There is a lot Michigan Republicans should not be saying:

• How nice Progressives and Democrats are at the coffee stand
• How beautiful Gretchen Whitmer looks in the color blue
• And 1000 other things (none of which deserve to be mentioned)

Let’s identify what Republicans should be talking about right now:

• What they are doing
• What the Democrats are doing
• How what the Democrats are doing that is counter to what real American principles want
• How they are assessing things and working to represent those they serve
• Share a couple good news stories (from district, from coffee hours, from experience in Lansing this week)
• And please - for the love of all that is good - give the world a smile and share some hope

Conservatives have these unique and wonderful minds:

• We make everything complicated.
• We consider that “if I don’t understand it fully I should not address it at all.”
• I communicated it once, why do it more?
• I haven’t accomplished anything so how can I talk about what I have done?
• No one will listen to me anyways.

We need to get out of our heads and out of our little “Lansing bubble” where everyone assumes the rest of the world cares and knows about what they are doing and address these principles in all forms of communication:

• Perception is reality.
• Perception is built by what the consumer sees and hears.
• Once they get exposed to a crumb of a message, they start to build their opinion
• Once they form their opinion and they identify others who confirm their opinion they solidify it as truth
• When there is a vacancy for information consumers will grab what they can find
• Silence, avoidance and hesitation is a message.
• Consumers need to hear something up to 10 times to get the message.
• Not everyone listens to the same medium.

You won’t reach everyone but you will reach a lot of people and those people will turn around and reach others for you. But if you do not communicate, they won’t know and in your absence, they will build a message that will reverberate and hurt you.

If Republicans don’t start upping their game NOW they can expect:

• More opposition in their primaries
• More mockery among constituents who are starting to get more engaged
• More bad press
• Less favor in the community
• Fewer donor dollars
• Etc etc etc

“Amy we know how to do communications,” you may say.

Okay, then do it. Because what is happening right now is not working. It hasn’t worked for the past 3 + years and it’s time for some world changing messaging champions to rise and equip leaders to know:

• Admit you need to communicate.
• Let your team know “it’s priority. Let’s get creative to up the game.”
• Let your consumers know I hear you.
• And start communicating today on all platforms that reach your market.
• Make it a habit and a way of life. If you want to win.

*New Note: and if you don't want to win, get out of the political arena because this is what it will take.

Come on Republicans, we have the best message. We have amazing leaders. We have incredible facts on our side. We have a state and a nation to save.

Your friend,
Amy Hawkins

So you are a conservative and you are frustrated that “no one is hearing what you are saying”? Welcome to the arena! The place where you have to learn how to more effectively communicate because your message matters! 

1. Determine what your message is: make sure it is succinct, clear, summarized. 
2. Frame it in a way that will be understandable to your target audience. I.e. if you want teenagers to grasp it, stop preparing a White Paper for them to read. 
3. Be clear about what the issue is and what you want people to do with it. Don't put it on your audience to muddle through to make sense of the issue: tell it to them. If they have to work at it they won't do it. 
4. Build a list of influencers and then invite them to share the information:
   - Influencer: someone who has a group of people they inform, and who has an audience that listens to them. 
   - Share the information with said influencers but in a way that they can skim and grasp quickly, possibly with links to click on for more information.
5. Share it on all your social media platforms, framing it in different ways to fit to that paradigm. 
6. Build your email list and distribute information through your email list. 
7. Lean on Media: If it’s a timely topic, push it with a Press Release or Briefing with the local Media. Ask them, “are you aware of this issue? Here are some ideas your audience might be intrigued by …” And remember to follow up. 
   1. Understand how to advance your topic with media.
   2. Follow up, follow up, follow up 
8. Repeat. Never understand one post, at one spot is sufficient.
9. Have it on a website, or a google drive link. Make sure it is someplace they can come back to, easily find, and refer to again and again and again.
   
10. When appropriate do a video explaining your idea or why you think it is imperative: not everyone reads content. Some people appreciate audio form, or visual form. If it's an urgent topic be prepared to share it many different ways.  
    
    

Bonus ideas:

• I love sending informative pieces to friends I know will be interested via text message. 
• If it’s urgent and timely pick up the phone and leave a message “Hey you should know about …” 
• Never forget snail mail … 
• Advertise in local newspapers 
• And at public gatherings, ask if an announcement can be made 

Sometimes you think the hardest piece is putting the  message together but it’s equally as hard to make sure it gets out there, is received, understood, and acted upon!

Also, don’t be discouraged when you have to share the information in different ways more than once. The word is it could take up to 10 times of repetition before someone connects. 

But if your message is important - it's important to put the time in to distribute the information far and wide. Email me [email protected] if I can help! 

- Amy 

P.S. KEEP LEARNING

1. Review this article that says you may have to repeat your message up to 10 times! 
2. And review this article for more insights on Psychology and Marketing. It has some definitions of terms and style information you might appreciating knowing. 

If I was running the House or Senate Communications in a state, here is a starting point:

Assign to a staffer:

1. Have a master list of key people: plan to send them a brief run down every week of what is happening - good, bad, the highlights. All emails are bcc’d - it becomes a place that you can give a firm delivery of what is happening. They are encouraged to share the info with others. I.e. you are a form of media and you are delivering what you want out.

2. In your communications (noted in point 1) make it clear WHERE you are publishing info through-out the week: FB, website, etc. Repeat, repeat, repeat, who and where to follow so they know where to look and so they know it will be consistent and something they can count on.

3. Have a list of friendly media contacts and a comprehensive list of media contacts; at least one press release should be going out weekly …

4. Have a list of suggested talking points that go out to the team (legislators every week).

5. Have someone responsible for pitching top leaders on radio interviews weekly.

6. Schedule a weekly LIVE update from some member of the caucus … always smiling, always excited, always talking about what they are doing for Michigan citizens.

7. Publish updates on website, make sure things are up to date, consistently.

8. Identify key grassroots leaders who have massive email lists. Include them on item 1 - and make sure they know you are grateful for them would they share the info. Always have a call to action.

9. Highlight the legislators that ARE communicating.

10. Pretend like we ARE in the majority as far as media goes. YOU call the press conference. YOU run with the story … “This week we want to draw the media’s attention to …” or “This week, we have a list of questions we want the media to ask the democrats …” or “This week we are going to do a round table briefing on the front lawn of the capitol and highlight everything NOT being discussed by Governor Whitmer to us…” or “this week we are going to celebrate law enforcement …” or “this week we are going to do a tour of the state to highlight some of the economic successes going on…”

And one bonus tip:  Once a month there should be Op Eds that are being run and pitched to publish.

I can hear conservatives say “we don’t have the media” … so then build relationships with the media so they WANT TO COME TO YOU … give them intriguing things to cover … build relationships with them.

Never assume they hear what you hear or see what you see or know what you know.

Communicate more - not less and let it be known that you are communicating.
I can also hear legislators saying “we don’t have a big email list” - then make one.

These are some of my initial suggestions. I will work to get more out soon. Please note I am still learning too; but I have been studying communications and working in the political arena for over 20 years. I have pitched info to media, been on media, and written content that has hit thousands of inboxes statewide. I have written Press Releases, Op Eds, and am currently studying how to be more effective with media. I want my side and our causes to win. 

Email me with your top "We want to see Leadership doing ____" suggestions. [email protected]. 

We have a nation to change! 

​- Amy