Writing a petition doesn’t have to be difficult, but to be sure that it will have the impact you want, you should take some time preparing it.

Here are a few things that are worth thinking about:

• Preparation
  Before you start writing your own petition, look at some of the other petitions featured on LobbyingForum. Many of these are excellent examples, and the most successful ones can be used as a template for your own. When writing a petition, you need to appeal to two audiences: the signers of your petition and the recipient(s). You can do this by providing relevant and easily accessible information.
  
  A petition should begin with a request, some well-researched reasons for making this request, and then some suggestions for what change is needed. You should also add information about the target of the petition. This can be a government, county, state, company, organization, or some other group. Try to target a role rather than an individual. A good idea is to include some sort of goal for the petition, such as a deadline date or a goal in terms of the number of signatures.
  
  The change you are trying to achieve through your petition should be realistic and reasonable enough to attract other people, but you should also be ambitious. Try to think big.
• Clear communication
  It is very important that you are clear, concise, and objective in your description. It shouldn’t take long for someone to understand what change you are trying to achieve through your petition. Avoid adding too much information or anything that is not connected to the main message.
  
  Make sure your text includes a description of your petition, suggests what changes you are trying to make, and explains why these changes are needed.
  
  You should, furthermore, add background information and supporting documentation to put your petition into context. This information is specifically directed toward the signers of your petition. By providing relevant information, people can easily understand and identify with your request, which, ultimately, will make them more likely to participate.
  
  Finally, you should proofread your petition to make sure it doesn’t contain spelling errors. This is necessary for your petition to appear serious and professional.
• Promoting
  How you promote your petition will be especially important for the outcome of your campaign. There are various ways of promoting your petition, and many are described here. The key points are shown below.
  
  
  • - "Tell a Friend" function
  • - Linking to your petition’s URL
  • - Using social bookmarking and social networks
  • - Word of mouth
  • - Advertising online and offline

To be successful, you need to put in some work, but with our promoting tools, your job will become a lot easier. Remember, you don’t have to spend lots of money to create a successful petition.

PETITION FORM

For examples of successful petitions that you can use as a template visit Top 10 Petitions. You can also have a look at our guide to writing a successful petition.