Campaigning

Strategy and tactics - what should I do?

This campaign tip (no. 4) was published on Friday, 4th January 2019

So you're busy ... you've shouted out your campaign, you're getting feedback and responses. Do you take up the invitation to meet your MP? The invitation to advertise in the local town guide? The suggestion that you attend the Senior's forum to learn about the needs of old people? Do you offer your support to fellow campaigners at Langport who are looking for a new station, or to the local group who are working hard to get a neighbourhood plan though all the hoops. Do you run a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube and Tumblr presence? Do you read those 100 page government reports and fill in the consultations that follow from them, researching and developing answers as you do?

Have a strategy. A set of long term goals. Consider them carefully, and tune them as tie goes on maybe, but beware campaign drift. And beware spending resources for little of no effective return towards your strategy.

Once you have a strategy in place, most of your shorter term tactical decisions will be much clearer. "How does this help towards the long term goals" you ask each opportunity that' available and you'll soon see which to follow through.

This may sound very calculated ... the reader should bear in mind that the strategies may be "soft" as well as hard - I will admit to a strong element of a strategy labelled "and enjoy myself in doing it"

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Contact details

These pages are written by Graham Ellis of Melksham, Wiltshire. Overlapping a life in IT and IT training, with running a hotel and campaigning for improved public transport, Graham has never been quiet - though he's starting to wind down gently now. He no longer takes overnight guests and has stepped doen from the "Community Rail Officer" role which he accidentally aquired. So he now has more time to write pages such as these and to travel in the UK. He'll be delighted to speak with your group or take a look through your case or camapaign, but be alerted that his time is not limitless even now, and he still has to keep the wolf from the door.

Postal: 48, Spa Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 7NY
Phonal: 01225 708225
Emailal: graham -at- wellho.net
Or reach me on the Coffee Shop Forum (User Grahame) facilities