Tell Your Own Story

by Ed Coghlan, The JVA Group

Leaders of school districts and municipal government constantly ask us, “how can we get our story out better?”

Our answer is simple: “Tell your own story.”

The old way of doing things — putting out press releases and putting them on your website — simply doesn’t work anymore.

You must be your own best storyteller.

Develop your own content and promote it on social media platforms that you should have, like Facebook and Twitter. Whether it’s a story about a successful student or a positive economic development in your city, you can – and must – tell these stories every day. Use all your platforms like your website, newsletters, emails, even events – to promote these stories.

Develop a positive and consistent narrative to change or cement perceptions that you are doing a good job! This requires an investment but this is an investment with an important return – engaged and informed stakeholders.

If you believe communications is important to making sure your constituents and stakeholders know about all the good work your organization is doing then a strong, content driven, digital strategy is your answer.

Ed Coghlan is a principle with the JVA Group. He is a former LA news director with more than thirty years experience as a communications professional.

@EdCoghlan
ed@jvagroupla.com