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Technology moves at light-speed. Every day, smart people are pushing the boundaries of digital design, user experience, and communication. If we hope
Let’s be honest, this stuff is hard. Never in human history has there been a communication medium more competitive than the Internet.
Knowing how much or how little to say starts with being clear about your objective. Rarely is it our job to turn readers
Imagine you’re at a party. There are plenty of new people you could meet and talk to. There’s a guy talking himself up.
Every time you email your supporter, you’re doing much more than delivering a message. You’re cultivating a relationship. If
One of the hardest lessons to learn as a communicator is knowing what not to say. In a medium that forces us
Well-designed email templates are greeeat. But even the best layouts can lull readers into complacency over time. Consider mixing up your formatting occasionally
On the surface, it looks like the purpose of a title is to introduce the content of a webpage. But of course—you
Think of split testing (or AB testing) like a deathmatch for ideas. It’s the best tool we have for figuring out what works
What draws people to your cause? What motivated your supporters to take their first action? What did they feel when they first donated?
It might seem too obvious to mention. But it’s critical that you’ve defined the objective of your email. Often, it’s to lead your
Okay, back up—what’s a ‘value proposition’? Think of your value proposition as the reason your reader should care about investing
There’s more than one way to build an email list. The various types of digital assets you can use to attract people to
It would be a lie to claim that ‘delivery time’ is a highly influential factor in email open rates. Compared to heavyweights
Imagine you’re seeing a 25% open rate on your emails. That means whenever you send a broadcast, 3 in every 4 recipients will
Take your time.
In the pursuit of saying more with less, I’ll admit—not every big idea can be reduced to a snappy soundbite. Sometimes there really is a lot to say. Still, there are better options than trying to say everything in one interaction. Readers will find it hard to retain dense information. And rarely do we need to place this much pressure on ourselves.
Pace yourself
Whether you’re communicating through your email list or your social media feed, remember that you’re in an ongoing relationship with your audience. You don’t just get one shot at this. When there’s a lot to say, try saying it over a series of linked emails, web pages, or social media posts. Break up your content into bite-sized ideas and deliver them over time to deepen impact. This will reach more people and give each idea its own time and space to resonate.
Think of digital communications like conversations, not lectures. Be the conversation partner that your supporter wants to come back to.
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Hi there! I’m Karen. I’m on a mission to reach my former self. Had I known 10 years ago what I know today, I could have achieved more good, made fewer mistakes, and had more weekends. Every time we share what works, we win faster. Let’s create digital experiences that move people — that grow our base and fuel our movements. Are you with me? Please share this with someone you know who wants to up their digital game!
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