Your association has no doubt felt the effects this global pandemic is having on our economy. It is imperative that you use all the tools at your disposal to let policymakers know about your story and all the challenges you’re facing right now. Here are some ways to use social media to amplify the voice of your association. 

1. TweetCongress.org. Click the link and you’ll be able to easily select your state on the interactive map and find the Twitter handles of your representatives. According to the founders of the site, “Twitter enables real conversation between lawmakers and voters in real time.” 
2. Always be tagging. Tweeting or posting on Facebook is great, but if you’re not tagging the right handles (e.g.,@insertnamehere), your post is most likely going unnoticed. Visit your representatives’ social pages to find their handles and discover their habits (when they are usually online, what hashtags they are using, etc.). When you make your own post, include the appropriate tags, hashtags, and a relevant image to gain additional attention. Be sure to include your location as well—representatives are more likely to engage with their own constituents. 
3. Extend the conversation. It’s possible you may have more luck by directly responding to a tweet or post from your congress member with a follow-up question that directly pertains to the issues you’re facing. It is harder for them to ignore comments on something they have shared themselves. By posing a question, they can’t get away with a simple “like”—they will need to take the time to address it. 
4. Be persistent. Don’t get discouraged if you didn’t get through to them on your first try. Keep posting, keep sharing, keep trying. The more efforts you make to be heard, the better the chance you will be. As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 
5. Track your efforts. You or someone on your staff should be taking the time to track the number of engagements you’ve had to determine whether your current efforts have been effective. (For example, you can use Facebook Insights or Twitter Analytics to view your engagement rates.) If you’ve seen an uptick, great! You’re doing something right. If your attempts have been less than fruitful, it may be time to reassess your tactics. 

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