📣Speaking for P2PU

We create a lot of content at P2PU, from Twitter to community emails to website copy. While we want each of our team members to shine as individuals, we also want to ensure some consistency in the voice of our organization to model the kind of community behavior we want to see. P2PU is:

• Smart but not stuffy. We’re informed, but accessible. A shared understanding is more important than looking smart. Avoid jargon, stiff or bloated language.

• Quirky but not offensive. Be charming. We aim to be memorable enough that you tell your friends, but not so much that it scares you away.

• Excited but not sales-y. Use your sense of excitement. Bold statements are OK. In learning new things, people will go to great lengths to avoid humiliation, so make sure you’re making people feel at ease, engaged, and occasionally delighted.

• Casual but not sloppy. A casual tone reinforces our peer learning model. We’re all at the same level–there’s no need for formality. That being said, be concise and use proper punctuation.

• Massive but not a mob. When possible, use the 2nd person plural (we) and active voice. We’re storytellers and real people–point toward the experience of community members before the theory or idea behind it.

• Participatory but not perfect. We’re inviting, and anyone can get involved who wants to. Be mindful of your references–we’re an international organization with diverse backgrounds. Too many US-centric references will not get your message across.

P2PU supports the wide dissemination and use of its tools and resources, and thus expects that community members will often speak about P2PU in their professional and personal capacities. It may be the case that P2PU community members wish to post on social media, conduct interviews, or present at conferences about their work with P2PU as well.