‘Increase Diversity’ Turns Three (+ Why You Should Start a LI Newsletter, Too!)

This is #IncreaseDiversity, a weekly newsletter series + Increase Diversity Toolbox sharing best practices for employers who want to learn how to… well, increase diversity. To see previous editions, visit JenniferTardy.com. | IG: @IncreaseDiversity | Increase Diversity - YouTube

JTC News + Events

RECRUITER TRAINING + CERTIFICATION | Qualified Diversity Recruiter (QDR) Bootcamp + Certification Exam | Learn best practices to FIND, ATTRACT, ENGAGE, and HIRE from historically underrepresented groups (+ get certified in the process). CLICK HERE

HIRING MANAGER TRAINING | Looking to accelerate inclusive hiring training for your leaders, hiring managers, HR Business Partners, and DEI Practitioners? Try our Fast Track Qualified Inclusive Leader Training. CLICK HERE

SAVE THE DATE | The Increase Diversity Virtual Summit will be live on September 14, 2023. This year’s conference will tackle bias in the recruitment process. Be sure to subscribe to the #HiringSuccess email list to be the first to know when registration opens.

I am thrilled to announce that our JTC Increase Diversity Newsletter is celebrating its third anniversary. It’s astounding that our subscriber base has grown to 75,000+ readers. Team JTC appreciates all your support and engagement as we have grown, continuously learning how to deliver content that you can leverage on your journey to increase diversity in your workplace.

To celebrate our three-year milestone, I’d like to share some of our key insights and tips. I hope this article will be super useful if you’ve ever considered launching your own LinkedIn newsletter.

Let’s start with the key insights. It’s no secret that LinkedIn newsletters are a valuable addition to the work we do at Team JTC. Here are some compelling reasons why:

Reason #1: It cultivates a community.

A LinkedIn newsletter is an excellent method to foster a community around a specific topic. By delivering curated content straight to the inboxes of like-minded individuals, LinkedIn newsletters create a sense of belonging, sparking thought-provoking discussions and fueling collaboration. Our community seeks strategies to increase workplace diversity, and our newsletter content provides just that.

Reason #2: It helps explore niche topics.

Newsletters offer a platform to delve into more focused and nuanced subjects. Many topic ideas we’ve explored over the years originated from questions raised during workshops, in social media comments sections, or in our QDR Certification training.

Reason #3: It keeps the community informed.

Newsletters serve as a reliable way to update your community about special events. Whether it’s the latest industry trends, market insights, or cutting-edge research, LinkedIn newsletters act as a compass, guiding individuals through the ever-changing terrain of their respective fields. We abide by the philosophy of “if you like this content, you’ll also enjoy this additional content.” This means if you like reading about increasing diversity, you might like the event where I’m guest-speaking, an upcoming course we offer, or this article I just contributed to.

Reason #4: It amplifies other voices.

While Team JTC is committed to fostering workplace diversity, we're not the only ones. Our approach may be unique, but countless other individuals and organizations are also creating distinctive products and services to promote diversity. These entities equally deserve recognition. After all, we’re on this journey together; it’s only fitting that every voice be heard and elevated.

Reason #5: It ensures wide circulation.

Did you know that when you publish a newsletter article, it not only appears on your post feed, but a push notification goes out to your community, and an email goes into their inbox? This gives you three golden opportunities to engage your community, all with a click of a button.

Our very first newsletter was published on June 23, 2020, titled “How Increasing Diversity Equals Digging Deeper.” Below is what our first thumbnail looked like. Who could have known we would maintain this theme of digging deeper across 160+ article editions?

For those of you aspiring to create a LinkedIn newsletter, here are some quick tips:

Define your impact. The most engaging newsletters I follow are named after the action they intend their community to take. Think about Andrew Seaman’s newsletters: Get Hired or Get Ahead.
Pick a lane and stay. Niche down on a topic and go all in. Be the one who delves three levels deep in your newsletter, and watch your audience engagement grow. Establishing yourself as a subject matter expert increases audience engagement and attracts potential clients. It’s no secret that over 80% of our clients have found Team JTC via LinkedIn because we just will not stop talking about how to increase diversity.
Know your audience interests. Discover what your audience wants to learn about next. What questions are they commonly asking (on your subject matter) when you are engaging with them? Here’s a quick tip: conduct a poll on LinkedIn to gather insights and write an article on the poll results. That’s one of my current favorite activities, although I don't get to do it quite often.
Relate to trending topics. Utilizing your newsletter as a conduit to help your community digest and interpret trending global topics is a great tactic for authority in the field. For instance, if a new legislation promoting workplace diversity is making headlines, don’t simply share the news; dissect it. Explain how it impacts different sectors, provide insight into its potential challenges and benefits, and link it to your readers’ unique contexts. If a high-profile company is facing a discrimination lawsuit, discuss the implications for DEI policies and practices and what lessons can be learned. This approach promotes a deeper understanding, encourages insightful dialogue, and reinforces your role as an authoritative, relevant, and timely resource.
Maintain consistency. Consistency in publishing your newsletter is pivotal to gaining and maintaining your audience’s trust, especially in niche fields. If you promise a weekly newsletter, deliver your insights, updates, and discussions unfailingly every week. When the latest news trends, your audience should rest assured that your next edition will provide a thorough analysis. Like any television show, you want your community to get used to your programming, anticipate your programming, and even binge-consume your content.

Want more tips from me? Check out this quick 5-min clip of an interview I did with Zander Van Gogh and the Top Voices team, where I shared my thought process when creating LinkedIn Newsletters.

If you’re interested in creating your own LinkedIn Newsletter, click here for details. This isn't an ad for LinkedIn Newsletters; it's simply a smart business strategy.

What’s next for our Increase Diversity Newsletter?

We're receiving increasing requests for newsletter sponsorship from organizations eager to reach our growing community of leaders, HR practitioners, and DEI specialists. As we contemplate this possibility, we're interested in your opinion. Please take this quick survey to share your thoughts.