Posts in Storytelling
Easy & fast tips for your back to school stories
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.

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School District Marketing, Brand/Materials Creation, Storytelling, Writing and MessagingKatie Test Daviseducation
3 steps to win your next nonprofit campaign
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.

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School District Marketing, Most Popular, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Storytelling, Nonprofit Communications, Communications CampaignsKatie Test Daviseducation
The power of 1
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.

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School District Marketing, Most Popular, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Storytelling, Nonprofit CommunicationsKatie Test Daviseducation
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.

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Accessibility, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, StorytellingNiki Juhaszeducation, nonprofit
3 tips for communicating tough topics
3 tips for communicating tough topics

When talking about big issues that aren’t disappearing anytime soon, relying on sentimental language, grim details, or an instinctually emotional reaction from audiences can actually do more harm than good. Here are three things to think about when communicating about tough topics.

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Nonprofit Communications, Most Popular, Brand/Materials Creation, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, Storytelling, Communications CampaignsKatie Test Daviscrisis communications, nonprofit
Your how-to guide on interviewing families for stories
Your how-to guide on interviewing families for stories

When it comes to storytelling, you’re already sold. You know stories about your work help demonstrate your organization’s impact in a personal, relatable way.

Now, it’s on to actually telling the stories. That starts with interviews. And this – this is the step when even seasoned communications professionals can get a little nervous. From how to ensure you’re getting consent to asking questions in a respectful way, it can be a little tricky!

Here’s Forthright’s true-blue formula for asking for initial consent and asking questions.

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, StorytellingNiki Juhaszeducation, nonprofit
Are you ready for Giving Tuesday and end of year fundraising?
Are you ready for Giving Tuesday and end of year fundraising?

I get it. Whenever I think about Giving Tuesday and the end of year giving season for our clients, I am hit with a mix of anticipation and excitement, topped with a thin layer of dread. As anyone who has ever worked at a nonprofit knows, while everyone else in the world is settling down with mistletoe and turkey, you’re sprinting full speed into one of the busiest times of year. Never fear— we’ve got your back.

Here are a few tips to make your end of year campaign the best one yet.

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Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Communications Campaigns, Writing and Messaging, StorytellingKatie Test Davisnonprofit
Our #1 favorite messaging trick...
Our #1 favorite messaging trick...

In many communications initiatives, you just KNOW your target audience is going to find fault with your campaign. They are going to have questions, concerns or downright oppose your work.

Once you explain your vision, they’ll say “what I’m worried about is...” and launch into why they don’t support you. What comes after the “what I’m worried about...” is the concern—in other words, the challenge you need to overcome to gain your opposition’s support.

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Most Popular, Storytelling, Writing and MessagingNiki Juhaszeducation, nonprofit
4 Research-backed Tips to Crafting Motivating Stories
4 Research-backed Tips to Crafting Motivating Stories

By making storytelling an integral part of your communications, you can build strong relationships with your community, funders and partners. And, you can highlight stories across any channel—sharing them on social media, incorporating story call outs in your annual report or including them when pitching media contacts. Check out our four research-backed tips (and examples) for effective storytelling.

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Most Popular, Brand/Materials Creation, Storytelling, Communications CampaignsNiki Juhaszcommunication, core messaging, communications tips
Are you harnessing the power of video?
Are you harnessing the power of video?

Even before staying at home became the new normal, video was a top marketing trend. And a recent Nielsen report showed that adults spent at least 35 minutes per day watching video on phones, tablets, or computers.

You can capture some of these eyes by incorporating video into your upcoming communication campaigns.

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Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Communications Campaigns, StorytellingKatie Test Daviscommunication, core messaging, communications tips, video
A Blueprint for Your 2020 Annual Report
A Blueprint for Your 2020 Annual Report

By creating a shorter annual report, you can communicate about all of your priorities with your most important stakeholders, while saving your team time, effort and money. Here, we’re going to be sharing an (only four-page!) annual report we love. We’re pointing out specific things we love about it and how you can use this as an example for your own work!

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Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Storytelling, Writing and MessagingKatie Test DavisAnnual Report, Design
Instantly Improve Your Outreach Through Empathy
Instantly Improve Your Outreach Through Empathy

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!

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Most Popular, Writing and Messaging, Storytelling, Communications CampaignsKatie Test Davismessaging
Why No One is Listening
Why No One is Listening

We’ve heard from many of you that you’re struggling to break through the noise and that your audiences “just aren’t getting it.” You’re not alone. Right now, our brains are busy juggling uncertainty, stress and anxiety. That’s why we’re sharing two tips to help you reach your audiences.

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Nonprofit Communications, Most Popular, Storytelling, Writing and Messaging, Communications CampaignsKatie Test Daviscore messaging, messaging, crisis communications
3 Things First Graders Taught Me About PR
3 Things First Graders Taught Me About PR

Most 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.

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Writing and Messaging, StorytellingKatie Test Davisbranding, messaging, crisis communication
What Do Evergreens Have to do with Marketing?
What Do Evergreens Have to do with Marketing?

Evergreen content is a message you can post any time. Its lifespan isn’t tied to an event (or season). If your organization writes stories or articles, this is a great time to re-share those.

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School District Marketing, Nonprofit Communications, Brand/Materials Creation, Digital and Social Media, Writing and Messaging, Media Relations, StorytellingKatie Test Davismarketing, content marketing, evergreen content, facebook, twitter, tips, nonprofit, best practices, holidays