I received a call from a partner of one of our clients.
She had a problem.
Our foodbank client was giving her whole chickens to distribute…. my initial thought (quietly to myself) was, That’s cool! One chicken can feed an entire family, and there will even be leftovers!
But then she explained that the people receiving the chickens didn’t know how to cut them or prepare them for cooking.
And that’s when I remembered.
Years ago, while working with The Walt Disney Company/Radio Disney, I met an amazing woman named Maria Bailey. Maria’s specialty was marketing to moms (and still is!). She and I traveled together, running workshops for advertisers who worked with Disney. She shared her expertise in sessions on how to influence and connect with valuable consumers.
One lesson that stuck with me was her thoughts on influencers. This was long before TikTok was filled with people sharing their stories.
She spoke about the power of moms influencing other moms. Why were consumer brands spending a fortune on famous actors when they could get way more traction by having moms talk about products on social platforms? Mom community influencers!
Now, Back to the Chicken…
So, I asked our community partner, Who taught you how to cut up a chicken?
She said, My mom!—who, by the way, had lived in her home in the community for over 40 years.
A few days later, Amy and I were invited to her mom’s home, where her aunt also joined us. Together, they recorded a two-minute video on how to cut up a chicken. Maybe it won’t win any awards, but it will help so many people gain a skill that turns one chicken into multiple meals.
The Moral of the Story: How You Can Leverage Community Influencers
Community influencers can authentically share their personal experiences and connections to a nonprofit's cause, making your message more impactful.
Authenticity: People trust real stories from real people.Credibility: A recommendation from a community influencer can significantly boost support for your cause.Action & Engagement: Influencers can inspire their followers to donate, volunteer, or advocate for your nonprofit.
There are influencers in EVERY community who can amplify your message in a meaningful way. Some might already appreciate what your organization does, and some may even be on your board (hint, hint).
Find them. Get to know them. Make a plan with them to spread the word—through videos, social media posts, event photos, and more.
And remember…
You can’t make fried chicken until you know how to cut it up!
For more information on how to discover influencers by asking the right questions, reach out today.
Check out more great ideas on the Team Kat & Mouse website—and stay tuned for the “final Cut” of the chicken-cutting video! 😊
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