Mobilizing_People

If you had 2-hours to mobilize as many people as possible to contact their leaders, how would you do it? Below is one of many approaches.

 

3 Steps to Quickly Mobilize People

 

STEP 1: Create a template email/social media message.

The example below is perfect. The email/Facebook message should tell them who to call, what to say and why these calls matter. You’ll need to tailor each template in the verbiage of those you’re reaching out to and change the “who to call” section based on where the person lives.

 

Sample Email:

My Dearest Troy, I’m trying to mobilize a little pressure on our leaders and I need your charming, brilliant mind helping me! I’ll call you with more details, but the short version is, I want a team of 7-10 people who call the following leaders each week in support of poverty-reduction efforts. Official info below:

Who to Call:

Sen. Joe Donnelly   202-224-4814
Sen. Todd Young  202-224-5623
Rep. Luke Messer, 6th District 202-225-3021 

What to say: “I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I’d like to see funding for USAID increased.”

Details: It usually takes about 30-seconds per call. An intern answers the phone and adds your info to a call report that is viewed by the political leader. They might ask for your address or zip code to verify that you live in the leaders district, but that’s about all there is to it. If you call after hours and get the answering machine be sure to still leave the message. It gets tallied as well. You can find more details on why these call are so impactful here: https://borgenproject.org/call-congress.

Let me know when you’re done so I can keep track of how many calls have been generated.

Thank you!

Frank

 

STEP 2: Who do you reach out to?
Most likely you’ll have a short list of people who come to mind as likely candidates to help you (siblings, parents, kids, best friends, neighbors), after that it might seem bleak. When you reach the bleak stage, that’s where you browse through your address book and Facebook friends. Think of groups, companies and teams you currently or previously belonged to. Naturally, you’re not going to be comfortable reaching out to everyone in your contacts, but you’d be surprised how many names jump off the screen as people who will likely make a 30-second congressional call.

 

STEP 3: Rapid outreach.
Call, text and email those you’d like to mobilize. Be yourself and interact as you normally would. You’re not selling Amway, Mary Kay or trying to convert them to a new religion. You’re having a poverty-reduction party and they’re invited! Make it fun.

 

Mobilizing Tips


1. Passion is magnetic: If you are excited about the cause and discussing it frequently, those around you will naturally become more engaged and interested in helping.

 

2. Mention, Mention, Mention: You’ll have people who instantly get involved after hearing from you and others who are “Hanging Chads.” These folks are there, just not quite all of the way yet. Advertising agencies know that people need to hear about a product several times before they actually purchase it. Your product is “calling congressional leaders” and you’ll need to mention it several times before most people get engaged and start calling.

  • “On C-Span last night, there was a political staffer who said he often sees leaders support a bill after as few as seven people call in support of it.”
  • “Hey did you have a chance to check out the email I sent you.”
3. Ask for advice from those you seek to mobilize. This will give you insight and increase the likelihood of that person being part of your efforts. “Bob, my goal is to mobilize 20 people each week to call their congressional leaders. How would you do that? Are you interested in helping me?”