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Go where you can speak with large numbers of people concerned about the issue or open to information about it. Go to public places in areas where your target audience likes to congregate or hang out to start collecting signatures. Spread the word about your petition through your office, school, and other social groups, and hand out signature forms to friends who may also want to get involved. If you want to speak or solicit on private property or closed campuses, including schools, make sure you get the necessary permission first. If there is a local rally or event scheduled regarding your petition issue, ask if you can make a quick speech there to get people to sign. Be polite when soliciting signatures in person. Even if someone believes in your cause, they might not have the time or ability to support you at the moment. It's always better to be polite. People may still contact you or help fund your cause later on. Create an online version of your petition and send it to your family, friends, and acquaintances. Include your call to action and a brief statement about the petition in the body of the email. Then, provide a direct link to your online petition form. Try not to flood people with e-mails. Sending an e-mail every day will not get results. Instead, follow up a first round of petitions with 1-2 reminders over the period when you are petitioning. Create a blog or online forum where you can discuss your petition and answer the questions of potential signers. Media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are great ways to get the word out. In addition, building a blog or making a campaign page on a petition website will allow you to communicate updates to your signers. Use a designated hashtag that you develop specifically for your petition so that it is easy to track the attention your social media posts receive. Even if you're petitioning for a national cause, focusing on local media can help gather support in your area and draw attention from larger media sources.
Talk to people in person. Use e-mail to circulate online petition forms. Create an online presence for your petition.