Everyone is busy. Whether it’s emails, reports, or social media, most people skim rather than read in depth. So how can we write in a way that ensures our message gets through?
In this episode, we’re joined by Todd Rogers, a Harvard Kennedy School professor, behavioral scientist, and author of Writing for Busy Readers. Todd shares the cognitive science behind effective communication and offers six actionable principles to help nonprofit professionals, educators, and leaders write clearly and concisely.
We also explore:
✅ The psychology behind why people skim instead of read
✅ A simple checklist to make writing more engaging and effective
✅ A free AI tool that helps writers refine their messages
✅ How nonprofits can apply these strategies without oversimplifying complex ideas
If you’ve ever struggled with getting your emails read, crafting compelling donor messages, or writing reports that don’t get ignored—this episode is for you.
Resources Mentioned:
- Todd Rogers’ Book: Writing for Busy Readers
- Free AI email editing tool: Writing for Busy Readers AI
- Todd Rogers’ research homepage: Harvard Kennedy School
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🪷🪷 This episode sponsored by Bloomerang! 🪷🪷
What if we named things for what they're not? We'd give teachers non-apples and fly non-cars. Ridiculous, right? So why is your world-changing organization called a "nonprofit"? Truth is you're for-purpose. And the more you raise, recruit, and retain, the more good you can do.
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