Storyconnect The Podcast

After Lorri Freeman asked members for valentines, her co-op was overwhelmed by more than 500 handmade and heartfelt valentine cards. She shares this idea and other ways utilities can celebrate staff throughout the year.

Kim Trevathan is the author of three books in which he canoed some of the South's longest waterways. In this episode, he gives a preview of his sessions at the upcoming StoryConnect conference where he'll be talking about beginning and ending stories strongly, as well as five ways to improve your written storytelling skills.

Robin Conover, one of the featured speakers at this year’s StoryConnect Conference, will lead a set of photography sessions as part of a new storytelling skills track. As shorter attention spans increase the importance of pictures in storytelling, we ask the retired VP of communications at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association for visual storytelling tips. She previews what she'll share at StoryConnect, explaining how everything in the frame — even your outfit — tells a story.

Grant writing has become a significant part of Will O'Donnell's job. He shares tips for applying for grants and why he thinks communicators — with some help from other teams — can be excellent folks to write the grants.

Nathalie Strickland, of the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, discusses ways to recognize patterns of crises, the first mover advantage and other keys to being prepared to communicate when something goes really wrong.

In 2023, broadband providers will be required to display government-approved "Broadband Fact" labels at the point of sale. Jeff Smith, from Vantage Point, explains what that might mean for marketers.

LinkedIn provides utilities and broadband providers with an important audience segment they may not reach elsewhere. How can communicators make the most of that opportunity for their company and their own personal brand?

The YK Communications team wanted more subscribers to use their CommandIQ app from Calix in order to reduce trouble calls and improve customer experience. They came up with a multiprong approach that drove app adoption to 86%, earning them a national award and improving the service they deliver.

When WREC's annual meeting attendance sagged, the co-op reworked the meeting into a series of events that focused on local students. Garrett Hylton explains the results and how they made it happen.

The Corps of Engineers Portland District social media feeds that Chris Gaylord manages are full of vampires, yams on dams, celebrities and memes. It's not what you might expect from a government agency. Chris Gaylord explains why humor can be a useful tool when he's communicating about scintillating topics like dredging and navigational buoys.

Pam Blair is retiring after 28 years of helping utilities tell their story through magazines. At the StoryConnect workshop, she joined the podcast to reflect on lessons she's learned along the way.

A self-professed grammar nerd, Brenda Dunn, talks through some common mistakes that writers make and how to fix them.

Quince Mountain, author of “Naked and Afraid” and a competitor in the Iditarod, was the keynote speaker at the NWPPA NIC conference. He shares points that utilities and broadband providers can learn from dog-sled racing.

Sheila Corson shares tips utility communicators can use to quickly create quality video content to tell their stories. The software programs mentioned include vyond.com, animaker.com and powtoon.com.

The number of people who need (or even understand) multiple gigs’ worth of broadband speed might be small now, but Matt Daniel lays out the case for why offering such top-end packages makes sense.

Extreme weather and the state's remoteness amplify any crisis that may come up in Alaska. That means Meadow Bailey and the Golden Valley team have to be prepared. What can other communicators learn from their preparation?

Tom DuBos reveals what it really takes to be a good salesperson and how folks can embrace sales opportunities by seeing them as ways to meet needs.

Ian Cope shares thoughts on how utilities can navigate through the wilds of social media, summing up his panel at the 2022 NIC conference.

How has utility website design changed in response to shifts in consumer technology use during the pandemic? Charlie Stanley joined this episode to discuss trends in website redesigns to meet changing customer needs.

A lot of utilities are weighing rebrands and new brands as they add broadband service, merge with other utilities or expand to new communities. Lindsey Tyson, of Meridian Cooperative, led her co-op's rebranding efforts. She talks about using a rebranding timeline, engaging staff as brand ambassadors and how to ensure a brand is used consistently across the cooperative.