KHH Enviros - Campaign Ideas #1 -

This is the start of a new series that we're putting together as we've got few resources but plenty of ideas. 

The hope is that someone might see these campaign ideas and use them. 

Most of these campaigns are built on the foundation of Community Based Social Marketing

All of these are made to be simple and done with very little money

Cumulative Peititoning

Petitioning is often hard to do because people feel pressured and they feel singled out. This event is made to alleviate some of that pressure. 

- Ideally 3-5 different groups of people fan out across a city to places which would be friendly to the idea you're trying to advance. 

In this example, we use transit stops because our peitition is about increasing parking costs and better enforcement of parking laws to encourage public transit. These people already use public transit and would be more likely to support increased parking in the city because it would affect them less

1) Mass Advertising

- You need a large sign that can be held up or easily seen over a crowd. Cover the sign in lamenant or plastic that you can use dry erase markers on so that it can be changed quickly. 

- This sign shows in real time how many people have signed up to your petition

2) Real Time Communication

- Ideally using walkie-talkies, but it can also be done with SMS text messaging over cell phone networks (which is usually cheap...ahem...usually) update the other groups every time you get 10 signatures

- Make sure to write it on your sign, the cumulative amount you've gotten between groups

- This helps the crowd see that your number is constantly going up and that it's a dynamic movement

- This also helps your volunteers' motivation because even if there's a low time around you, your other groups are still getting signatures

General Tips

When taking signatures always remember to take pictures if they'll let you, videos are even BETTER! and EMAIL addresses so you can update people and perhaps have an online petition afterward. 

Remember that peititions are a great way to help people feel empowered when they're too busy to change something themselves. Try not to think that you're bothering people, instead think that you're giving them an opportunity to feel in control of their city. 

When you approach people, have this in your attitude and people will respond more positively. 

And for crying out loud never ever say "Sorry to bother you." You sound like a salesperson, even though any salesperson of worth would never say that!

Have some fun, play some music and get people feeling like they're having fun!

--Tim and the KHH Enviros