Communicating with the Florida Legislature

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE BETTER THAN LEGISLATIVE AIDES. LEARN FROM HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF KEVIN CATE COMMUNICATIONS PRESENTS: COMMUNICATING WITH THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE COMBINED EXPERIENCE HOW LAWMAKERS GATHER INFORMATION AND WHAT INFORMATION MAKES THE LARGEST IMPACT. EFFECTIVENESS OF ADVOCACY STRATEGIES I Very Effective I Effective WHERE LAWMAKERS GAUGE PUBLIC OPINION In person visits 81.1% Attending events 89.2% Personalized messages (email, postal, fax, phone) 78.9% Town hall meetings 76.3% District/ state office 73.7% Member/ Senator's blog 36.8% Paper survey/ polls 33.3% Facebook 28.9% Twitter 13.2% Telephone 10.8% Online town hall meetings 10.8% Online survey/ polls I 7.9% YouTube i 2.6% Identical form communication 0% 18.2% 10.8% Individualized postal letters 59.1% Individualized email letters 50% Telephone calls 39.5% Representative contact 38.6% Phone comments 37.2% 38.6% 21.1% 43.2% 21.1% 55.8% 21.1% 54.5% 36.8% 53.5% 50% Visit from a lobbyist 27.3% News endorsement 20.5% Individualized faxes 18.2% i Comments on social media sites 15.9% Form postal letters 9.1% Postcards 7% Form email messages 4.5%I Form faxes 2.3% 68.2% 42.1% 52.3% 47.4% 56.8% 56.8% 50% 62.2% 34.1% 52.6% 69.8% 47.4% 38.6% 42.1% 20.5% MOST CONVINCING MESSAGES Personal Story 79.1% 76.7% % Local Impact *MOST EFFECTIVE VERY EFFECTIVE VERY EFFECTIVE WHERE LEGISLATORS SHAPE PUBLIC OPINION Constituent response Attending events In person town hall meetings District/state office hours 97.2% 2.8% 94.4% 5.6% 81.1% 16.2% 80.6% 13.9% Local Media 71.4% 25.7% Email newsletters 62.2% 27% Member/Senator's official website 59.5%| Paper newsletters Facebook 35.1% 51.4% 48.6% 34.3% 42.9% National Media 31.4% 40% Member/Senator's blog Twitter 28.6% 42.9% 22.2% 33.3% Telephone town hall meeting 16.7%- 36.1% YouTube 11.1% 38.9% Online town hall meetings Franked mass mailing letters 8.3% 47.2% 5.4% 70.3% I VERY EFFECTIVE I EFFECTIVE THE INTERNET HAS... 98.1% 76% 64.7% INCREASED PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF PROCESS MADE IT EASIER FOR PUBLIC INCREASED LEGISLATIVE TO BECOME INVOLVED ACCOUNTABILITY WE POLLED 52 LEGISLATIVE STAFF MEMBERS SECURELY THROUGH THE INTERNET. GRAPHIC PRODUCED WITH THINKTREEDIGITAL.COM I CATECOMM.COM