Digital Storytelling: Amplifying Social Impact with CMS

Stories have the power to connect with us on a deep level.  

In the world of social impact, powerful narratives can humanize complex issues, build empathy, and inspire action. 

Imagine a non-profit fighting climate change using compelling videos featuring testimonials from people affected by rising sea levels. Or an organization working for educational equity showcasing a student's journey of overcoming challenges and achieving academic success. These are just examples of how effective storytelling can fuel social impact initiatives.

However, managing the content needed for impactful storytelling can be a challenge. 

This article explores how a Content Management System (CMS) can empower social impact organizations to overcome these challenges and leverage the power of storytelling to maximize their impact.

How OPTASY Amplified EOCI’s Social Impact

The Equal Opportunity Community Initiative (EOCI) is a volunteer-based international nonprofit committed to providing equal access for all children. They ensure children receive adequate living standards, medical services, and education. EOCI's philosophy emphasizes that addressing essential life needs is crucial before focusing on educational ones, which is foundational for integrating young adults into the labor market.

When EOCI realized the need to improve their website experience to attract more donors and volunteers, they partnered with OPTASY to revamp their digital platform. OPTASY was honored to contribute to this community-driven mission.

Why EOCI Chose Drupal and OPTASY

EOCI needed a website that presented content in a simplified format with intuitive navigation. Drupal 8's robust content features allowed OPTASY to restructure the content and information architecture effectively. Key reasons for choosing Drupal included:

1. Content Presentation: Drupal 8 enabled a simplified content structure with easy-to-use navigation.
2. Paragraphs Module: This module allowed for intuitive and visually appealing page layouts, essential for engaging visitors.
3. Performance: Drupal's fast-loading pages were critical for improving traffic and conversions.

The Project: Goals, Requirements, and Outcomes

The Challenge EOCI's existing website, built on an outdated version of Joomla, suffered from low traffic and conversion rates. The project involved:

• Full-stack development in Drupal 8
• Performance tuning
• Optimizing information architecture for easier content navigation
• Creating a new UX design

EOCI's specific requests included newsletter functionality and a mobile-friendly design. Sean Kelly, Executive Director of EOCI, highlighted the need for a product that could effectively communicate their expanded mission and capture user engagement.

OPTASY's Solution

OPTASY focused on redesigning the information architecture using the Paragraphs module, which resulted in a cleaner, more flexible page layout. This improved the content experience for visitors and allowed editors to manage content easily. Upgrading to Bootstrap 4 ensured the website was both visually appealing and fast.

Key elements of the solution included:

• New Theme: A custom theme for Drupal 8 to match the optimized layout and architecture.
• Newsletter Functionality: Implemented using the Simplenews module.
• Mobile Version: Ensured the site was fully responsive and mobile-friendly.

The new website not only enhanced user experience but also increased traffic and conversions, helping EOCI reach a wider audience and fulfill their mission more effectively.

Read the full case study here. 

Content Management Challenges for Social Impact Storytelling

Social impact organizations often juggle various types of content - text, images, videos, testimonials - for their campaigns. Manually managing this content across different platforms can be time-consuming and inefficient.

The Downfalls of Disorganized Content Management

• Wasted Time: Constantly searching for specific content across various platforms eats into valuable time that could be spent on crafting compelling stories.
• Inconsistent Branding: A lack of centralized control can lead to inconsistencies in brand voice and visual identity across different storytelling elements.
• Limited Reach: Manually updating content across multiple platforms can hinder the ability to publish content consistently and reach a wider audience.

How a CMS Empowers Efficient and Impactful Storytelling

A CMS provides a centralized platform for creating, editing, and organizing all storytelling content. It streamlines workflow, allows for consistent publishing, and ensures a cohesive brand experience.

Key Features of a CMS for Social Impact Storytelling

Here are some key features to look for in a CMS for social impact storytelling:

• Easy-to-Use Creation and Editing Tools: Even non-technical staff should be able to create and update content. A user-friendly interface empowers everyone within the organization to contribute to the storytelling effort.
• Flexible Content Organization and Presentation: The CMS should offer options for structuring content and building engaging layouts for different storytelling formats (e.g., blog posts, webpages, multimedia galleries). This allows for creative freedom and caters to diverse audiences.
• Multilingual Capabilities: Reaching a global audience can be crucial. A multilingual CMS allows organizations to translate content and cater to diverse communities, expanding their reach and impact.
• Data Management and Analytics: Tracking content performance and audience engagement is essential for measuring impact. A CMS with data and analytics tools allows for optimizing storytelling strategies by understanding what resonates most with your audience.

Drupal: A Powerful Platform for Social Impact Storytelling

Drupal, an open-source CMS known for its flexibility and strong community support, is a powerful option for social impact organizations. Its adaptable platform allows for building engaging storytelling websites, while its community features foster connections with supporters and potential donors.

Why Drupal is a Strong Ally for Social Impact Organizations

• Cost-Effective and Adaptable: Drupal's open-source nature makes it a cost-effective solution for organizations often working with limited budgets. Additionally, its flexible framework allows for catering the platform to specific storytelling needs.
• Engaging Storytelling and Community Building: Drupal offers powerful features for building interactive and visually appealing websites. It also provides tools for fostering online communities around a cause, creating a space for supporters to connect and engage.
• Real-World Success Stories: Many social impact organizations have leveraged Drupal to achieve impressive results. Showcase a few case studies here to illustrate Drupal's effectiveness in this area.

Partnering with CMS Experts: Why OPTASY is Your Ideal Choice

However, implementing and maintaining a CMS can be complex. Partnering with a skilled CMS expert like OPTASY can be highly beneficial. OPTASY can guide you in choosing the right platform, handle website development and customization, offer ongoing support, and ensure the CMS functions optimally for your storytelling needs.

The Challenges of Going it Alone with a CMS

• Technical Expertise Needed: Implementing and maintaining a CMS requires technical knowledge. Organizations with limited IT resources may struggle to manage the platform effectively.
• Focus Divided: Taking on CMS management internally can divert valuable resources away from core social impact activities.

OPTASY: Your Trusted Partner in Social Impact Storytelling

OPTASY offers a range of Drupal services specifically designed to empower social impact organizations:

• Custom Drupal Development for Storytelling Needs: OPTASY can tailor Drupal's features to create a website specifically optimized for social impact storytelling. This could include building custom content types, integrating multimedia elements like compelling video testimonials, and developing engaging user experiences to keep audiences captivated.
• Ongoing Support and Maintenance for a Successful CMS Experience: OPTASY can provide ongoing support to ensure smooth website operation and address technical issues promptly to manage its content effectively. This frees up your team to focus on creating impactful stories.
• Data-Driven Content Strategy Development: Working collaboratively with your team, OPTASY can help develop a data-driven content strategy that leverages analytics to understand your audience and optimize your storytelling approach for maximum impact.
• Multilingual Website Development and Management: Reach a wider audience and amplify your global impact. OPTASY can help you develop and manage a multilingual website, ensuring your stories resonate with diverse communities.

Conclusion

The future of digital storytelling is brimming with potential. 

As technology like VR and AR evolves, even more immersive experiences await. However, one constant remains: a robust CMS will be the backbone of social impact organizations. 

By leveraging a CMS and partnering with experts like OPTASY, these organizations can harness the power of storytelling to connect with a global audience, inspire action, and ultimately achieve lasting positive change.

Ready to take your social impact storytelling to the next level? Contact OPTASY today for a free consultation and see how we can help you turn your stories into action.