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Digg Members of Congress hear from hundreds – if not thousands – of constituents every day. Getting your message to rise above the noise is key to successful advocacy! Below are some tips on how to communicate with Representatives and Senators.
- Make it personal. If there's one thing Capitol Hill sees enough of, it's stock letters. Online advocacy tools are great, but Members and their staff recognize generic letters. To make your letters stand out, include personal details. While you don't want to go into too many details (particularly if your letter is health-related), something that tugs at the heart strings or paints a picture of a day-in-the-life is much more likely to capture a staffer's attention. With that in mind...
- Keep it short. Members of Congress and their staff are pressed for time. A two-page letter that tells your entire life story is just too long. Just as you need to learn to share your story in 2-3 minutes, you must learn to write your story in 1-2 paragraphs. Hit the relevant points – be memorable but brief.
- Remember the "ask." While you want to stay away from the stock letters, you want to make sure you actually ask your Member to take action. Be sure to ask specifically for the Member to cosponsor a bill, vote for/against a bill, join a caucus, etc. Don't get so caught up in your personal story that you forget why you're writing.
- Use social media. Social media is a great way to interact with Congress. In the current negative climate, Congress is bombarded with negative messaging, especially in the anonymous social media field. But if you use social media correctly – and for positive purposes – you can get a Member's attention and get them to take action. Create a campaign around Twitter (use a hashtag like #yesonHR2 or #psoriasisSpeakOut to energize your advocates) and bombard Congressional tweeters on a certain day or week. Also, make sure to "mention" Members of Congress when posting a picture or thank you. Don't let recent Twitter scandals scare you – Twitter is on the rise in Washington, DC, and seems like it's here to stay.
- Follow up, follow up, follow up. The squeaky wheel got the grease for a reason – because it wouldn't shut up about it! If you want to be the squeaky wheel, follow up with your Members of Congress. Remember, it's not uncommon for Congressional staff to meet with 10-15 advocates a day. Many times, what prompts these staff to take action for one organization over another is persistence. Always be polite but be persistent with the staff and hopefully, it will pay off.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
Specific Questions relating to this article should be addressed directly to the author.
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