We started following the Internal Revenue Service on social media a few months ago. The (lack of) communication for those of us waiting for COVID-era relief refunds for our businesses has been nerve wracking and we thought maybe their social content would give us an indication if any progress was being made.
Turns out, IRS communications are just terrible all around. In addition to saying nothing about important news, they share only the most basic information in the least engaging possible ways, using design and editorial that undermines the agency’s credibility and professionalism.
There are enormous audiences (jobseekers, fraud victims, climate crisis victims) that need real guidance; what’s served instead is basic information with sometime confusing messaging and almost always amateur graphics.
There’s also an incredible digital transformation happening and they could be telling stories of the impact that funding from the infrastructure bill had and how it will improve the service they provide.
After all these months, we realized that the IRS just doesn’t take comms seriously. We know the agency is woefully underfunded but public relations shouldn't be an afterthought given that tax payers deserve to know what the agency is working on.
It’s too bad because they’re also missing valuable opportunities to educate and support tax payers. Not to mention to build positive associations with their brand — which might change the dialogue around funding.
Government is essential and when it’s working well, it can make our lives better. (Yes, even the IRS!) But it takes commitment to and investment in strategy and creative execution to tell the stories that help people understand that.
Three Furies is a certified woman-owned business, brand, and content strategy agency with deep experience in the legal marketing sector, including digital marketing analysis, brand and digital design, communications strategy, and advertising campaigns.