www.farmersmarketcoalition.org A Farmers Market Advocate’s Guide to Online Advocacy

Eight Tips for Influencing Decision-makers through Online Advocacy Campaigns

Some market problems require more than management and programming. If you’re losing your market location, need state support to accept SNAP and other benefits, or want to help shape national policy, you will need to advocate for your needs. Here are some basic tips for online farmers market advocacy.

1) Design Your Message Make sure you’re asking your target, whether it’s a business, City Council or the U.S. Congress, to do something realistic. For example, if you’re contacting Congress, ask members to either co-sponsor an existing bill, or vote yes or no on a specific bill. Asking them to localize the food system is a nice idea, but ineffective.

2) Put Targeted Action Messages in Your Supporters’ Hands Make it easy for your shoppers, vendors and supporters to send targeted email messages to legislators. Write a template letter, then ask followers to customize it and send it to their representative. Don’t forget to include contact information for your target legislator(s) when sending the template to your followers.

3) Create an Online You can use tools such as Change.org to easily create free online . State associations that are joint FMC members can create more sophisticated petitions. Some tools will seamlessly integrate new petitioners into your list of supporters and email distribution groups to help you build your base of support and increase your impact.

4) Be Transparent Clearly explain in your emails and campaign materials what the problem is, how taking action will actually solve the problem, what the deadline is, and how you will deliver the petitions or follow up on supporters’ emails.

5) Share Widely Reach more of your shoppers and vendors by sharing your template letter or petition through multiple platforms:

● Your email newsletter and/or listserv; ● Your page or group; ● Your other accounts, such as or ; ● Your blog; ● Your vendors. Ask vendors to share your campaign through their social media accounts, email newsletters, or ; ● Your physical market. Let shoppers and vendors take action at your market by signing a petition or taking home a flyer.

6) Make it Count Online advocacy alone rarely makes a difference. Ensure that legislators hear your position by organizing a rally or at least a petition delivery. Don’t forget to document the action with photo and video and let your local media know it.

7) Report Back Anyone who cares enough to sign your petition also wants to know what happens next. Whether you feel you won or lost your campaign, keep in touch with your supporters. This can be a good opportunity for fundraising or a follow up campaign depending on your issue.

8) Write Letters to the Editor Publicize your position or campaign in print by giving supporters template letters to the editor or specific bullet points they can address in their own personalized letters.

Learn More: http://powerthruconsulting.com/blog/principles-best-practices-in-online-advocacy/ http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/advocacy-principles/overview/main