What's the future of digital advocacy? Hear the results of our research, expert input and reflections, and join the conversation.
Free online event 10am - midday BST on 17 September (11am - 1pm CEST)
Digital tools and platforms have transformed campaigning, just as they've changed how we communicate in other areas of our lives. We're asking: how are organisations using them now? And how do the tools and tactics we’re using need to evolve to stay relevant and effective?
Join digital mobilisation experts More Onion and Impact Stack at this two-hour event co-hosted with campaign sector champions the Sheila McKechnie Foundation. We’ll share brand-new research results, expert insights and best-practice case studies, and open up space for discussion for practitioners to share what’s working, what’s not, and what could be better.
On the agenda:
Webinar - expert input
The first part of the event, from 10-11.15 will offer food for thought in the form of research results and expert insights. This part of the event will be recorded.
Sector research results
Over 100 NGOs took part in the Impact Stack survey into the future of digital advocacy, sharing their insights into how they're currently using digital tools to mobilise support for their campaigns, and what they think is working. Impact Stack client care manager Jess Day will draw out some lessons for the sector on how digital tools, and how we use them, need to evolve.
Case study: high-impact online action
Shelter’s email to MP action before the second reading of the Renter’s Rights Bill offered a range of ways for supporters to personalise their message to their MP. Digital campaigns officer Isabella Burton will share how they did it, how the action influenced an important parliamentary debate, and how supporter action fits into Shelter’s wider campaigns strategy.
What’s it like to be a campaign target?
What’s it like to be on the receiving end of an email to target action? Stefan Blakiston Moore spent over a decade working with politicians before moving across to lead the campaigns team at Cats Protection and now at Alzheimer’s Society. Drawing on experience from both sides of the inbox, he'll share insights into how politicians' offices have had to adjust to deal with mass email campaigns.
Thematic discussions
From 11.15 onwards we’re proposing the following thematic discussion groups. You’ll be able to choose which one to join on the day. These discussions won't be recorded but we’ll do our best to capture some highlights of each discussion to share afterwards.
1/ Better message-to-target actions
How can we create the most effective digital actions with specific targets? From making tailoring and personalisation easier, to more creative ways to deliver messages - how can our tactics evolve? Florian will kick off by sharing some possibilities, before opening up discussion.
Discussion hosts: Katie Roberts, Interim CEO of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation and Florian Engel, Co-founder and Managing Director of More Onion, makers of Impact Stack.
2/ Design and form optimisation
Nothing makes as much difference as a great, well explained theory of change for your action. But once you have that in place, what are the design and presentation elements which make a digital action more effective? Share learning, testing and results.
Discussion host: Joe Derry Hall, Co-founder of We Could Even, a small creative digital agency working with charities to create campaign and supporter engagement actions, data visualisations and more.
3/ Engagement actions
What other ways can we offer supporters to become involved in campaigns beyond petitions and direct message to target actions? What's the role of interactive engagement actions in building a relationship with supporters? Share examples and results.
Discussion host: Claire Donner, Director of Mobilisation at More Onion, makers of Impact Stack.
4/ MPs and mass mobilisation
How do MPs and members of the devolved parliaments deal with and respond to incoming campaigns, and how can campaigners work most effectively to connect supporters with their elected representatives? (This group will focus on the UK context. Group 1 will offer a broader discussion of email to target actions.)
Discussion host: Stefan Blakiston-Moore, Campaigns and Mobilisation Manager at Alzheimer’s Society.
5/ Targeting corporates
What works and what doesn't to influence corporate targets via digital tools? Share insights into plans and results for actions which lobby companies or non-governmental targets.
Discussion host: Alex Jones, Head of Programmes at the Sheila McKechnie Foundation
Accessibility
This event will take place as a digital event on Zoom. We strive to make this event as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any requests, suggestions or questions around accessibility please reach out to us.