Getting your message across the way you want can be difficult. As your nonprofit’s leader, you represent your nonprofit, at least in part. You want your organization to come across as competent, helpful, and most of all, necessary. But poor messaging can sabotage your goals. Let’s look at 5 ways you can improve your messaging.
1. Get it on the page (don’t put it off)
As professional writers, we understand the importance of getting something on the page—in this case “page” refers to anywhere you write content. You can begin by writing down any and all ideas you have for the message you’re crafting (also known as an “idea dump”).
For example, suppose you have some big news to share with your supporters, but you don’t know what to say first. The worst thing you can do is put it off to the last moment. Doing this leaves you no time for editing and reworking your message, which is a huge part of communicating a well-crafted message. Instead, put something on the page, step back for a portion of the day or wait until the next day, and get back to it with fresh eyes. You’ll be amazed by how much you can improve your message once you’ve taken a break from it.
2. Check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation
If you have poor grammar, spelling, and punctuation, you could damage your credibility and come across as lazy and/or inept. Generally, your messaging should adhere to a standard writing style. These are four of the most commonly-used styles:
While grammar and punctuation can differ slightly depending on the writing style you use, there are some basic principles all styles follow. The same goes with American English vs. British English when it comes to spelling. A simple Google search should provide answers to many of your writing questions.
3. Keep it succinct
The digital age has trained our brains to skim due to the volume of messages we receive every day, so it’s incredibly important your messaging gets to the point.
Be mindful of the word count in all of your written content. For instance, your blog posts should probably be around 500 words each and your email messages should be as tight as possible.
4. Keep it positive (when possible)
While it’s not always possible to have every message void of bad news, it’s a good rule of thumb to keep things as positive as possible. Doing so can help draw people in, hold their attention, and put you and your nonprofit in a good light. For instance, you can keep it positive by celebrating your victories, highlighting your mission, and commending someone on a job well done.
5. Hire someone to help
Creating solid messaging is a process, and sometimes it can get overwhelming. Hiring someone competent to help you hone your messaging can help you follow the aforementioned points.
At Inspirely Media, this is what we do, and we specialize in nonprofits. Feel free to let us know if we can help.