In over a decade of hosting and running thousands of online petitions, we've seen all kinds of petitions. Some call for politicians to be kicked out of office; some call for politicians to be voted in. Some want a favorite TV show reinstated. Some want a high school prom date changed; some want video games rules changed. Like most things in life, petitions come in all flavors. You've got one of the most powerful activism tools ever invented at your disposal. Online petitions are special because they allow everyone to have a voice. Petitions differ in another way, too. Some are successful, gathering tens or even hundreds of thousands of signatures, and national media attention. Some disappear almost without a trace, maybe getting a few signatures from the sponsor's immediate circle of friends and family, but never really catching on. It's difficult to say exactly what makes a petition successful. Some of it is just luck. Some of it is timing. Still, it's possible to come up with a few general principles or guidelines for writing a successful petition. In our experience, these ten are particularly important. 1. Write Clearly and Concisely Prospective signers often don't have a lot of time. It's important to state your main goal concisely, and at the start of the petition. Although a good petition can include a certain amount of background and context, the first paragraph should make it absolutely clear what the petition hopes to achieve. 2. Spell Check and Proofread This may sound obvious, but it's amazing how many petition hosts don't even bother to spell-check their petitions. If you want people to take your petition seriously, then you need to put in the time to make sure it sounds serious and professional. 3. Use the Power of Email Internet petitions are unique- and different from online petitions- because they can reach a global audience of millions with only a minimal investment in terms of time and money. Email, in particular, is cheap, easy, yet highly effective. Don't spam, but do send your petition link to any friends or family that might be interested- and ask them to send it on to their friends. This is called "viral marketing" and it is the most effective kind of marketing out there. 4. Foster an Online Community Prospective signers like to know what others have said or thought about your petition. Use discussion groups, blogs, links, and other online tools to create a community around your petition- a group of committed and interested people who can engage in intelligent dialogue, and educate each other about the issues at stake. An online community is also a great way to keep the petition going, and even to transform it into a national movement, once it has been sent to the recipient. 5. Publicize your Petition Online There are lots of ways for signers to find your petition, but publicity always helps. Advertising on Google, Overture, and other search engines is one obvious step. But if you don't have the money to advertise, you can also publicize your petition by posting links to it on relevant online discussion groups and blogs. You can also try link-exchanges with sites that cover issues similar to those in your petition.