When it comes to making big changes in the world, nothing can be more impactful than advocating for them at the local level. With the right tactics and techniques, you can make sure your voice is heard, and that your local elected official takes action on your issues.
At first, this process of advocating may seem daunting and overwhelming, but trust me – it can be done. I’m a global; public policy and government relations expert and I’ve seen firsthand how successful advocacy campaigns can result in real change.
That’s why I’m so excited to share my tips and tricks with you on how to effectively advocate for your issues. From developing an effective message to understanding the political system, you’ll learn exactly what it takes to get the attention of your local elected official and make sure that they take action.
So let’s get started!
Preparing Your Argument – Crafting Your Message
Advocating for your cause doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle – it’s entirely possible to make your voice heard in a constructive and meaningful way. Before you organize a campaign or put together a presentation, take the time to craft your message since it will be the foundation for everything else you do.
Start by understanding the context: who are you advocating for, how has this affected people and what are their current struggles? It’s important to be able to express these points clearly and effectively by summarizing any key facts and figures, outlining any policy changes you would like to see in more detail, and addressing any potential stumbling blocks.
When you’ve got that figured out, think about what kind of arguments might appeal most to your local elected official. This can include economic development benefits (e.g. job creation), funding opportunities (e.g. grants), improving public health/safety (e.g. better access to healthcare), helping marginalized communities, etc. Whatever your chosen approach may be, make sure that it is organized into compelling talking points that provide solutions rather than questions or criticism of current policies.
By taking this approach when crafting your message, you’ll be well-equipped with the knowledge and confidence to build momentum around any advocacy efforts at the local level!
Developing a Strong Relationship With Your Local Official
It’s true: in today’s digital age, there are countless ways to reach out to your elected official. You can email or call them, or even tweet at them—but if you want to be successful in your advocacy efforts, then having a strong relationship with your local official is key.
For starters, take the time to get to know who your elected official is—their background, their political views, and where they stand on issues you’re passionate about. It’s also key to make an effort to truly connect with them and their office staff on a personal level. This includes attending their events, talking to them in person (when possible), and staying informed about what they are up to.
By taking these steps, your elected official will become more familiar with you and better understand the issues that matter most in your community. And once they understand what you want out of the relationship, then you can start having more meaningful conversations that may result in real change!
Research, Research, Research- Knowing the Issues & Players
As a global public policy and government relations expert, one of the most effective ways you can advocate for your local elected official is through research. Researching the current issues and players in your community gives you the necessary foundation to effectively present your point.
By doing research, you can:
- Connect with your local elected official’s office, pointing to common interests in various policy initiatives and understanding their objectives
- Establish relationships with other advocates and groups in the area
- Keep up to date on the latest news and happenings in your community
- Develop an understanding of who is influencing your local elected official’s decisions
- Keep tabs on their voting history, campaign promises, and other key details that will help you advance your agenda
Let’s not forget – research puts you in control. It gives you access to a wealth of knowledge that will help you know exactly what to present when advocating. It also allows you to anticipate any potential opposition or questions that may arise so that you can be prepared and have a well thought out response ready.
Understanding the Rules of Engagement: Constructive Communication
I’ve been advocating to local, state and federal officials for almost 25 years, and I can tell you: having an understanding of the rules of engagement is crucial. When engaging with a local elected official, it’s important to communicate constructively—this can make all the difference in getting your message across.
Here are tips for cultivating constructive communication with local officials:
Know Your Audience
Knowing who you are addressing is key. Gaining information on a councilmember’s background, interests, political views and recent legislation they’ve voted on will help you better understand their perspective and motivations.
Keep it Brief
Time is limited so boiling your advocacy down to its main points can be useful. Introduce yourself, explain why the topic is important to you and suggest specific actions they can take—and then let them know how they can contact you if they need more information or want to discuss further!
Present Credible Facts
If you want your message to be taken seriously, make sure that the key facts you present are credible. Always verify any statistics or data from reliable sources before discussing it with the elected official. This will help build an argument that is based in fact; not personal opinion or hearsay.
By following these tips for constructively communicating with local officials, your advocacy efforts in support of causes close to your heart will have greater impact and influence!
Maximizing Social Media to Keep Your Voice Heard
Social media can be one of your most powerful tools when advocating to your local officials. It can enable you to spread your message quickly, bypass the gatekeepers of a politician’s attention and create effective coalitions with other stakeholders in your community. Here are some tips for effective use of social media when engaging with elected officials:
- Make sure that you’re targeting the right person – make sure you tag them in posts, as not all elected officials are active on every platform.
- Craft personalized messages – this will allow you to cut through the crowded noise and ensure that your message doesn’t get overlooked.
- Build relationships – social media won’t replace face-to-face conversation and advocacy, but it can be used to supplement those connections and facilitate dialog between stakeholders.
- Leverage user generated content – this will let people in your network organically join the conversation and help increase visibility for your cause.
- Measure results – track key metrics like engagement, reach, sentiment, etc. so you can assess what’s working and what isn’t.
By leveraging social media strategically, you can have a powerful influence on elected officials—and help create positive change in your community!
What Comes After the Advocacy: Evaluation & Impact
As a public policy and government relations expert, I can tell you that successful advocacy to your local elected official doesn’t just happen in one moment—it’s a process. After you’ve made your case and taken action, it’s important to evaluate and measure the impact of your hard work.
Doing so will help you become a stronger advocate. Here are some steps that you can take to assess the success of your advocacy:
Analyze Your Plan
Take some time afterwards to critique your strategy and how it impacted the outcome. Were you able to stay on track with the plan, or were there any unexpected turns? What changes would you make for next time?
Measure Short-term Outcomes
We all want change as quickly as possible, but alas—it typically doesn’t happen overnight. Consider tracking short-term successes such as increased media attention or more people engaging on the issue. This will help provide encouragement and motivation for future advocacy efforts.
Check In With Your Peers
Find out how others were affected by your advocacy efforts. For instance, if you successfully advocated for stronger laws to protect endangered species, contact local wildlife organizations and find out if they have seen any positive changes due to your work.
Evaluating what happens after advocating is an important part of being an effective advocate—so don’t forget to include it in your plan!
It’s clear that no matter what your cause, you can be an effective advocate for change. But to do so, you need to have a good understanding of your elected official and the tools and tactics to effectively communicate your advocacy goals. The good news is that with the right strategy, you can turn your passion for change into positive and tangible results. So take what you’ve learned here, do your research, and get the dialog between you and your elected official started. Invest in the power of advocacy and you can make a real difference in your local community.
