Selling Social Change
Social activism is all about selling new policies, laws, regulations, lifestyle choices, technologies, values, and beliefs. Did I leave anything out? So, if you want to promote social change, any sort of social change, maybe you can imporve your results by thinking like an entrepreneur. That's a theme I'll return to again and again in this blog. For now here is what I have to say:
Why not try to adopt some of the rechniques that businesses use to generate interest in their products and services. You know what I mean! Businesses use all sorts of sales gimmicks and special offers to induce us to buy. Why not adopt some of those strategies to induce people to buy whatever you are "selling."
Can you really offer a rebate on teenage drinking in your community? OK, maybe not. Consider the concept of a rebate - I pay you for a product and get $X back now, or in the mail - and think about how the basic concept could be used to induce teens to stay away from alcohol. There doesn't even need to be money involved. People like money, but they also like self esteem, recognition, and fun. Maybe one of those things could be returned to the "buyer" instead of money. Maybe work of some sort is what the teens are being asked to supply in exchange.
In general, teens could exchange XXhours of work on community service projects for recognition in the local paper, a congratulatorty dance party, or something else young people care about. Part of their effort is repayed to them in some form. While this idea is hardly original, I did arrive at it by thinking about how rebates could be used to reduce teen drinking. (The trick, in case you were wondering, is to keep them pleasantly occupied and surrounded by peers who do not approve of drinking.)
Here are some other concepts that could be used for social change, social services, or activism in general:
1. Sidewalk sales
2. Coupons
3. Contests and sweepstakes
4. Buy one get one free
5. Red tag sales
6. Clearance racks
7. Pairing - "buy the perfume at regular price, get the body spray at 50% off"
8. Direct mail campaigns
9. Lunch specials
And last but not least...
10. Holiday-themed sales
OK, a Christmas sale for Darfur may seem ridiculous, but most new ideas do seem ridiculous until someone shows they can work.
Why not try to adopt some of the rechniques that businesses use to generate interest in their products and services. You know what I mean! Businesses use all sorts of sales gimmicks and special offers to induce us to buy. Why not adopt some of those strategies to induce people to buy whatever you are "selling."
Can you really offer a rebate on teenage drinking in your community? OK, maybe not. Consider the concept of a rebate - I pay you for a product and get $X back now, or in the mail - and think about how the basic concept could be used to induce teens to stay away from alcohol. There doesn't even need to be money involved. People like money, but they also like self esteem, recognition, and fun. Maybe one of those things could be returned to the "buyer" instead of money. Maybe work of some sort is what the teens are being asked to supply in exchange.
In general, teens could exchange XXhours of work on community service projects for recognition in the local paper, a congratulatorty dance party, or something else young people care about. Part of their effort is repayed to them in some form. While this idea is hardly original, I did arrive at it by thinking about how rebates could be used to reduce teen drinking. (The trick, in case you were wondering, is to keep them pleasantly occupied and surrounded by peers who do not approve of drinking.)
Here are some other concepts that could be used for social change, social services, or activism in general:
1. Sidewalk sales
2. Coupons
3. Contests and sweepstakes
4. Buy one get one free
5. Red tag sales
6. Clearance racks
7. Pairing - "buy the perfume at regular price, get the body spray at 50% off"
8. Direct mail campaigns
9. Lunch specials
And last but not least...
10. Holiday-themed sales
OK, a Christmas sale for Darfur may seem ridiculous, but most new ideas do seem ridiculous until someone shows they can work.
posted by Dr Society | 10:19 AM
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