Maximizing Impact: The Do's and Don'ts of Effective Online Petitions

Online petitions are everywhere. They are easy to set up and easy to click on to show support for a cause. The problem is when petition statements are not delivered to decision makers.  

With thousands of online petitions being created, people want to know where the signatures go. Does it create positive change? The short answer is - well, it depends.  Not all online petitions are created equally.

We have compiled some do's and don'ts to create an online petition that supports your cause and avoids performative activism. 

The Do's and Don'ts of Creating an Online Petition

✅ Create a strategy that turns signatures into advocates for your cause. 

Online petitions build momentum before a large event or important vote and are a great way to build a list of contacts that align with your cause. 

Let your supporters know where their signatures are going, what other actions they can take to support you, and update them regularly on your campaign progress.

When you create a petition on New/Mode, your statements will be sent to a decision-maker by default. You can start a petition and email supporters in our free forever platform. 

Learn More: Webinar: How Leading Advocacy Campaigners are turning Engagement into Impact

❌Don't make petitions your only campaign tactic.

To make your voice heard by those in power, you must get your message across various channels. Emailing representatives, writing a letter to the editor, and harnessing social media are all part of a winning strategy. 

Learn more on how to influence legislators with grassroots advocacy

✅ Make sure that you are sending a message to decision-makers that shows the momentum your cause is gaining.

Additional resource: Mastering Advocacy Letter Writing: A Simple Guide to Using Email to Influence Elected Officials

We're happy to announce New/Mode's 'Smart Petition' tactic, which will let all those working towards a better world to embrace these and other best practices.  

Here's what makes New/Mode's petitions so smart: 

1. Messages Delivered: Petitions statements are delivered to decision-makers as a default. 
2. Effective delivery:  Petition notifications are sent to decision-makers in set increments based on our impact analysis to maximize impact. Decision-makers have told us they do not want an email with every petition signature. 
3. Impactful: The decision-maker notification includes key petition information that we know to be impactful, and it invites the decision-maker to respond to the Campaigner.
4. Engaging: Our petitions list the decision maker being targeted, and notifications are aligned with the campaign goal meter. We know campaigns that have a clear delivery and theory of change have higher conversion rates. 

Petitions are the most commonly deployed advocacy tactic and it's crucially important that we run these campaigns strategically.  

Campaigns that fake impact are damaging to our goals and fuel alienation. 

We hope New/Mode's new Smart Petition can make another meaningful contribution towards ensuring advocacy campaigns are meaningful and impactful.  

Create your free New/Mode account and get started