6 tips for communicating well in challenging times

It’s been a tumultuous few months in the financial markets and economy, and it’s hard to know what to expect. Readers are looking for you and your content to provide clarity.

We sent an email about the importance of clarity during times of crisis three years ago, early in the pandemic. We think it’s a good time to revisit the principles we suggested then:

• See through your readers’ eyes. What challenges do they face? What information will genuinely help them?

• Tell the truth. Distinguish between what you know and what you think or assume.

• Set readers up to succeed. Can readers use your content to improve their lives?

• Get straight to the point. Respect readers’ time: Be concise.

Here are a couple of additional suggestions for creating content in complicated times:

• Write what you know. Focusing on the topics where you’re most authoritative clarifies your value to readers. 

• Zero in on your messages from the start. Bear down on the precise points each piece needs to convey as early as you can. You’ll make the content creation process more efficient and the end result more effective.

If you’d like to chat about communicating in uncertain times or anything else, please reach out. We’d love to hear from you.