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Most of us have a hard time keeping on top of emails from people we do know, to let alone give a second
Bolding the odd word or phrase can help skim readers catch key ideas you don’t want them to miss. It’s also great for
I’m so glad you’re here. While it’s far from the most exciting, retention is arguably the most important factor in the success of
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
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.
Sometimes, the purpose of an email can be simply to inform. But often, we’re trying to get someone somewhere. An action page. A
As changemakers, it’s our job to dream up all the ways our supporters can get involved to help our cause or win
I know what you’re thinking. “Subject lines”. And you’d be right. Subject lines are hailed as the ‘be all and
Don’t wait for supporter fatigue to set in before creating a plan to mitigate it. Nice idea, right? Most of us only recognize
Imagine you’re seeing a 25% open rate on your emails. That means whenever you send a broadcast, 3 in every 4 recipients will
Okay, back up—what’s a ‘value proposition’? Think of your value proposition as the reason your reader should care about investing
Whether your call to action (CTA) is a button or a link, don’t get too clever. Speak directly to your supporter and tell
If we want to get the most out of email, we need to make it personal. If every message we send sounds
A ‘hero’ image is one that carries the most visual weight in your layout. Usually accompanying your headline, this is the image
Every time you email your supporter, you’re doing much more than delivering a message. You’re cultivating a relationship. If
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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