Amplifying Reach and Impact — Here's Why We Changed Our Name to Amplio Network

Literacy Bridge is now Amplio!

Why did we change our name? 

Here’s the short answer:

“Our name was confusing to potential partners and donors. People overwhelmingly assumed we work to address literacy in the formal education sector and academic settings,” said founder and executive director Cliff Schmidt.

 When Literacy Bridge was founded in 2007, the idea was to use the Talking Book audio device to address global poverty by helping people with low literacy levels learn to read. In fact, the first Talking Books were field-tested in schools in rural Ghana.

“However, when we tested this idea in the field, we quickly realized the Talking Book is better suited as a tool for sharing knowledge through audio content that empowers people to improve their health, income, and quality of life,” Cliff added.

You can read our founder’s story here.

Matching our name with our mission

Although we operated as Literacy Bridge for 10 years, our name didn’t match the work we do. At conferences, we were grouped with the education track, when what we really offered was a simple, cost-effective, inclusive digital solution that enables organizations to share knowledge with the world’s hardest to reach communities. Our technology overcome common barriers to knowledge sharing — including lack of infrastructure low literacy, lack of electricity or connectivity, locally-spoken language, and gender bias.

In 2016, we made the big decision to rebrand. We hired Minerva Strategies, a Seattle strategic communications firm that works mission-driven organizations, to conduct research and stakeholder interviews, and help us brainstorm and test new names.

Through Minerva’s thoughtful process, we arrived at the name Amplio — a Latin verb that means “make wider, increase, extend, amplify.” Amplio speaks volumes about the way Talking Book technology enables our global partners to amplify and widen their reach in rural communities, deliver their messages, and increase their impact.

Our new legal name is Amplio Network, with "network" as a reference to our affiliates and partners. But since you know us, you can call us Amplio for short.

Check out our interactive Impact map to see Talking Book partners and programs.

Telling the Amplio story

Rebranding isn’t easy. It takes time to adopt a new identity, change your name, raise awareness, and update communications. In early 2018, Minerva Strategies helped us build a simple website with our new name and logo. 

In July, we were ready to strengthen our brand identity to the next level. We teamed up with Sugarbird Marketing, a purpose-driven creative agency, to develop our messaging, create new content, and build a more comprehensive website.

“We are so proud to have had the opportunity to help Amplio tell the powerful story of the work it does to empower people to change their own lives,” said Janinne Brunyee, CEO of Sugarbird Marketing.

Drawing on personal stories, photography, and real-world examples, the new website delivers information to all of our important audiences.

“As Amplio, we make it possible for government agencies, local NGOs, and international development organizations like UNICEF to amplify and widen their impact through our technology and programs. Together with our partners and supporters, we're helping to transform lives in the world's most vulnerable communities,” said Cliff.