4 Important Tips For Advocating Effectively For Your Cause

Posted on: 10 February 2020

If you have a cause that your organization wants to advocate for within the government, be it a social cause or for specific business regulations and rules, you are going to need to have a few effective advocating strategies under your belt. In order to get things done within the government, you need to have a platform of advocacy to stand on.

Tip #1: Building Relationships Helps Build Policy

First, start by building relationships with other people. Building relationships is one of the most important building blocks if you want to be able to affect change for your cause. You need to build relationships with other people who believe in your cause. You may find people who are really effective messengers of your agenda this way.

 You need to build relationships with important members of the community who may support your cause and be able to help you when you encounter red tape. Building relationships will help you connect with government officials at all levels, which can help you to enact change at a governmental level.

Tip #2: There Really Is Strength in Numbers

Second, keep in mind that there really is strength in numbers. If you have change that you need to advocate for within the government, you need to be able to show the government that you have a strong number of people who are standing behind you and who also support your cause.

Government officials want to spend time on issues that impact a large number of people. Government officials want their efforts to be worth it, and they want their actions to help build support for themselves, especially if they serve in an elected office.

The more people who stand behind your cause, and who stand up and request change with you will put pressure on the government to act.

Tip #3: Use Social Media to Strengthen Your Numbers

Third, don't dismiss social media as something to just kill time with. Social media can be a powerful tool for connecting with others who believe in what you are doing. It can help you connect with other change-makers, and social media is even a great way to build a campaign and reach out to government officials on a more personal level.

Tip #4: Change Takes Time

Finally, remember that change takes time, so don't give up if you don't change government policy in a matter of months. Bills have to be drafted and go through a committee before they get a vote. Many bills go through multiple drafts and committees before they ever make it to the floor to be voted on. Don't give up if it takes multiple attempts for you to make that happen.

If you need to work with the government in order to create change for whatever you are advocating for, a government relations consulting firm can help you strengthen your advocacy. You can also strengthen your advocacy by focusing on building relationships and support while working towards change. 

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