3 Ways to Gain Perspective On Your Own Content

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“Our nonprofit doesn't have anything ‘big’ to share.”

“Everybody already knows about that program we offer.”

“I don’t think anybody would care about that part of what we do.”

Sound familiar?

Digging through everything your nonprofit does and figuring out what’s worth sharing can be hard… but that’s not because you don’t have anything interesting to say.

It’s because you’re too close to your work.

You know exactly what your nonprofit does and why you do it, because you’re the one doing the work every single day. So you unintentionally assume everyone knows the same things you do, and you stop sharing content. Why share the obvious, right?

This is a problem I know very well, because I’ve been too close to my own work before, too. Luckily, I’ve found a few helpful ways to step back and get that perspective back — and they’re all things you can start doing today.

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✔ Track your ideas, and update in real-time

One of the best things I’ve done for my own content is keeping a running list of ideas that I update in real-time.

For me, this looks like a “content ideas” file. This is essentially a running list of conversations I’ve had with clients, questions I’ve been asked at networking events, advice I gave in a recent client call… anything I think might be worth sharing, whether that’s tomorrow, next week, or a few months down the line.

It’s so much easier to check an up-to-date ideas document than it is to try and remember conversations you had months ago!

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✔ Keep things simple (and be okay with imperfection)

Another thing I’ve found helpful when creating my own video content, in particular, is keeping things as simple as I can, especially with storytelling.

Stories are the best way to show your nonprofit’s impact, but they don’t have to be long or complex to be effective. They just need to be clear, engaging, and interesting…which can often mean acting in the moment and coming to terms with imperfection.

Sometimes, the best videos are the imperfect, messy ones that just somehow happen, whether that’s a quick behind-the-scenes video or an on-the-spot interview.

Real life isn’t polished, and your videos don’t always need to be either!

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✔ When in doubt, talk your ideas out ​
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The last trick I have for stepping back from my own content is simple: don’t do it alone!

When you feel like you’re getting bogged down in the details or battling with finding something exciting to say, try talking it out with a colleague or friend.

Sometimes you need to say your ideas out loud for them to make sense. Other times, you might just need to hear that your idea has legs. A good conversation can go a very long way for content that you’re excited about, so give it a shot!

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Next steps: Create a system to collect stories

Nonprofits of all sizes need a system for collecting content. Make it easy for you and your team to save content in one, communal format. No “best kept secrets” allowed!

• Create an internal email address for staff and volunteers to send photos, videos, notes from a conversation with a client/program participant, etc. No more waiting to save content somewhere.
• Dedicate some time at your next staff meeting to share stories. But, instead of just opening the floor to “stories,” keep things focused by asking questions like “What happened this week?” or “Who did you meet with?”
• Ask clients/program participants for quotes. Use guided prompts or offer questions for them to answer, so there’s no confusion about what you need.

See you in two weeks!

Catrina

Catrina Ossmann, Clever Ideas Marketing®, works with nonprofits and community organizations to increase awareness and reach with consistent and effective marketing.

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