Well, a petition is a request for action.
vanzorge wrote:
i hear your feelings about this. do you have any suggestions about what would be a better way to word the petition?
Actually, I've read this petition about “The 3000” several times and I still can't figure out what action they are requesting. Thats what the organizers should open with. "We, the undersigned, request that you {take some action}.” Follow on after that with the reasoning behind that request and the justification for it.
Also, you really shouldn't change the petition after people have signed it. But you could invite the signers of the current petition to sign the new one.
I also wouldn't put it only on the WhiteHouse site. I'd do that in addition to another petition site like iPetitions.
Finally, when I first read this post, I clicked the link on the “Sign the petition HERE” line. Once I was there, I saw no information other than the unfocused rambling letter. When I clicked the "Blog" tab on that site, I saw, “There are no blog entries yet. Check back soon to track the progress of this petition.” Also, out to the right, I see this:
So, I made my first comments here without reading the website from the first link.
Sponsor
(No Sponsor Information)
Links
(No links added)
I'll leave with two more tips.
First, for search optimization, make your link text the title of the petition, or a shorter version with keywords. Like this:
When you have the better petition, You can use different keywords, like "Petition to bring home all of our troops from Iraq," or "Petition to keep a defensible United States military force in Iraq."
Please, sign our Letter to complain about 3000 troops being left behind in Iraq. ( <-- Click the link )
Search engines pick up the keywords in the link text and the "target page" of the link gains rank for the words in link (the underlined blue text). You don't want your petition to rank for "Click here." You want it to rank for keywords related to the petition, so use those keywords in your link.
Second, whatever site you use for your petition, make sure that someone who lands on the petition can get to your website. Some people will find you by way of the petition. There's nothing on your current iPetitions petition to get anyone who goes there back to your website. Either they like it and they sign, or they don't fully understand it and don't sign and get frustrated that there is no other information available. Use all the features of the petition site you choose.
If you use iPetitions, cross post every blog post and news release about this petition to the iPetitions "blog" and use the "Links" section to link to all your other information about the petition. The first link should be your website. After that, other links to related information, for example to a FreeRepublic keyword search, A Twitter #the3000 hashtag search, and maybe a facebook fan page. You could also get some RedStaters to blog about it with a "the3000" tag and have a search for that tag on RedState.com.
There's just no excuse for having that iPetition site completely devoid of any information other than the letter itself (or the new petition).
cc2k - WOW!! clearly, you are very well informed on how to create and promote petitions, and i thank you for your thoughtful and extensive suggestions. ( i do wish that i had had your contact info before we went forward with the webpage and the petition.) i am neither computer nor petition savvy, and i don’t even understand half of what you were talking about! i am just a very concerned american who cares about our soldiers and felt the need to take action on this issue. so, i guess we could definitely define my efforts as being “primitive grassroots”, with “primitive” being the operative word!
having said that, let me ask if you would be interested in working with us to improve our presentation.
Just Like Vietnam -- our politicians have their agenda's and our troops get tossed into the crap pile. Even the VFW and American Legion did not support the veterans of Vietnam. NO Groups existed, NO support was given, most people DID NOT CARE. Kerry and Fonda were rewarded as hero's and the winners of Vietnam.
But unlike Vietnam this time -- we have a significant number of groups, people and Vietnam veterans that care about our troops. We collectively need to do all we can to help where we can to protect our troops from the enemy AND the politicians. Especially the politicians who have historically cared more about their self serving interests and re-elections campaigns.
One of my favorite quotes is from Mark Twain "Always do right this will gratify some and astonish the others".
The 3000 troops being left in Iraq, when their own Generals think it is wrong:
"Senior commanders are said to be livid at the decision, which has already been signed off by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta". link:
The senior commanders are 'RIGHT', because they have their troops on the ground at risk.
What can we do to support the commanders and protect our brave troops given the hostile political environment we are in? Each one of us would also "be livid" if we knew as much as the commanders do.
Loaded and ready for action, just need guidance and target.