Good advocacy can take place in seconds. This can be because you only have a very short period of time to talk with someone. But it can also be because the person you’re talking to starts to make up their mind very quickly. For someone busy, this is natural. You need to make sure that […]
Read moreIn library advocacy, the individual counts. To convince someone, it’s important to be able to show why the library matters for them and for the people they care about. When people are designing websites or other services, they often think about ‘personas’ – types of people they are looking to serve. Political parties also do […]
Read moreAdvocacy about showing your relevance. In a number of previous editions, we’ve talked about how do identify relevant subjects, and how to react to them. But sometimes you don’t need to search. The United Nations and its agencies have identified a number of key days where there is a focus on a specific issue – […]
Read moreAdvocacy is about building relationships. While it’s an important first step to talk to a politician, funder or influencer, and get their business card, you can’t stop there. Indeed, the more important they are, the busier they are likely to be. They need to be reminded of the time you met. And of course, a […]
Read moreAdvocacy is about engaging people. This is easier when talking with people who are already interested in a subject, and discussing it, either in person or online. Maybe there’s a big meeting, a consultation, or lots of talk online following a big news story. This can be an opportunity to make people think about how […]
Read moreSuccessful advocacy is not just about talking – it’s also about doing. Great speeches, presentations or social media posts can of course help guarantee support for your work. But unless this is backed up by committed people, then the messages will not work forever. There is little more convincing than someone who is focused on […]
Read moreAdvocacy is about getting people to agree with you. When you talk with someone, you want them to understand that you have shared goals, and that you can help them. Especially for decision-makers, who often have to face problems, libraries should look like a solution. To do this, you need to adapt your arguments, and […]
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