What are all of the things that nonprofit communications teams need to think about and potentially act on to be successful?
Of course, it’s a really, really long list of potential items.
To put some structure around it, so that you can start to understand your choices and then make them, we’ve identified ten keys to nonprofit communications success. Within those keys, there are 60+ activities and skills that we’ve included in our recommended professional development plans. You can get those plans by clicking on the Get Started or Take the Quiz buttons on the homepage.
Here are the 10 Keys . . .
Key 1: Communications Planning and Strategy
Are you thinking through your choices and planning for success?
Key 2: Understanding Your Community and Prioritizing Targets
Are you creating your communications for specific groups or types of people, rather than the general public?
Key 3: Creating Relevant Messaging and Engaging Content
Are you creating calls to action and content that your community will find relevant and engaging?
Key 4: Communications Channel Management
Are you keeping up with and implementing tactical best practices in your various communications channels?
Key 5: Brand Consistency and Reputation Management
Are you following a style guide to promote brand consistency and building your reputation?
Key 6: Writing Skills and Content Creation
Are you using the different nonprofit writing styles well?
Key 7: Visual Content Skills and Creation
Are you adding visuals like graphics, photography, and video to your content?
Key 8: Productivity, Relationships, and Boundaries
Are you managing your own workload and working relationships well?
Key 9: Communications Workflows and Processes
Are you documenting and following standard workflows to get the communications work done?
Key 10: Measuring Success and Optimizing Your Approaches
Are you paying attention to what works, what doesn’t, and adjusting accordingly?
No comms team — especially a team of one — will be expert at all of these things. That’s not the point of the list. The point is to give you a road map for building your comms effectiveness. But it’s up to you to decide where you go on that map!
