing invited to the table AFTER all the big decisions have been made can be disheartening AND make our work harder. So how do you ensure that you are looped in early and often? Here are three suggestions to try.
Read MoreMost Fridays, my husband and I take half an hour to read to first graders. Not only does the activity keep me grounded in Forthright’s mission and in a school setting each week, but it’s also a great place to be reminded of some communications lessons. Here are three things I’ve learned about communications from spending time reading with first graders.
Read MoreThe average email open rate ranges between 15-25 percent. SMS messages are opened more than 95 percent of the time. That’s a crazy stat! Forthright team member Lauren breaks down why texting is a critical communications tool—now more than ever.
Read MoreWe don’t have to tell you that families and school staff have a lot going on right now. Searching for information—and wondering what they can trust—just adds to their stress. That's why we’re sharing tips to ensure your audience sees and trusts your messaging.
Read MoreWith coronavirus diagnosis and information changing in mere minutes, we’re hearing how hard it is for everyone to keep a clear head and stay focused on best practices. So this week, I figured we could do what I always do when I feel overwhelmed: take it back to basics. Let’s revisit some crisis communications best practices.
Read MoreWriting the perfect pitch—and building reporter relationships—can be tricky, so we’ve created a pitching checklist just for you!
Read MoreFocusing your limited time and resources on those who would mean the most to your organization makes sense AND helps you accomplish your goals.
Read MoreSince millennials are here to stay, savvy school districts are shifting their outreach tactics based on how millennial parents are getting their information.
Read MoreSavvy school district leaders will take this data and incorporate it into their outreach plans! We’ve included a quick checklist to see if your district is capitalizing on this opportunity.
Read MoreCan you answer one simple question: do you know why parents choose your school (or district)? And moreover — why did they choose your school out of all their options? And finally, consider this...why do they stay?
Read MoreWe share four tips to ensure that when you reach out to a reporter, they respond.
Read MoreWinter break can be a great time for public school districts to communicate with parents. Here are three tips to get you started…
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