How do we grow our community?
First, we need to recognize that building a political movement with advertising, such as buying ad space in traditional media, simply won't work. Buying III ads at Stacey McCain's blog isn't going to get it done. Spending for an ad in WSJ or NYT is wasted money.
Politics is a particularly personal matter, and to build alliances you must go grassroots.
The best way to raise awareness is to wear advertising (hats/shirts/lapel pins/patches), which conveys to people that you are willing to spend your money on the Brand, therefore you are serious.
Just as importantly, contact must be personal. Think CQB rather than stand-off sniper engagements. We must be willing to get into the mix and disseminate our message. Whether at the water cooler at work or in a Tea Party rally with hundreds or thousands of people it is a good idea to give people a business card or some other written media (bookmarks/flyers/etc) so they can return to the topic at their convenience. Getting yourself on the podium for 5 minutes while wearing your III cap works, too.
Conversations are also good, but time is an issue and you'll rarely win the support of a Patriot in a few minutes. (You wouldn't be sold in 5 minutes, either) And if you are at a big event, you'll get worn out trying to have the same conversation with 100 people.
Also very effective are efforts online such as going to blogs and simply interacting by leaving thoughtful, reasoned comments (not arguments, derision and snarks) in places where the audience should be filled with our natural allies. Add III to your signature, and your blog/website, or a link to WRSA. This is a slower process, but it will yield results.
I've added 2 polls on the right with suggestions for gear. You can click on more than one. Let me know what you think will be the most effective use of our resources for spreading the word.
My thoughts: I'd like to see Patriots sporting III caps, patches on gear, and slapping III stickers everywhere (especially at Occupy camps and D hangouts). Also, I think printing up III business cards or a bookmark (perhaps with the second amendment printed on it) as handouts at political events and gun shows is an inexpensive and effective way to disseminate the message to the widest possible group.
Think about handing out III business cards (perhaps with links to several of our blogs) at your next gun show and at your gun shops. Think about handing out bookmarks with the same promotional message at Occupy events, Tea Party gigs and your local Libertarian politicians party. It allows you to cover a large number of people in a low-pressure manner.
III to Liberty is too long and too expensive to use as a mass-handout. But, a well-designed booklet with the DoI, Constitution, BoR, and a list of III bullet points and websites might be a good handout in some venues, where a simple business card might be too little.
What are your thoughts? How do we best use our limited resources to reach the largest number of allies?
Here's a version of the button w/o Resist.
Kerodin
III
