I can't be successful without YOU. Here are some tips on how to make your discussions about this campaign more effective in winning over potential supporters.
ENGAGEMENT There are a number of factors that have to come into alignment for a successful campaign. I have to present a viable candidate. Have to. I also believe (though most gloss over this part) that a well thought out, viable plan of action that focuses on real solutions to real problems is a must. And finally I have to be able to communicate that message, that vision to the masses in a manner that convinces them that what I have to offer is in their best interests. That’s my part. This isn’t enough. No matter how effective I am in my own tasks, I am still only one man. If I spend every minute of every day trying to come into contact with new voters then I will still come nowhere close to enough interaction to garner a winning voter tally. The fact is that I cannot do it alone. I require help. And that’s where YOU come in. What I’m trying to do here is monumental (in my own opinion) and I hope that my supporters will feel the same way. I need you to show it. I need you to ENGAGE others about what you’re (hopefully) passionate about.. positive change in our political system. When I say something in regards to my plans or campaign, it’s obvious that the reason I’m saying it is to help myself win. When YOU say it, it shows that you believe in what’s being proposed enough to mention it, advocate for it and actively try to make it a reality. THAT’S the best sales pitch that there is.. someone promoting something that they don’t directly benefit from. Now, if the past few years have taught us anything about politics it’s that it has become a contentious, unpleasant place in many instances if you don’t wholeheartedly agree with someone else’s view. It has caused rifts in long-standing relationships and pushed many to abandon mentioning politics altogether outside of certain “safe” circles. If we allow this situation to continue then what we can expect is for the continuation of one of the most divisive periods in American history. What kind of country will that leave us? Constant political combat will only lead to different sides alternating power and government/society careening back and forth from far left to far right with no peace. It will take away from so much opportunity for us to advance as a nation and help the rest of the world with our advancements. Our mission should be to reverse this course. But how? With the combative state of political discussion, how can one effectively break down those barriers to amicably share ideas? Not everyone can be reached. We have to admit that. For those who are dedicated to Red Team or Blue Team it is a zealotry that can’t be overcome through polite conversation. But many who vote for one or the other do so because they MOST align with their views. These people are willing to seek those who offer the best political offering. These are people who can be open to discussion. Independent and non-voters are all open to discussion. You still have to be passionate and convincing. Here are some tips.
Bring it up- The hardest part is going to be approaching the conversation. If you’re too heavy-handed you can put people off to discussion. So, how is the best way to bring it up? If you have people around you that discuss politics regularly, then you have no problem. If not, try bringing it up in natural pauses to conversation. We all have times sitting around where a pause finds it’s way into the talking. That’s your opportunity. “Have you heard about this candidate?” Maybe a political commercial comes on the radio/tv. Maybe someone brings up one of the issues that I have a plan for. Any of these situations, and many more, can be a natural point to insert a mention of this campaign. Be confident. If they’re interested then drive home the point. If they seem less than convinced, ease off and wait for another opportunity. Being overly aggressive will push away support, not gain it. -Look for natural opportunity
-Avoid being overly confrontational
-Be patient
-Be confident
You don’t win support with disagreement- People will vote for who they believe has their best interests in mind. Trying to convince them that their interests are wrong is unlikely to work, so try to focus on making connections on the interests that you share. For a thinking voter, there is an understanding that they will not see eye-to-eye on EVERY issue. Therefore it becomes important to put forth as much of the goals that are shared as possible to show our value being greater than that of other candidates. -Find common ground
Real answers- The vast majority of candidates will spend their entire campaigns shouting out vague ideas of “fixing” problems without offering much more in the way of answers than “more money”. This one’s easy. Familiarize yourself with the plans I’ve presented and be ready to explain them thoroughly. If you feel the need bring up the facebook page or website for reference. That’s it.
-Showcase the solution-based platform
-Share the references
Make it personal- When conversing with someone that you know/have a background with, bring up the issues that mean something to them. For people who are well off, talking about community improvement and growth probably isn’t an issue. But if they have kids then the educational plan has a good chance of striking home. For those in more impoverished areas, infrastructure and opportunity will mean everything. Cater the message to the audience. If you can make an impact with even one of the plans then the rest will be icing on the cake. -Draw the parallel between the platform and the needs of the audience -Know what makes people “buy-in”- When you break down a political campaign to it’s simplest form.. it’s sales.
Selling a candidate. Selling a platform. That being the case it’s important to keep in mind what drives a sale. To make a person buy you have to demonstrate at least one of three qualities in what you’re selling- want, need or value. If you can make them feel a want, a need or demonstrate the value of a thing then your chances or a sell go up considerably. The more of those qualities you can demonstrate, the higher the chances. Always keep this in mind and apply it to the discussions that come up. Couple this with “making it personal” and you’ve got a prime situation. -Stimulate want, need and value.
Share the online material- Documentation is more reliable than memory. What’s more, new material will always be added. You make the sell, then send them to the online campaign to help them stay engaged. Be sure to follow up with them when new material shows up and discuss it to help keep them actively thinking about what we’re doing here. -Share the online resources
No matter what.. don’t push them away- They may be unreceptive. They may be combative. They may be outright belligerent. Be civil. Once it’s clear that no headway will be gained.. leave it be. In this situation, more harm is done to the cause than good by being “pushy”. Write it off. But keep in mind that sometime in the future may be different. Maybe they’ll have a change of heart. Maybe you caught them on a bad day. Read your audience. If a situation gets hot, don’t inflame it further. Take a deep breath. Step away from the situation. We won’t get every voter. We can try, but we have to accept that we have to let some go. -Don’t make enemies.
Win over the ones you can, accept that not all can be swayed. This basic guideline here can mean worlds of difference when engaging potential voters. You can’t be shy. If this platform means something to you then you have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there to try and attract support for what YOU want. Be confident. Be consistent. Be the catalyst that makes this movement successful.