Why Is It Important to Promote Content DEI?
Content DEI, or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is more than just a buzzword. People drive content creation and consumption; they're the beating heart of the audience and creators alike. It's why it's so important to promote content DEI. Because content DEI is all about people, from hearing their stories to including them in the creation process.
In a nutshell – DEI is a term used to describe programs and policies fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging representation and participation from all communities. This includes people of different genders, races and ethnicities, religions, cultures, abilities and disabilities, ages, and sexual orientations.
Why does content need to be promoted?
To content creators, the reason for DEI comes in two cases: the moral case and the business case. The moral case refers to our shared humanity. If content can be read, watched, and listened to by everyone, should it not be for everyone? We should have a diverse array of people; we should be equitable in our practices and inclusive in the stories we tell.
But it also makes sound business sense too.
Investing in people from diverse backgrounds brings new ideas, energies, and interests to the mix. That's why DEI needs to be promoted to become part of the normal web development process. Creating online spaces for all people means those people need to be integrated into every aspect of the process.
And there are facts to back that up. According to the Centre for Talent Innovation, teams are 158 percent more likely to understand target customers when they've got a representative member, be it for gender, race, age, sexual orientation, or culture.
Even better, a 2017 study found that businesses investing in DEI saw increases in their returns on sales and invested capital. In the world of content creation, that means more readers, more exciting stories, more engaged communities. After all, you're speaking to a broader audience.
As Hunter Blackwell from Markitors put it, "Don't just speak about it, be about it."
​How content DEI can be promoted
Convinced yet? You should be. Putting DEI into content is critical work. But where do you even begin? Here are some tips for how you can promote DEI in your content:
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1. Make DEI a core value
Too often, DEI is treated as a peripheral task. Optional instead of optimal. But it's not a side hustle. As we've shown, DEI can boost your website and generate new ideas and perspectives you'd never have had before. So, put the values of DEI as a central tenet of your website and content.
2. Weave DEI into your content
Best of all, get creating, crafting, producing. Take care with your content – avoid quick judgements or lazy stereotypes. Rather, make content that speaks and engages with people from all walks of life. This DEI-driven content is a chance to explore new ideas, start conversations, and bridge divides.
3. Talk to your website contributors
It's important to get everyone on the same page. While it's essential to give content creators space to create, organizing a discussion around the themes of DEI is a fantastic way to spark a discussion. It raises awareness and promotes conscious engagement.
It's the best way to kickstart content DEI.
4. Promote to other website owners
Of course, you don't need to solely focus on your own website. Speak and promote content DEI to other website owners. Discuss the importance of belonging and accessibility to all groups, and stress the benefits of engaging. Together you can change the content landscape – opening spaces for everyone.