Now is not the time to toss aside any of the advocacy tactics in our toolbox. While some groups are telling people that emailing Congress is a waste of time, FCNL is leaning into email action opportunities. As a skeptic myself of the effectiveness of email in advocacy, let me explain why it’s the message and not the medium.
Email can still be a useful way to not only share an opinion but also spur action and generate a response. I know this is true because it was an inbox influx of messages questioning the effectiveness of emailing Congress that convinced us to make the case.
The first thing to understand is what happens to your emails. To organize the thousands of communications that offices receive every week, emails go directly to your legislators’ office into a Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) system. Whether sent on their website or through an organization like FCNL, they end up there.
This leads to the second thing to know: Personalize your emails, don’t just click “send” on what we supply. These CRMs are sophisticated, even before factoring in artificial intelligence. They can “batch” emails that are similar in content so offices can respond in bulk. Personalized messages, however, give the system (good) trouble. They stand out and force a more thoughtful response. Stories from constituents also find their way into members’ floor speeches, newsletters, and social media posts.
When we share why an issue is important to us in our own words, sharing our own values and experiences, it can have ripple effects we would never anticipate.
Vulnerability is more powerful than we think. When we share why an issue is important to us in our own words, sharing our own values and experiences, it can have ripple effects we would never anticipate.
Speaking of ripple effects, here’s the third thing to know. Your one email won’t persuade your member of Congress. I say this not to discourage, but to motivate.
FCNL makes it simple to share our actions, so consider organizing your own coordinated email action with others — whether that’s a faith community, a book club, or your friends and family. An office receiving several (or more!) emails on the same issue that are all personalized will stand out and make the office pay attention.
Whatever form of action you take, personalize it. If you feel like what you’re doing isn’t making a difference, don’t say it’s ineffective; ask yourself if you’re using the tool effectively to begin with.
Convinced? Visit our Action Center and personalize your emails on the issues calling you to act. And be sure to share the opportunity with others in your community.
Not convinced? Let me know why not and let’s strategize: Contact us at Lobby@fcnl.org.
