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The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias that leads us to overestimate the knowledge of our audience. If you allow this curse
You sent 100,000 emails to the wrong list... You directed people to last year’s action... You addressed everyone as “Jane”... It happens.
It doesn’t matter if you’re writing an email, a blog post, or a tweet—the full gamut of attention-seeking and attention-keeping tactics apply. Social
When you hear of organizations that have amassed millions of online supporters, the first question that often comes to mind is: where
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.
Technology moves at light-speed. Every day, smart people are pushing the boundaries of digital design, user experience, and communication. If we hope
The General Data Protection Regulation (commonly, GDPR) came into effect in May 2018. It impacts all businesses and organizations, everywhere in the world,
New to SEO? Here’s what works in 2026. If the currency of the Internet is web traffic, then search engine referrals are money
Great communication is not just about what you say but how you say it. Who says it also matters. You won’t always
Most of us have a hard time keeping on top of emails from people we do know, to let alone give a second
If you’ve ever been annoyed by a website that stopped you from watching a video because you’re in the ‘wrong’ country ... you’re
Here’s how the internal dialog usually goes: “We’re torn. We see other organizations sending from individual people but how do we know if
These folks are some of the most innovative and transformative communicators in (and beyond) our movement. And they’re on a mission to help
Most organizations want to grow their online audience. Some of us rely entirely on our supporters to fuel actions and fundraising—the organizational
On-page videos can be your best friend and your worst enemy. At the same time. Know the pros and cons so you
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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Don’t let these ‘cognitive biases’ hurt your conversion rates 
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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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