Strategy

It’s common for an organization to say “We need an annual report” or “we want to redesign our website.”

First, consider putting together a strategic communications plan. It’s a road map for communications that can help you answer key questions: Is your organization’s communications making the impact you want it to make? How will you tell your story in the next year or two? What do your board members think about your organization’s communications? How will you measure the success of how you tell your story?

For a strategic communications plan, I typically interview staff and board members, conduct a thorough review of the organization’s materials (including its website) and make specific and actionable recommendations. It’s your story. Developing a communications plan makes sense: tell your story to yourself and figure out what’s next before you share it with the world.

Key Steps:

• Review information about organization (through documents and interviews)

• Develop outline for strategic report

• Write strategic report that includes analysis and recommendations