So you started a petition or open letter on Organise - and now you want to know how to improve it to make your campaign as powerful as possible. Read our quick and easy guide to level up your campaign!
To unlock maximum support from the whole Organise community, your campaign needs to be really clear and powerful. Starting a petition or open letter is a great way to create positive change at work, but many folks miss a few simple tricks that can make a campaign stand out from the crowd.
Don’t know whether to start a petition or open letter? Here’s our guide to choosing what’s right for your campaign!
Petitions and open letters work best when you have a clear, simple ask that you can write in a sentence or two.
Grab people’s attention with a bold headline. The best ones are short and solution-oriented - less than ten words is a good rule of thumb!
For example:
Address your petition or open letter to someone specific who has the power to make the change you want. Depending on the goal of your campaign, this could be the CEO or board of the organisation you work for or a government official.
If you’re not sure who to address your campaign to, check out our simple guide.
What is the problem you’re trying to solve? Make your campaign goal achievable and specific. Your campaign is more likely to win if you have a concrete goal. So for example, instead of aiming for your workplace to “treat workers with respect”, you should pick a specific outcome you want to see - like a pay rise in line with inflation or permanent contracts for workers.
Remember, keep your campaign ask to just one thing. If you have more than one demand, make separate petitions or open letters for each - this helps as many people as possible get behind each of the demands they agree with, and you can present them to the CEO, board, or government official as a package of demands at the end of your campaign.
A personal story can really bring a campaign to life and help people empathise. If you have a personal experience of the issue - or have friends, family, or colleagues who do - include it! Sharing your story is a powerful way to emphasise the impact of the issue on real people, and it encourages people to support your campaign.
Why is it important that people join your campaign now? Provide a timeframe in your petition or open letter to create a sense of urgency. This can be as simple as saying, “We need change now!” or you might have a specific date for your first campaign hand in, like before a board meeting or parliamentary debate.
Don’t include any swear words or aggressive language. It’s okay to say that you’re angry or upset - but focus on the issue at hand and what needs to change. This helps the decision maker and your supporters to take your campaign seriously.
Try and avoid too many spelling mistakes. This can be easier said than done but you can improve your writing by using a tool like Grammarly - or ask for a second pair of eyes to check for typos!
Once your campaign is up to scratch, you can focus on making your campaign grow! 📈
Taking action to make change at work can feel daunting, but we’re here to help every step of the way. If you’re feeling stuck, email us at action@organise.network to discuss the next steps.
Roxy dives in to help Organise members start and win their campaigns. She can help you plan your tactics and build your confidence.
