Does the consistency of your message matter more than the message itself? Maybe. Maybe not. But it's definitely important. Studies have shown that sharing your message consistently can increase visibility by four times. It can also drive loyalty and revenue. Consistency also drives efficiency, which saves time, money, and frustration!
Here are five actions you can take now to drive consistency.
It may seem redundant to you, but to the outside world, it's likely not.
But wait! You may be thinking that picking one message ignores all the other work you do. If that's the case, your one key message isn't broad enough. All the work you do should serve as proof points to your one key message. For example, a community health center may offer a wide variety of services, from prenatal care to dentistry. However, all those services are proof of their overall message: The center is there to take care of the community.
Simple: Most organizations have not clearly articulated the correct and incorrect ways their messages come to life. That means the proverbial can is open and there are worms everywhere.
That's where brand centers come in. Unlike your public-facing website—which houses your actual message—brand centers have a much more focused audience: the people who share your message with the world.
No matter what your organization does, if it has a message, it can benefit from a brand center, a central repository of your organization's:
Each year, the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) hosts their annual conference—one of the largest gatherings of nonprofit professionals in the state. This year's theme centers on the nonprofit sector's ability to inspire and create change. The event will highlight the sector's role in encouraging society to redefine what has always been.
Spencer Brenneman President and Chief Message Builder Douglas Spencer is among this year's speakers. He'll present the workshop, “Want to Change the World? Change Your Message!”
RespectAbility is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities and that advances policies and practices that empower people with disabilities to have a better future. Their mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of the community.
RespectAbility knows that most people with disabilities can and want to fully participate in – and contribute to – all aspects of society. RespectAbility shifts narratives and creates progress by centering people with lived disability experience in leadership roles, ensuring authentic representation in entertainment and news media, advancing successful public policy, and pushing for faith-based and other inclusion.
In this recurring feature of Focal Point, we profile people and organizations on a mission! (If you have someone to suggest, let us know! )
In Case You Missed It
Ever wonder why your message is out of date? There are two reasons. In this nine-minute chat with Simpli.fi's Ann Kraus, Spencer Brenneman's Douglas Spencer explains them both and more!
Getting an audience is hard. Sustaining an audience is hard. It demands a consistency of thought, of purpose, and of action over a long period of time.
—Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American rock singer, songwriter and guitarist. Nicknamed "The Boss," he has released 21 studio albums during a career spanning six decades, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Springsteen is an originator of heartland rock, a genre combining mainstream rock music with poetic and socially conscious lyrics that tell a narrative about working-class American life. He is known for his descriptive lyrics and energetic concerts, with performances that can last more than four hours.
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