How to prepare for an advocacy fight

Budget season in PA means everyone is scrambling to pass or kill something, and that cacophony of competition is also why we’ve blown right past the June 30 deadline.

And the fights will happen all over again next year, and the year after and probably until the sun explodes.

So what’s the advocacy equivalent of taping up your knuckles?

We’ve been telling you for years that audience is influence and influence is audience, but how do you get there? Apologies to David Mamet:

A always

B be

C collecting

Emails, phone numbers, social media handles, etc. — every digital touchpoint, every offline event — any communication you have with your constituency is an opportunity to A always B be C collecting.

Recently, a client wanted to fight against a piece of legislation that would harm the families they serve. What did they do? They mobilized their audience to reach out to the legislature and the results were staggering. Upwards of 1,000 emails per minute bombard the Capitol. Members got the message but that was only made possible through the hard work that went into this organization building a large, passionate community that was ready to express its opinion at the drop of a hat.

You can’t just say, ‘“Hey, you seem interested in our cause, give me your information.” That’s akin to a bad pickup line at the bar. In any good courtship, you need to nurture a true relationship – one that is mutually beneficial and satisfying for both parties. Explain yourself, listen to your prospective audience member’s concerns and needs and make your best offering – a deep dive on their issue of interest, a chance to join a like-minded community, a commitment to represent their interests. Over time, that courtship will develop into a free-flowing, information-sharing relationship where you’re both pledged to take care of one another.

With a core group of supporters built on actual relationships, you’ll be able to sound the alarm when your mutual interests are threatened and absolutely swamp those opposing elected officials with authentic and heartfelt opposition.

Is your organization ready for its next fight?