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1. Party Affiliation: Crafting Messages Aligned with Values

Segmenting lawmakers based on their political party is the most basic form of segmentation for lawmaker engagement. But just because it is basic doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. For example, if your organization advocates for expanded access to naloxone, your message for Democratic lawmakers could center on public health and social justice.

“As advocates for public health and social justice, we believe that every individual, regardless of their socioeconomic status or circumstances, deserves access to life-saving medication.”

When crafting the message for Republican lawmakers, the focus could shift to fiscal responsibility, safety, and relieving law enforcement.

“As advocates for fiscal responsibility and community safety, we believe expanding access to Naloxone not only saves lives but also reduces the burden on our healthcare system and law enforcement agencies.”

2. Chamber: Tailoring Messages to Congressional Dynamics

Segmenting lawmakers by chamber requires a nuanced approach that considers each legislative body's priorities. When targeting members of the House, messages are typically more localized and tailored to reflect the specific needs and priorities of individual districts. To continue with the Naloxone example, messaging might emphasize statistics on opioid-related overdoses and fatalities within the recipient's congressional district.

"Recent data shows that opioid-related fatalities in our district are increasing. By supporting expanded Naloxone access, we can provide our community with the necessary tools to prevent these tragic losses."

In contrast, when reaching out to Senate members, advocacy groups often adopt a broader approach that emphasizes the national impact of policy proposals and the importance of bipartisan cooperation.

"Addressing the opioid crisis requires strong leadership and bipartisan support at the national level. Your support for Naloxone access can demonstrate a commitment to public health and safety, setting a precedent for effective national response to health emergencies."

3. Committee Membership: Tailoring Messages to Expertise

For a slightly more advanced approach, try segmenting lawmakers based on their committee membership. Committee memberships offer valuable insight into lawmakers' areas of expertise, interests, and influence. For example, when engaging with lawmakers serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, an advocacy group advocating for infrastructure investment could assume the committee members are well-versed in the topic and don’t need as much education; therefore, your messaging should focus on details. Here is an example a green energy group could use to target members of the committee.

"With your expertise in transportation and infrastructure, you recognize the critical role of sustainable transport solutions. Supporting federal incentives for electric vehicle infrastructure is a key step towards reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing national energy independence."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee, the message might highlight the economic benefits of infrastructure projects and the potential for job creation. These lawmakers may be less versed in the subject, and you may need to really connect the issue with their interests. Continuing with the green energy example from above, this message may resonate better with members of the Senate Finance Committee:

"Renewable energy initiatives, such as solar and wind tax credits, not only propel us towards energy sustainability but also offer significant economic benefits through job creation and reduced energy costs. Your leadership in supporting these measures can spearhead our nation's shift to a greener economy."

4. Geographic Representation: Addressing Local Concerns

Geographic segmentation allows advocacy groups to tailor messages to address the unique needs and priorities of a lawmakers' region. By highlighting local impact and relevance, messages can resonate more deeply with lawmakers and their constituents. When engaging with lawmakers representing coastal regions, an advocacy group advocating for climate change measures might emphasize the urgency of addressing sea-level rise and investing in coastal infrastructure protection.

"In your constituency, the threat of sea-level rise poses significant risks to both the economy and the livelihoods of residents. We urge you to support legislation that prioritizes funding for coastal infrastructure protection. Such initiatives are crucial not only for safeguarding our communities but also for ensuring the sustainability of local industries that depend on coastal access."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers from agricultural regions, the message could focus on the impact of extreme weather events on crop yields and the need for sustainable farming practices.

"As a representative of one of our nation's vital agricultural regions, you understand the devastating impact of unpredictable weather patterns on crop yields. We encourage your support for policies that promote sustainable farming practices and advanced agricultural technology. These measures are essential to enhancing the resilience of our food systems against the increasing frequency of extreme weather events."

5. Voting Record and Past Support: Building on Allies and Potential Supporters

Segmenting lawmakers based on their voting records helps organizations recognize allies and address their concerns. When engaging with lawmakers who have previously supported criminal justice reform initiatives, an advocacy group might highlight successful reforms implemented in other jurisdictions and emphasize the potential for reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation.

"Thank you for your previous support of criminal justice reform initiatives. Your commitment has inspired positive change, as seen in the successful implementation of reform policies in [Example State], which have significantly reduced recidivism and enhanced community reintegration. We hope to count on your continued support as we seek to expand these proven solutions."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers who have expressed skepticism or opposition, the message could focus on addressing misconceptions and highlighting the societal benefits of reform efforts.

"We understand your concerns regarding criminal justice reform and appreciate your dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities. We'd like to present evidence from recent studies showing that reform measures enhance public safety and reduce government spending on incarceration. Let's explore how these initiatives can align with your goals for a safer and more efficient justice system."

6. Demographic Factors: Personalizing Messages to Reflect Diversity

Demographic segmentation enables advocacy groups to tailor messages to reflect lawmakers' diverse backgrounds and experiences. By understanding lawmakers' age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background, messages can resonate more deeply and authentically. For example, when engaging with younger lawmakers, an advocacy group advocating for affordable housing initiatives might highlight the impact of housing affordability on millennials and Generation Z — emphasizing the challenges of student debt and stagnant wages.

"As a younger member of the legislature, you've witnessed firsthand the challenges our generation faces with housing affordability, compounded by student debt and stagnant wages. We urge your support for policies that enhance housing affordability, which are crucial for enabling younger constituents to achieve financial stability and community engagement."

Conversely, when targeting older lawmakers, the message might focus on addressing the needs of seniors on fixed incomes and promoting aging-in-place initiatives to support independent living.

"With a growing number of seniors in our community, there is an urgent need to support aging-in-place initiatives. These programs help our seniors maintain independence and dignity, reducing healthcare costs and improving their quality of life. We value your leadership in advocating for measures to ensure our elders can safely and comfortably remain in their homes."

7. Communication Preferences: Adapting Outreach Strategies

Finally, advocacy groups should consider lawmakers' preferred communication channels and styles when crafting messages. By adapting campaign types to align with lawmakers' preferences, messages can increase engagement and responsiveness. For instance, when contacting lawmakers who prefer direct meetings or phone calls, an advocacy group might prioritize personalized outreach and follow-up to foster meaningful dialogue.

"We appreciate your preference for direct communication and would be honored to discuss our initiatives in person. Our team is ready to meet at your convenience to provide detailed insights and discuss how we can collaborate effectively to achieve meaningful outcomes."

Conversely, when engaging with lawmakers who prefer email or social media, the message could leverage multimedia content and interactive platforms to raise awareness and generate support.

"We invite you to watch a short video that outlines the impacts and benefits of our proposed initiatives. Please share your thoughts and be sure to tag us on X.”


How to Create Personalized Messages at Scale

The seven segmentation strategies outlined above can be very powerful, but more segmentation also means more work. However, leveraging AI tools can streamline this process significantly. Here's how advocacy groups can implement AI tools to scale their message segmentation and personalization.
  1. Initial Draft Creation: Begin by crafting a well-thought-out message for each segment. This message should resonate with the segment's unique characteristics and needs. If you’re short on inspiration, you can always use a generative AI tool to start your first draft.
  2. Input into AI Tool (Like Quorum): Input this message into an AI-powered tool designed for text variation and personalization.
  3. Generate Variations: The AI tool will use the initial message as a template to generate multiple variations. These variations can tweak the tone, style, or key points to better align with specific lawmakers or groups.
  4. Human Review: Humans must review every AI-generated message to ensure it maintains the original intent and adheres to the organization's standards. This step also helps in personalizing details more finely.
  5. Integration and Deployment: Integrate these messages into your grassroots platform—or better yet, create them in your grassroots platform to begin with. Before sending a message, real human advocates should review and approve it.
  6. Feedback Loop: Use lawmaker responses and engagement metrics to continuously refine and improve your message drafts. By using AI tools in conjunction with human oversight, advocacy groups can produce a high volume of personalized, compelling messages that would otherwise require extensive time and resources to create manually.
[post_title] => Scaling Advocacy with AI: 7 Segmentation Tactics to Engage Lawmakers (With Examples)  [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => lawmaker-segmentation [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-05-13 18:16:37 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-05-13 18:16:37 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=13220 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [queried_object_id] => 13220 [request] => SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.post_name = 'lawmaker-segmentation' AND wp_posts.post_type = 'resources' ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC [posts] => Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 13220 [post_author] => 43 [post_date] => 2024-05-13 18:16:37 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-05-13 18:16:37 [post_content] => Effective advocacy lies not just in mobilizing advocates and building relationships—but also in speaking the languages of diverse groups of lawmakers. Tailored messages that resonate with the unique perspectives, priorities, and preferences of individual legislators can move people and influence policy. In this guide, we'll delve into ways advocacy groups can segment lawmakers, diversify messaging, and create dozens of message variations at scale—all to drive more impact at every level of government. To start, here are seven ways to segment lawmakers so you can craft more personalized messaging.

1. Party Affiliation: Crafting Messages Aligned with Values

Segmenting lawmakers based on their political party is the most basic form of segmentation for lawmaker engagement. But just because it is basic doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. For example, if your organization advocates for expanded access to naloxone, your message for Democratic lawmakers could center on public health and social justice.

“As advocates for public health and social justice, we believe that every individual, regardless of their socioeconomic status or circumstances, deserves access to life-saving medication.”

When crafting the message for Republican lawmakers, the focus could shift to fiscal responsibility, safety, and relieving law enforcement.

“As advocates for fiscal responsibility and community safety, we believe expanding access to Naloxone not only saves lives but also reduces the burden on our healthcare system and law enforcement agencies.”

2. Chamber: Tailoring Messages to Congressional Dynamics

Segmenting lawmakers by chamber requires a nuanced approach that considers each legislative body's priorities. When targeting members of the House, messages are typically more localized and tailored to reflect the specific needs and priorities of individual districts. To continue with the Naloxone example, messaging might emphasize statistics on opioid-related overdoses and fatalities within the recipient's congressional district.

"Recent data shows that opioid-related fatalities in our district are increasing. By supporting expanded Naloxone access, we can provide our community with the necessary tools to prevent these tragic losses."

In contrast, when reaching out to Senate members, advocacy groups often adopt a broader approach that emphasizes the national impact of policy proposals and the importance of bipartisan cooperation.

"Addressing the opioid crisis requires strong leadership and bipartisan support at the national level. Your support for Naloxone access can demonstrate a commitment to public health and safety, setting a precedent for effective national response to health emergencies."

3. Committee Membership: Tailoring Messages to Expertise

For a slightly more advanced approach, try segmenting lawmakers based on their committee membership. Committee memberships offer valuable insight into lawmakers' areas of expertise, interests, and influence. For example, when engaging with lawmakers serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, an advocacy group advocating for infrastructure investment could assume the committee members are well-versed in the topic and don’t need as much education; therefore, your messaging should focus on details. Here is an example a green energy group could use to target members of the committee.

"With your expertise in transportation and infrastructure, you recognize the critical role of sustainable transport solutions. Supporting federal incentives for electric vehicle infrastructure is a key step towards reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing national energy independence."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee, the message might highlight the economic benefits of infrastructure projects and the potential for job creation. These lawmakers may be less versed in the subject, and you may need to really connect the issue with their interests. Continuing with the green energy example from above, this message may resonate better with members of the Senate Finance Committee:

"Renewable energy initiatives, such as solar and wind tax credits, not only propel us towards energy sustainability but also offer significant economic benefits through job creation and reduced energy costs. Your leadership in supporting these measures can spearhead our nation's shift to a greener economy."

4. Geographic Representation: Addressing Local Concerns

Geographic segmentation allows advocacy groups to tailor messages to address the unique needs and priorities of a lawmakers' region. By highlighting local impact and relevance, messages can resonate more deeply with lawmakers and their constituents. When engaging with lawmakers representing coastal regions, an advocacy group advocating for climate change measures might emphasize the urgency of addressing sea-level rise and investing in coastal infrastructure protection.

"In your constituency, the threat of sea-level rise poses significant risks to both the economy and the livelihoods of residents. We urge you to support legislation that prioritizes funding for coastal infrastructure protection. Such initiatives are crucial not only for safeguarding our communities but also for ensuring the sustainability of local industries that depend on coastal access."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers from agricultural regions, the message could focus on the impact of extreme weather events on crop yields and the need for sustainable farming practices.

"As a representative of one of our nation's vital agricultural regions, you understand the devastating impact of unpredictable weather patterns on crop yields. We encourage your support for policies that promote sustainable farming practices and advanced agricultural technology. These measures are essential to enhancing the resilience of our food systems against the increasing frequency of extreme weather events."

5. Voting Record and Past Support: Building on Allies and Potential Supporters

Segmenting lawmakers based on their voting records helps organizations recognize allies and address their concerns. When engaging with lawmakers who have previously supported criminal justice reform initiatives, an advocacy group might highlight successful reforms implemented in other jurisdictions and emphasize the potential for reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation.

"Thank you for your previous support of criminal justice reform initiatives. Your commitment has inspired positive change, as seen in the successful implementation of reform policies in [Example State], which have significantly reduced recidivism and enhanced community reintegration. We hope to count on your continued support as we seek to expand these proven solutions."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers who have expressed skepticism or opposition, the message could focus on addressing misconceptions and highlighting the societal benefits of reform efforts.

"We understand your concerns regarding criminal justice reform and appreciate your dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities. We'd like to present evidence from recent studies showing that reform measures enhance public safety and reduce government spending on incarceration. Let's explore how these initiatives can align with your goals for a safer and more efficient justice system."

6. Demographic Factors: Personalizing Messages to Reflect Diversity

Demographic segmentation enables advocacy groups to tailor messages to reflect lawmakers' diverse backgrounds and experiences. By understanding lawmakers' age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background, messages can resonate more deeply and authentically. For example, when engaging with younger lawmakers, an advocacy group advocating for affordable housing initiatives might highlight the impact of housing affordability on millennials and Generation Z — emphasizing the challenges of student debt and stagnant wages.

"As a younger member of the legislature, you've witnessed firsthand the challenges our generation faces with housing affordability, compounded by student debt and stagnant wages. We urge your support for policies that enhance housing affordability, which are crucial for enabling younger constituents to achieve financial stability and community engagement."

Conversely, when targeting older lawmakers, the message might focus on addressing the needs of seniors on fixed incomes and promoting aging-in-place initiatives to support independent living.

"With a growing number of seniors in our community, there is an urgent need to support aging-in-place initiatives. These programs help our seniors maintain independence and dignity, reducing healthcare costs and improving their quality of life. We value your leadership in advocating for measures to ensure our elders can safely and comfortably remain in their homes."

7. Communication Preferences: Adapting Outreach Strategies

Finally, advocacy groups should consider lawmakers' preferred communication channels and styles when crafting messages. By adapting campaign types to align with lawmakers' preferences, messages can increase engagement and responsiveness. For instance, when contacting lawmakers who prefer direct meetings or phone calls, an advocacy group might prioritize personalized outreach and follow-up to foster meaningful dialogue.

"We appreciate your preference for direct communication and would be honored to discuss our initiatives in person. Our team is ready to meet at your convenience to provide detailed insights and discuss how we can collaborate effectively to achieve meaningful outcomes."

Conversely, when engaging with lawmakers who prefer email or social media, the message could leverage multimedia content and interactive platforms to raise awareness and generate support.

"We invite you to watch a short video that outlines the impacts and benefits of our proposed initiatives. Please share your thoughts and be sure to tag us on X.”


How to Create Personalized Messages at Scale

The seven segmentation strategies outlined above can be very powerful, but more segmentation also means more work. However, leveraging AI tools can streamline this process significantly. Here's how advocacy groups can implement AI tools to scale their message segmentation and personalization.
  1. Initial Draft Creation: Begin by crafting a well-thought-out message for each segment. This message should resonate with the segment's unique characteristics and needs. If you’re short on inspiration, you can always use a generative AI tool to start your first draft.
  2. Input into AI Tool (Like Quorum): Input this message into an AI-powered tool designed for text variation and personalization.
  3. Generate Variations: The AI tool will use the initial message as a template to generate multiple variations. These variations can tweak the tone, style, or key points to better align with specific lawmakers or groups.
  4. Human Review: Humans must review every AI-generated message to ensure it maintains the original intent and adheres to the organization's standards. This step also helps in personalizing details more finely.
  5. Integration and Deployment: Integrate these messages into your grassroots platform—or better yet, create them in your grassroots platform to begin with. Before sending a message, real human advocates should review and approve it.
  6. Feedback Loop: Use lawmaker responses and engagement metrics to continuously refine and improve your message drafts. By using AI tools in conjunction with human oversight, advocacy groups can produce a high volume of personalized, compelling messages that would otherwise require extensive time and resources to create manually.
[post_title] => Scaling Advocacy with AI: 7 Segmentation Tactics to Engage Lawmakers (With Examples)  [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => lawmaker-segmentation [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-05-13 18:16:37 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-05-13 18:16:37 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=13220 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 1 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 13220 [post_author] => 43 [post_date] => 2024-05-13 18:16:37 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-05-13 18:16:37 [post_content] => Effective advocacy lies not just in mobilizing advocates and building relationships—but also in speaking the languages of diverse groups of lawmakers. Tailored messages that resonate with the unique perspectives, priorities, and preferences of individual legislators can move people and influence policy. In this guide, we'll delve into ways advocacy groups can segment lawmakers, diversify messaging, and create dozens of message variations at scale—all to drive more impact at every level of government. To start, here are seven ways to segment lawmakers so you can craft more personalized messaging.

1. Party Affiliation: Crafting Messages Aligned with Values

Segmenting lawmakers based on their political party is the most basic form of segmentation for lawmaker engagement. But just because it is basic doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. For example, if your organization advocates for expanded access to naloxone, your message for Democratic lawmakers could center on public health and social justice.

“As advocates for public health and social justice, we believe that every individual, regardless of their socioeconomic status or circumstances, deserves access to life-saving medication.”

When crafting the message for Republican lawmakers, the focus could shift to fiscal responsibility, safety, and relieving law enforcement.

“As advocates for fiscal responsibility and community safety, we believe expanding access to Naloxone not only saves lives but also reduces the burden on our healthcare system and law enforcement agencies.”

2. Chamber: Tailoring Messages to Congressional Dynamics

Segmenting lawmakers by chamber requires a nuanced approach that considers each legislative body's priorities. When targeting members of the House, messages are typically more localized and tailored to reflect the specific needs and priorities of individual districts. To continue with the Naloxone example, messaging might emphasize statistics on opioid-related overdoses and fatalities within the recipient's congressional district.

"Recent data shows that opioid-related fatalities in our district are increasing. By supporting expanded Naloxone access, we can provide our community with the necessary tools to prevent these tragic losses."

In contrast, when reaching out to Senate members, advocacy groups often adopt a broader approach that emphasizes the national impact of policy proposals and the importance of bipartisan cooperation.

"Addressing the opioid crisis requires strong leadership and bipartisan support at the national level. Your support for Naloxone access can demonstrate a commitment to public health and safety, setting a precedent for effective national response to health emergencies."

3. Committee Membership: Tailoring Messages to Expertise

For a slightly more advanced approach, try segmenting lawmakers based on their committee membership. Committee memberships offer valuable insight into lawmakers' areas of expertise, interests, and influence. For example, when engaging with lawmakers serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, an advocacy group advocating for infrastructure investment could assume the committee members are well-versed in the topic and don’t need as much education; therefore, your messaging should focus on details. Here is an example a green energy group could use to target members of the committee.

"With your expertise in transportation and infrastructure, you recognize the critical role of sustainable transport solutions. Supporting federal incentives for electric vehicle infrastructure is a key step towards reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing national energy independence."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee, the message might highlight the economic benefits of infrastructure projects and the potential for job creation. These lawmakers may be less versed in the subject, and you may need to really connect the issue with their interests. Continuing with the green energy example from above, this message may resonate better with members of the Senate Finance Committee:

"Renewable energy initiatives, such as solar and wind tax credits, not only propel us towards energy sustainability but also offer significant economic benefits through job creation and reduced energy costs. Your leadership in supporting these measures can spearhead our nation's shift to a greener economy."

4. Geographic Representation: Addressing Local Concerns

Geographic segmentation allows advocacy groups to tailor messages to address the unique needs and priorities of a lawmakers' region. By highlighting local impact and relevance, messages can resonate more deeply with lawmakers and their constituents. When engaging with lawmakers representing coastal regions, an advocacy group advocating for climate change measures might emphasize the urgency of addressing sea-level rise and investing in coastal infrastructure protection.

"In your constituency, the threat of sea-level rise poses significant risks to both the economy and the livelihoods of residents. We urge you to support legislation that prioritizes funding for coastal infrastructure protection. Such initiatives are crucial not only for safeguarding our communities but also for ensuring the sustainability of local industries that depend on coastal access."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers from agricultural regions, the message could focus on the impact of extreme weather events on crop yields and the need for sustainable farming practices.

"As a representative of one of our nation's vital agricultural regions, you understand the devastating impact of unpredictable weather patterns on crop yields. We encourage your support for policies that promote sustainable farming practices and advanced agricultural technology. These measures are essential to enhancing the resilience of our food systems against the increasing frequency of extreme weather events."

5. Voting Record and Past Support: Building on Allies and Potential Supporters

Segmenting lawmakers based on their voting records helps organizations recognize allies and address their concerns. When engaging with lawmakers who have previously supported criminal justice reform initiatives, an advocacy group might highlight successful reforms implemented in other jurisdictions and emphasize the potential for reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation.

"Thank you for your previous support of criminal justice reform initiatives. Your commitment has inspired positive change, as seen in the successful implementation of reform policies in [Example State], which have significantly reduced recidivism and enhanced community reintegration. We hope to count on your continued support as we seek to expand these proven solutions."

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers who have expressed skepticism or opposition, the message could focus on addressing misconceptions and highlighting the societal benefits of reform efforts.

"We understand your concerns regarding criminal justice reform and appreciate your dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities. We'd like to present evidence from recent studies showing that reform measures enhance public safety and reduce government spending on incarceration. Let's explore how these initiatives can align with your goals for a safer and more efficient justice system."

6. Demographic Factors: Personalizing Messages to Reflect Diversity

Demographic segmentation enables advocacy groups to tailor messages to reflect lawmakers' diverse backgrounds and experiences. By understanding lawmakers' age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background, messages can resonate more deeply and authentically. For example, when engaging with younger lawmakers, an advocacy group advocating for affordable housing initiatives might highlight the impact of housing affordability on millennials and Generation Z — emphasizing the challenges of student debt and stagnant wages.

"As a younger member of the legislature, you've witnessed firsthand the challenges our generation faces with housing affordability, compounded by student debt and stagnant wages. We urge your support for policies that enhance housing affordability, which are crucial for enabling younger constituents to achieve financial stability and community engagement."

Conversely, when targeting older lawmakers, the message might focus on addressing the needs of seniors on fixed incomes and promoting aging-in-place initiatives to support independent living.

"With a growing number of seniors in our community, there is an urgent need to support aging-in-place initiatives. These programs help our seniors maintain independence and dignity, reducing healthcare costs and improving their quality of life. We value your leadership in advocating for measures to ensure our elders can safely and comfortably remain in their homes."

7. Communication Preferences: Adapting Outreach Strategies

Finally, advocacy groups should consider lawmakers' preferred communication channels and styles when crafting messages. By adapting campaign types to align with lawmakers' preferences, messages can increase engagement and responsiveness. For instance, when contacting lawmakers who prefer direct meetings or phone calls, an advocacy group might prioritize personalized outreach and follow-up to foster meaningful dialogue.

"We appreciate your preference for direct communication and would be honored to discuss our initiatives in person. Our team is ready to meet at your convenience to provide detailed insights and discuss how we can collaborate effectively to achieve meaningful outcomes."

Conversely, when engaging with lawmakers who prefer email or social media, the message could leverage multimedia content and interactive platforms to raise awareness and generate support.

"We invite you to watch a short video that outlines the impacts and benefits of our proposed initiatives. Please share your thoughts and be sure to tag us on X.”


How to Create Personalized Messages at Scale

The seven segmentation strategies outlined above can be very powerful, but more segmentation also means more work. However, leveraging AI tools can streamline this process significantly. Here's how advocacy groups can implement AI tools to scale their message segmentation and personalization.
  1. Initial Draft Creation: Begin by crafting a well-thought-out message for each segment. This message should resonate with the segment's unique characteristics and needs. If you’re short on inspiration, you can always use a generative AI tool to start your first draft.
  2. Input into AI Tool (Like Quorum): Input this message into an AI-powered tool designed for text variation and personalization.
  3. Generate Variations: The AI tool will use the initial message as a template to generate multiple variations. These variations can tweak the tone, style, or key points to better align with specific lawmakers or groups.
  4. Human Review: Humans must review every AI-generated message to ensure it maintains the original intent and adheres to the organization's standards. This step also helps in personalizing details more finely.
  5. Integration and Deployment: Integrate these messages into your grassroots platform—or better yet, create them in your grassroots platform to begin with. Before sending a message, real human advocates should review and approve it.
  6. Feedback Loop: Use lawmaker responses and engagement metrics to continuously refine and improve your message drafts. By using AI tools in conjunction with human oversight, advocacy groups can produce a high volume of personalized, compelling messages that would otherwise require extensive time and resources to create manually.
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Scaling Advocacy with AI: 7 Segmentation Tactics to Engage Lawmakers (With Examples) 

Scaling Advocacy with AI: 7 Segmentation Tactics to Engage Lawmakers (With Examples) 

Effective advocacy lies not just in mobilizing advocates and building relationships—but also in speaking the languages of diverse groups of lawmakers. Tailored messages that resonate with the unique perspectives, priorities, and preferences of individual legislators can move people and influence policy.

In this guide, we’ll delve into ways advocacy groups can segment lawmakers, diversify messaging, and create dozens of message variations at scale—all to drive more impact at every level of government.

To start, here are seven ways to segment lawmakers so you can craft more personalized messaging.

1. Party Affiliation: Crafting Messages Aligned with Values

Segmenting lawmakers based on their political party is the most basic form of segmentation for lawmaker engagement. But just because it is basic doesn’t mean it isn’t effective.

For example, if your organization advocates for expanded access to naloxone, your message for Democratic lawmakers could center on public health and social justice.

“As advocates for public health and social justice, we believe that every individual, regardless of their socioeconomic status or circumstances, deserves access to life-saving medication.”

When crafting the message for Republican lawmakers, the focus could shift to fiscal responsibility, safety, and relieving law enforcement.

“As advocates for fiscal responsibility and community safety, we believe expanding access to Naloxone not only saves lives but also reduces the burden on our healthcare system and law enforcement agencies.”

2. Chamber: Tailoring Messages to Congressional Dynamics

Segmenting lawmakers by chamber requires a nuanced approach that considers each legislative body’s priorities.

When targeting members of the House, messages are typically more localized and tailored to reflect the specific needs and priorities of individual districts. To continue with the Naloxone example, messaging might emphasize statistics on opioid-related overdoses and fatalities within the recipient’s congressional district.

“Recent data shows that opioid-related fatalities in our district are increasing. By supporting expanded Naloxone access, we can provide our community with the necessary tools to prevent these tragic losses.”

In contrast, when reaching out to Senate members, advocacy groups often adopt a broader approach that emphasizes the national impact of policy proposals and the importance of bipartisan cooperation.

“Addressing the opioid crisis requires strong leadership and bipartisan support at the national level. Your support for Naloxone access can demonstrate a commitment to public health and safety, setting a precedent for effective national response to health emergencies.”

3. Committee Membership: Tailoring Messages to Expertise

For a slightly more advanced approach, try segmenting lawmakers based on their committee membership. Committee memberships offer valuable insight into lawmakers’ areas of expertise, interests, and influence.

For example, when engaging with lawmakers serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, an advocacy group advocating for infrastructure investment could assume the committee members are well-versed in the topic and don’t need as much education; therefore, your messaging should focus on details. Here is an example a green energy group could use to target members of the committee.

“With your expertise in transportation and infrastructure, you recognize the critical role of sustainable transport solutions. Supporting federal incentives for electric vehicle infrastructure is a key step towards reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing national energy independence.”

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee, the message might highlight the economic benefits of infrastructure projects and the potential for job creation. These lawmakers may be less versed in the subject, and you may need to really connect the issue with their interests. Continuing with the green energy example from above, this message may resonate better with members of the Senate Finance Committee:

“Renewable energy initiatives, such as solar and wind tax credits, not only propel us towards energy sustainability but also offer significant economic benefits through job creation and reduced energy costs. Your leadership in supporting these measures can spearhead our nation’s shift to a greener economy.”

4. Geographic Representation: Addressing Local Concerns

Geographic segmentation allows advocacy groups to tailor messages to address the unique needs and priorities of a lawmakers’ region. By highlighting local impact and relevance, messages can resonate more deeply with lawmakers and their constituents.

When engaging with lawmakers representing coastal regions, an advocacy group advocating for climate change measures might emphasize the urgency of addressing sea-level rise and investing in coastal infrastructure protection.

“In your constituency, the threat of sea-level rise poses significant risks to both the economy and the livelihoods of residents. We urge you to support legislation that prioritizes funding for coastal infrastructure protection. Such initiatives are crucial not only for safeguarding our communities but also for ensuring the sustainability of local industries that depend on coastal access.”

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers from agricultural regions, the message could focus on the impact of extreme weather events on crop yields and the need for sustainable farming practices.

“As a representative of one of our nation’s vital agricultural regions, you understand the devastating impact of unpredictable weather patterns on crop yields. We encourage your support for policies that promote sustainable farming practices and advanced agricultural technology. These measures are essential to enhancing the resilience of our food systems against the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.”

5. Voting Record and Past Support: Building on Allies and Potential Supporters

Segmenting lawmakers based on their voting records helps organizations recognize allies and address their concerns.

When engaging with lawmakers who have previously supported criminal justice reform initiatives, an advocacy group might highlight successful reforms implemented in other jurisdictions and emphasize the potential for reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation.

“Thank you for your previous support of criminal justice reform initiatives. Your commitment has inspired positive change, as seen in the successful implementation of reform policies in [Example State], which have significantly reduced recidivism and enhanced community reintegration. We hope to count on your continued support as we seek to expand these proven solutions.”

Conversely, when targeting lawmakers who have expressed skepticism or opposition, the message could focus on addressing misconceptions and highlighting the societal benefits of reform efforts.

“We understand your concerns regarding criminal justice reform and appreciate your dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities. We’d like to present evidence from recent studies showing that reform measures enhance public safety and reduce government spending on incarceration. Let’s explore how these initiatives can align with your goals for a safer and more efficient justice system.”

6. Demographic Factors: Personalizing Messages to Reflect Diversity

Demographic segmentation enables advocacy groups to tailor messages to reflect lawmakers’ diverse backgrounds and experiences. By understanding lawmakers’ age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background, messages can resonate more deeply and authentically.

For example, when engaging with younger lawmakers, an advocacy group advocating for affordable housing initiatives might highlight the impact of housing affordability on millennials and Generation Z — emphasizing the challenges of student debt and stagnant wages.

“As a younger member of the legislature, you’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges our generation faces with housing affordability, compounded by student debt and stagnant wages. We urge your support for policies that enhance housing affordability, which are crucial for enabling younger constituents to achieve financial stability and community engagement.”

Conversely, when targeting older lawmakers, the message might focus on addressing the needs of seniors on fixed incomes and promoting aging-in-place initiatives to support independent living.

“With a growing number of seniors in our community, there is an urgent need to support aging-in-place initiatives. These programs help our seniors maintain independence and dignity, reducing healthcare costs and improving their quality of life. We value your leadership in advocating for measures to ensure our elders can safely and comfortably remain in their homes.”

7. Communication Preferences: Adapting Outreach Strategies

Finally, advocacy groups should consider lawmakers’ preferred communication channels and styles when crafting messages. By adapting campaign types to align with lawmakers’ preferences, messages can increase engagement and responsiveness.

For instance, when contacting lawmakers who prefer direct meetings or phone calls, an advocacy group might prioritize personalized outreach and follow-up to foster meaningful dialogue.

“We appreciate your preference for direct communication and would be honored to discuss our initiatives in person. Our team is ready to meet at your convenience to provide detailed insights and discuss how we can collaborate effectively to achieve meaningful outcomes.”

Conversely, when engaging with lawmakers who prefer email or social media, the message could leverage multimedia content and interactive platforms to raise awareness and generate support.

“We invite you to watch a short video that outlines the impacts and benefits of our proposed initiatives. Please share your thoughts and be sure to tag us on X.”


How to Create Personalized Messages at Scale

The seven segmentation strategies outlined above can be very powerful, but more segmentation also means more work. However, leveraging AI tools can streamline this process significantly. Here’s how advocacy groups can implement AI tools to scale their message segmentation and personalization.

  1. Initial Draft Creation: Begin by crafting a well-thought-out message for each segment. This message should resonate with the segment’s unique characteristics and needs. If you’re short on inspiration, you can always use a generative AI tool to start your first draft.
  2. Input into AI Tool (Like Quorum): Input this message into an AI-powered tool designed for text variation and personalization.
  3. Generate Variations: The AI tool will use the initial message as a template to generate multiple variations. These variations can tweak the tone, style, or key points to better align with specific lawmakers or groups.
  4. Human Review: Humans must review every AI-generated message to ensure it maintains the original intent and adheres to the organization’s standards. This step also helps in personalizing details more finely.
  5. Integration and Deployment: Integrate these messages into your grassroots platform—or better yet, create them in your grassroots platform to begin with. Before sending a message, real human advocates should review and approve it.
  6. Feedback Loop: Use lawmaker responses and engagement metrics to continuously refine and improve your message drafts.
    By using AI tools in conjunction with human oversight, advocacy groups can produce a high volume of personalized, compelling messages that would otherwise require extensive time and resources to create manually.