Designing Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social Impact

Is community in decline, or is the way we’re participating just changing?The data and statistics, as always, are messy. And there’s valid opinions and arguments supporting different trends here.But whether or not community-engagement is in decline, our relationships with community is going through a rapid transformation. And as a social impact brand, you need community support to power your work. You can’t power your mission and reach your true impact potential alone. But, building authentic, vibrant communities seems harder than ever before. Today, we’re talking all about community-building. And specifically, how to build an authentic community around your mission — and why that’s becoming an increasingly important part of a successful social impact strategy.In today’s episode, we cover:Why community is changing and what that means for your social impact brandThe key pillars of healthy and vibrant communitiesAnd how you can build a community around your cause to drive support, engagement, and revenue for your mission*** If you like the episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com.Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.     Resources:9 Ways to Make Your Membership Model More InclusiveNonprofit Membership Programs: How to Create a Better One at Your OrganizationCommunity Building Might Not Feel Like Your Core Work, But It Should BeHow to Build a Focused, User-Friendly Website for Your Community Foundation

What if we told you that there is a way to work smarter, not harder, with your content strategy that can help you get the absolute most out of each piece of content and idea that you come up with?Whether you’re just getting started on your content creation journey or if you’re a seasoned content creator with established workflows and formats, the big idea and framework we’re going to cover today can be an absolute game changer.There’s one trend we consistently see holding social impact marketing teams back in their content strategy. And the worst part is that we see this with teams who put a lot of time and effort into their content. But because they aren’t implementing this strategy, they still aren’t getting the most return on their investment.So then they have to spend more time and energy thinking about new content ideas and formats, more time and energy creating that new content, and so on. In today’s episode, we cover: Why effective content distribution is half the battle to breaking through in the attention economyHow to craft a distribution-first content strategy and mindsetHow to squeeze the most value out of your content, whether that’s new content OR content that you’ve already created and publishedAnd a simple framework you can use to take these ideas and put them into action for your mission*** If you like the episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com.Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.Resources:Read the Manifesto Listen to the ManifestoHow To Power Up Your Content Strategy When You’re Short on Time and StaffHow to Build a Next-level Content StrategyQuality Over Quantity: A Content Strategy to Stand Apart

Are you tired of putting time and energy into creating content that just doesn’t get meaningful engagement from your community?We’ve all been there. You’re proud of your hard work and effort. A feeling of excitement rushes over you as you hit “post” or “publish.” This one’s going places, you just know it. Only, it doesn’t. It flops. Or maybe a few people engage but nowhere near the level of traction you need to take your mission to the next level. It’s one of the hardest and most disheartening parts about creating and producing content. And it makes you question if any of your energy and investment is even worth it at all. Sometimes it even feels unfair, like the algorithm holds a weird personal grudge against you, or that people’s attention spans are so short these days that they don’t engage with anything meaningful anymore. Other people seem to be blowing up and going viral, and their content feels generic, clickbaity, and low value.What’s going on here?In today’s episode, we cover: The top 10 mistakes we see that stop marketers from getting traction with their contentThe importance of framing and packaging your content in a way that actually captures attentionThe mindsets and habits of successful content creators that will forever change your thinking on content creationAnd how you can apply these strategies to your own content to start getting the traction you need*** If you like the episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com.Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.Resources:How To Power Up Your Content Strategy When You’re Short on Time and StaffHow to Build a Next-level Content StrategyQuality Over Quantity: A Content Strategy to Stand ApartCase Study: Let’s Green California

Are websites a dying relic of the internet’s past? With so much of our digital engagement today happening through social channels, there’s an ever-growing narrative that your website just isn’t that important anymore.That what you really need to do is nail your content strategy. Get big on TikTok. Tell your story through short form video. Build supporter trust through influencer campaigns. That Gen Z doesn’t even use websites anyway. That narrative couldn’t be further from the truth — especially for social impact brands.In today’s episode, we cover: The changing nature of the internet and how it’s shaping our modern cultureWhy most websites don’t convert, and the top 10 issues we see with most social impact websitesAnd the specific strategies and tactics that can turn your website into an activating, revenue-generating, digital flywheel*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com.Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.    Resources:Article: The 5 Key Things the Best Marketing Websites DoArticle: Your Organization’s Website Should be Catalytic – and CustomArticle: Nonprofits, Fundraising Success Depends on the Strength of Your WebsiteArticle: 5 Factors for Improving Digital Accessibility & EquityArticle: How to Build a Focused, User-Friendly Website for Your Community FoundationArticle: Achieve Your Social Impact Organization's Digital Goals with JAMstackCase Study: Equality Fund Presents “Your Daily Feminist Intention”Interactive Website Experience: Equality Fund Presents “Your Daily Feminist Intention”

Picture this: You’re scrolling through your inbox and see a message from an organization you support. But something’s not quite right.The subject line reads “URGENT! WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!”You open the email, only to be bombarded with more fake urgency around hitting an important fundraising deadline and how you, and only you, can make that happen. You just have to donate RIGHT NOW OR ELSE the organization will fail miserably and the entire world will come crashing down. This may seem dramatic, but these exact tactics and fake urgency messaging are becoming more and more common for social causes. What was once contained to political campaigns is rapidly spreading into social impact marketing and appeals. And there’s a good reason why. In today’s episode, we cover: Why this shift into transactional marketing is becoming more common.Different transactional marketing traps and the problems they create. How you can embody a brand-building approach to create deeper, lasting support with your community. *** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on iTunes. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com.Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.Resources:Guest Podcast: How to Authentically Market Your Social Impact WorkGuest Podcast: Nonprofit Marketing Best Practices for 2024Article: Rethinking Your Unhealthy Relationship with Social Impact MarketingPatagonia

There’s one critical piece of your social impact strategy that you have to get right. When you don’t get it right, it holds back every facet of your growth and progress. We’ve seen it block and hinder revenue and fundraising.We’ve seen it create massive inefficiencies and reduce capacity.We’ve seen it negatively impact engagement, growth, and culture.So, what is this one key thing?It’s your social impact niche. Owning a social impact niche is a fundamental piece of your broader strategic plan and approach. In today’s episode, we’ll cover:  The key ingredients to defining a social impact niche for your organizationReal-world examples of 3 different social impact brands that have nailed their niche, and how it’s helped them supercharge their growth and successKey tips that you can use to define and own a niche for your own social impact mission*** If you liked this episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.comThank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.Resources:Social Impact Branding: Making Your Nonprofit Standout How to Find Your Social Impact NicheIs Your Social Impact Marketing Strategy Built on a Strong Foundation or a House of Cards? Benefits of Our Integrated Branding Process One Acre FundCruzFoamSTEM from DanceSTEM from Dance Case Study

Today, you’ll consume 74GB of information. That’s the equivalent of watching 16 movies. In one day. Our inboxes are overflowing, our social streams are noisy, we doom scroll short form content on apps purpose-built to hijack our attention, designed by the world’s smartest minds.But as the volume of information we consume grows each day, our capacity as humans to focus and make sense of the world remains basically unchanged. And this is the essence of the attention economy—where information is no longer the scarce commodity; instead, our attention is the prize to be won.In today’s episode, we’ll cover What, exactly, the attention economy is and how the world's most successful brands have mastered it to gain an unfair advantageThen, we’ll break down the 4 key pillars these brands use to win in the attention economy and how you can apply them to to your social impact strategy*** If you like the episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.comThank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.Resources:The Revolution is Digital: A Manifesto for Today’s Social Impact LeaderWe Are For Good Podcast: How to Grow Your Social Impact in the Attention EconomyThe ROI of Brand Building4 Scroll-Stopping Digital Experiences to Inspire Your Nonprofit's Content3 Must-Have Digital Elements Every Social Impact Organization NeedsCommunity Building Might Not Feel Like Your Core Work, But It Should Be

In our rapidly-evolving world, today’s social impact brands are falling behind their profit-driven competitors.The old playbook for creating meaningful social impact just isn’t keeping pace with modern culture. The lion's share of attention is dominated by big brands, often leaving social missions unable to remain relevant.But, for those of us committed to pioneering a new path, there’s hope. In the first episode of Season 1, we outline a new playbook that social impact leaders can use to succeed and thrive in today’s changing landscape. Join us, and step into a community of forward-thinking innovators, social impact pioneers, and authentic changemakers. *** If you like the episode, it really helps a new podcast if you can help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.comThank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

Why do some social impact brands thrive, while so many others fail to get traction, build support for their cause, and make meaningful progress towards their mission?Now imagine, for a second, what kind of impact you could create? With truly sustainable revenue and resources. With deeper engagement and relationships with your community. With more influence in your social impact category.Welcome to Designing Tomorrow, the show for modern social impact leaders and brands, hosted by Eric Ressler, Founder & Creative Director of Cosmic.Eric brings his experience and insights working with social impact organizations across the globe directly to you, navigating our rapidly-changing, digitally-driven world with a new playbook to reach your true impact potential.Each episode, we do a deep dive into the strategies, mindsets, and behaviors top social impact brands use to play and win in the attention economy. And we’re going beyond high-level concepts. We cover the specific tools and tactics you can use, today, to make meaningful progress toward your mission.Join us as we explore how social impact organizations can transform into category leaders, multiply their impact, and propel our sector forward.New episodes of Designing Tomorrow are available each Tuesday wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Or find the video versions on our YouTube channel. Let’s design a better tomorrow, together.