Not understanding your audience creates a disconnect and inevitably effects your sales. For this reason and many others, we must stop making assumptions about diversity and culture. Unfortunately, thinking about inclusion, culture, and diversity is an afterthought for many companies.
If you’re ready to make a more inclusive and meaningful impact, we have some ideas for you. Not knowing where to start can feel overwhelming, but this article will share strategy tips you can implement now. They will help you promote diversity and inclusion in your brand communication and better connect with a diverse audience.
Create a Strategic Plan To Promote Diversity and Inclusion In Brand Communication
The first step is to develop a strategic plan that outlines your goals regarding promoting diversity and inclusion in brand communication. During heritage month, many brands amp up their inclusion focus, but their efforts are none existent the rest of the year. In short, practicing inclusive means making it a focus throughout the year.
As you consider your goals, think about some of these questions to create a clear action plan that everyone in your organization can follow.
- What are the key areas you want to focus on?
- How do you want to reach out to diverse audiences?
- Should you need to consult with experts in the community for cultural accuracy?
- Do your visual assets make these communities feel seen, heard, and understood?
- How do their culture and heritage influence their experiences?
- Do your brand colors hold a cultural significance?
- What is your implementation timeline, and who is responsible for what?
Develop Culturally Specifically Content
After you have established a thorough plan, start creating culturally relevant content for your diverse audiences. For example, writing blog posts about topics related to their experiences or culture. Or creating visuals that represent different cultures authentically, without stereotyping.
In essence, your communication should be authentic and not fake for the sake of a sale. You already know that color evokes certain emotions, builds brand recognition, and helps generate sales. However, not many consider colors’ impact on culture and heritage.
Think about what your designs for videos, social media post, illustrations or marketing campaigns are communicating. You should have an understanding of how your audience connects with that content. Make sure that elements used in your content reflect openness and understanding towards other cultures. Doing so avoids language that could be interpreted as insensitive or exclusionary.
Learning how to promote diversity and inclusion in brand communication doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it takes time and effort to get it right. But following these strategies, your brand will be on its way toward becoming more culturally inclusive. Not only that, but if done correctly, these strategies can also help you build loyalty and attract new customers!
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