Crafting the message

4 Key Messages To Move Stakeholder From Armchair To Advocate

4 Key Messages To Move Stakeholder From Armchair To Advocate

Key messages are statements you want to convey to a specific stakeholder that includes the action you want them to take after they listen to you, supported by the facts through statistics, trends, pictures and stories. Here are 4 types of messages to convey to your intended audience: Fact/ Result, Problem/ Solution, Advocacy or Call to Action, Benefits Stick to these 4 message types to deliver meaning messages to help move a stakeholder from armchair to advocate.

It’s time to end the political porn and for Hillary to unite America

It’s time to end the political porn and for Hillary to unite America

Politics can be dirty, but what we have seen over the past year is simply political porn. Warnings have to be issued before newscasts. I have to stand over my children trying to get to Nikelodeon, DisneyXD or ESPN to make sure I don’t have to explain anything later, or often times I do if they heard something from a friend at school.

Tools to Craft Your Message to Lawmakers

Primary Message:The Challenge (Background/Summary of the problem)

Secondary Message: What needs to change, barriers, issues? What is the desired change or outcome? What do we hope to achieve? (this could be a policy change, funding, etc.)

Your Message/Experience/Story:

Why do you have  the solution or are a leader in finding solutions? What do you do? Why do you do it?  This should include personal stories tied to emotions to create a story and an image in the legislators mind, complete with research or statistics/numbers to show positive results.

The Ask: What is the call to action or solution?

KEY TAKE AWAYS These will become are key messages so what do you want them to remember about your visit.

LEAVE BEHIND

Don't forget to always leave something with them -- a folder, brochure, fact sheet etc. and then don't forget to follow up with them after your meeting.