My newest article, Helping content strategy: What technical Communicators can do for non-profits, is currently available in Technical Communication. In the article, Suzan Flanagan and I explore findings from a study of non-profit content strategy. Our findings indicate that there are several ways technical communicators can help non-profit organizations improve their communication capacities.

Why Should We Care About Non-Profit Content Strategy?

Contemporary non-profit organizations must reach a variety of audiences in order to sustain themselves and must compel these audiences to take action on behalf of a specific cause. At the same time, past research has indicated that non-profit professionals often lack the necessary training and expertise to leverage digital technologies for effective communication. This research study explores how technical communicators can assist non-profits by helping them develop effective content strategies.

We found that while non-profits do rely on a variety of media to fulfill their goals, they prefer pre-digital media. Our participants also defined audiences in a very loose manner, used content in a non-targeted way, and favored existing organizational processes over content strategy best practices.

How Can Technical Communicators Help Non-Profits with Their Content Strategies?

Ultimately, we provide several ways technical communicators can assist non-profits through low-cost or free consulting and the development of educational materials. We hope that fellow professionals will engage in this necessary work because non-profits in the United States form an important “third sector” of the economy that provides essential services to countless individuals.

Get the Full Article

https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/stc/tc/2022/00000069/00000001/art00005 (permanent) (subscription required)

Cite The Article (APA)

Getto, G. & Flanagan, S. (2022). Helping content strategy: What technical Communicators can do for non-profits. Technical Communication, 69(1), 54-72.