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Democrats learned the value of outside money after getting crushed in 2010. In 2014, they learned that big money alone is not enough. With 2016 on the horizon, Democrats involved in outside groups are keen to avoid getting schooled again.

Interviews with about a dozen donors and operatives many of whom attended the annual winter meeting of the Democracy Alliance, a liberal club of wealthy donors, in Washington last week pointed to several weaknesses in the Democratic big money circuit, from poor messaging to a lack of diversity among consultants.

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As these outside organizations, which range from super PACs to environmental groups, start planning for the next election cycle, here are five steps Democrats interviewed said they must take:

Deliver a cohesive, national message probably on the economy

Democrats this cycle tried to bring up a host of issues in different races, often aiming to localize them in a bid to distance themselves from Obama. Or, as in the Colorado Senate race, they picked one narrow subject, womens reproductive rights, and relentlessly hammered it.

(Also on POLITICO: The GOP's numbers problem)

Even though Democrats touted their strategy throughout the cycle, in the end, none of the messages were powerful enough to break through to a broad enough audience.

This year was an election about everything, but also about nothing because there wasnt a cohesive message, said Anna Greenberg, a top Democratic pollster.

Outside groups (as well as campaigns) need to devise a national message to drive voters to the polls in 2016, and most likely it will need to focus on the economy, Democrats interviewed said. Some pointed to the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Actions economic-focused ads as models the groups early advertising in 2012 is often credited with the presidents reelection.

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Democrats debate big-money strategy