How to Use Story & Strategy to Manage Your Growing Community
Corporate Accountability, TikTok, Customer Personas, and Much More
Welcome back to Changemakers, the official newsletter of Brighter Future.
We’re thrilled to have you here as part of the Brighter Future community, where together, we inspire progress and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.
This week, we’re diving into the power of building community to strengthen your organisation. We’ll also explore the importance of owning your audience in an era of shifting social media landscapes and introduce a practical framework for understanding your target customers.
Check out this week’s topics…
Community & Corporate Accountability with Andrew Behar of As You Sow
Andrew Behar is the CEO of As You Sow, a non-profit organisation working to hold corporations accountable and drive positive change in critical areas like climate action, racial justice, and responsible investing. They’ve had success getting Starbucks to stop using plastic straws and contributing to the end of styrofoam cup usage at companies like McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Behar and his team do this by providing in-depth research and scorecards, assessing companies on their environmental and social impact—helping consumers and investors make informed choices.
Their work has relied heavily on building community and Behar reiterates the power of collective action through individual choice. “Remember that your everyday choices matter. Every purchase and decision you make on where and what to buy sends a powerful signal. Organise and talk to your friends about these issues. The power to bring about change lies within each of you.”
Behar views this collective action as key to the growing movement toward a positive future for the industry. “Market forces are already at work driving a global transition from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy based on justice and sustainability. This transition will be at the scale of the industrial revolution and has the potential to create a thriving planet with humanity living in harmony. The market's voice is clear— there is no room for inertia.
Keep going. This transition presents numerous opportunities for new companies to emerge. Out of chaos comes opportunity. “
Read more about his journey and work with As You Sow in our full origin story interview below.
Lessons from the Potential American TikTok Ban - A Wake-Up Call for Brands
The ongoing saga over the potential ban of TikTok in the United States is more than just a headline, it’s a warning sign for brands and organisations in the climate and impact space.
In our industries, building a community that supports your brand is critical to growth and scalability. Social media can be a powerful tool for building these communities, especially through creator-based platforms such as TikTok.
The reality is, though, you do not own those platforms. Algorithms shift, regulations change, and in some cases, entire platforms can be shut down overnight.
For that reason, the debate over the potential ban of TikTok in the United States is an important warning signal to assess how your organisation is using social media to grow. A few key takeaways to keep in mind:
Diversification is key - Do not rely too much on one platform for your audience. Your organisation should expand its reach across multiple platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram while investing in long-form content and blogs on your website.
💡 Bonus Tip: Try to diversify your social media presence across different companies, not just platforms. For example, using a mix of Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn means your social media strategy utilises three different parent companies.
Own your audience. Do not rely on platforms to build and maintain your community. Developing an engaged email list remains one of the most reliable ways to maintain direct connections with your community—without depending on external platforms.
💡Bonus Tip: Platforms such as Substack are fast-growing social media hubs and provide an excellent place to develop an owned audience while still engaging with a growing virtual community.
This isn’t just about TikTok; it’s about future-proofing your business. If your community is built on rented land, it’s time to start building a home you can truly own.
Mastering Customer Insights: The Quick-Path Method
Have you ever wondered who your customers are and what they really want?
The Quick-Path Method is an informative way to help your organisation understand and engage with your customers and community. This concise and efficient approach offers an in-depth process for creating user personas and building a deeper connection that translates into actionable strategies, impactful messaging, and targeted campaigns.
By focusing on what truly matters to your audience, this method enables you to move swiftly from insights to execution, helping you create marketing campaigns that resonate without the lengthy traditional processes.
The Quick Path Method helps you uncover:
Streamlined persona creation to develop clear, actionable communication strategies.
Real-world success stories including Thrive Market and Eeden, showcasing how refined personas drive market engagement.
Practical frameworks and a step-by-step questionnaire to guide you through crafting insights that align your strategy with your audience's needs.
Learn more with the following insights and questionnaire to guide you through the Quick-Path Method, providing a structured approach to developing effective and insightful user personas for your business.
The Storytelling Workshop Series
Storytelling is at the heart of human connection. It shapes how we inspire, engage, and lead. The same is true for your brand, which is why your organisational stories have the power to build lasting connections with investors, inspire loyalty in your audience, and attract top-tier talent.
Over years of collaboration crafting these stories for leaders in the climate and impact space, we’ve developed techniques that distill the essence of your organisation into compelling and inspiring narratives.
From February 10th to 13th, we’re bringing these techniques to a storytelling strategy workshop that includes three sessions designed to help you craft your origin, vision, and purpose stories.
Limited Spots Available! Reserve your place below to ensure your participation.
Other Upcoming Events with Brighter Future
Pitch Review Drop-In Hours
Want some feedback on your pitch? From 6:00 to 7:00 PM GMT on February 21st, we’re holding an interactive drop-in session focused on refining your pitch. Climate and impact startups are invited to bring along their pitch deck for a real-time review of their deck and presentation skills.
Drop by at any time during the hour window for an informal chat and actionable feedback with our team. Just sign up with the button below to let us know you're coming.
Perfect Your Pitch - Live Review Session
Another reminder that our next Perfect Your Pitch session at Brighter Future is on March 26th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM GMT.
During the event, we’re offering the chance to pitch your business to top climate investors and get honest, actionable feedback — helping you sharpen your story and strengthen your pitch.
Elizabeth Izsauk, an Investment Analyst at Estancia Capital, will be joining us, along with a few soon-to-be-announced experts in the climate and impact space.
Sign up for the free session below and send your pitch deck to mission@brighterfuture.studio to be one of the startups selected to pitch live. Tickets are on sale now.
Thanks for joining us this week. We’ll be back with another edition of Changemakers on February 20th. See you soon.
Cheers,
The Brighter Future Team
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