Hello, Changemaker!

Karen Nilsen

Hi I’m Karen. I want to share with you the tactics I’ve used to build digital power and engage a supporter base of millions. Are you ready? Let’s get started!

A Beginner’s Guide to List Building

Most organizations want to grow their online audience. Some of us rely entirely on our supporters to fuel actions and fundraising—the organizational mission depends on it. In this case, list building is literally mission critical. You...

3 minute read

Most organizations want to grow their online audience. Some of us rely entirely on our supporters to fuel actions and fundraising—the organizational...

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Keep reading
Never Assume Anyone Knows What You’re Talking about

Imagine you’re seeing a 25% open rate on your emails. That means whenever you send a broadcast, 3 in every 4 recipients will be unfamiliar with what you sent last time. Some recipients will be new to...

2 minute read

Imagine you’re seeing a 25% open rate on your emails. That means whenever you send a broadcast, 3 in every 4 recipients will...

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Why We Need to Stop Thinking about Email as a ‘Broadcast’ Medium

Think of a radio tower. Broadcast signals beaming far and wide. Most people think about email broadcasts this way. Please don’t think about email broadcasts this way. Broadcast communication is, by default, impersonal. Because...

2 minute read

Think of a radio tower. Broadcast signals beaming far and wide. Most people think about email broadcasts this way. Please don’t think...

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Learn more
7 Traits of a Clear Writing Style

The education system taught many of us that long words and complex sentence structures are signs of sophistication. Un-learn this as fast as you can! Convoluted language won’t win you any friends in the real world...

10 minute read

The education system taught many of us that long words and complex sentence structures are signs of sophistication. Un-learn this as fast...

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Find Common Ground

It’s not hard to preach to the choir. Or to mount an argument so agreeable that it won’t offend or challenge anyone. The business of wide-scale change-making affords us neither of these luxuries. Since you’re reading...

3 minute read

It’s not hard to preach to the choir. Or to mount an argument so agreeable that it won’t offend or challenge anyone...

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Has Social Media Dethroned Email?

Is email dead? Here’s what the data says... Some people question the relevance of emails in 2026. They ask, “Can’t we just rely on social media to communicate with supporters?” To which my instinct is to rush...

6 minute read

Is email dead? Here’s what the data says... Some people question the relevance of emails in 2026. They ask, “Can’t we just rely...

Learn this
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