Social Impact Level Up

Win in the Attention Economy with Eric Ressler


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Dive deep into the world of marketing and social entrepreneurship with guest Eric Ressler, founder and creative director at Cosmic. Cosmic is a social impact creative agency that has helped nonprofits and social enterprises thrive by integrating marketing strategies that move humanity forward.

Eric shares his wealth of knowledge on how to elevate your social enterprise's marketing game and how to better communicate your impact to the world. Learn the difference between transactional and brand-building marketing, the importance of relationship and community-building, and why aligning your mission with effective communication is key to long-term sustainability. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • The Power of Marketing in Social Impact: Eric emphasizes the importance of viewing marketing as a pillar of your social impact organization's strategy. Marketing isn't just about sales, it's about building awareness, educating, and inspiring your audience to support your mission. 

    • Brand-Building vs. Transactional Marketing: Eric explains the shift toward transactional marketing due to advancements in data analytics, but warns of the dangers of relying solely on metrics like engagement and reach. The real value lies in long-term relationships and community-building efforts. 

      • Content Strategy and Distribution: Learn how to effectively package your content for different platforms and audiences, maximizing the reach and engagement of every piece of content you create. 

        • The Importance of Consistent Communication: Eric shares how crucial it is to keep your supporters in the loop about your impact, and how even small organizations can build a solid marketing strategy without an in-house marketing team. 

        • Inspirational Moments: 

          • [00:28] – The concept of a brand-building approach to marketing, emphasizing the importance of community building in the social impact space. 

            • [02:58] – The power of communication as a tool for sustainability, highlighting how organizations often forget the critical role of marketing in making long-lasting change. 

              • [10:45] – The difference between transactional marketing and relationship-building marketing, and why social impact organizations should focus on long-term brand loyalty. 

                • [15:32] – Discussion on how small nonprofits can leverage storytelling to create emotional connections with their audience, even with limited resources. 

                  • [22:14] – Valuable advice on how nonprofits and social enterprises can focus on their content distribution and repurposing to get the most out of their efforts. 

                  • Meet Our Guest - Eric Ressler: 

                    Eric applies his experience working with social impact organizations across the globe to help modern social impact leaders and brands navigate our rapidly-changing, digitally-driven world. As host of the Designing Tomorrow podcast, he challenges listeners to adopt a new playbook to reach their true impact potential. 

                    As the Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic, the creative agency for modern social impact brands, he brings extensive expertise to helping social impact organizations create and build brands, embody a digital-first culture, and develop brand strategies that win in the attention economy.  

                    Website: Cosmic 
                    Podcast: Designing Tomorrow 
                    LinkedIn: Eric Ressler 

                    Inside Scoop: 

                    Eric Ressler believes marketing is not a luxury but an essential component of any social impact strategy. His approach to content creation and distribution focuses on maximizing engagement through thoughtful packaging and channel selection, ensuring that nonprofits and social enterprises communicate effectively. Eric also stresses the importance of collaboration when working with external partners and marketing agencies - to treat them as strategic partners rather than delegating tasks without deep involvement. 

                    Important Links: 

                    • Join the Social Impact Level Up Collective for community and support

                      • DIYers dream—hop in our University for templates and FREE resources: University 

                        • Website: WendieVeloz.com 

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                          Social Impact Level UpBy Wendie Veloz