Is a Phone Call Worth 1,000 Emails?

Today I received an email from 1 Sky—a great organization that is working to support clean energy and curtail climate change—asking for a phone call to be made in support of clean energy legislation. That’s no big news—I get a few dozen emails every day asking for some sort of action to be taken (or donation to be made) and do what I can when I support the action.

However, this email in particular gave me pause—not because I didn’t agree (I fully support clean energy legislation), but because of the subject line. It read, “One phone call = 1,000 emails.” Could this be true? Could a phone call, like a picture, be worth that many words when it comes to really creating change?

The answer could be yes. Research shows that phone calls often garner more legislative attention than emails. It certainly makes sense; not only does it take more time and effort, it’s also more personal. When people utilize email campaigns, they normally do not take the time to personalize their letters. Though the effort is still commendable, what results is an official receiving the exact same email hundreds or thousands of times—which shows support, but not passion.

A phone call, on the other hand, relays the urgency in your voice—your tone, your feelings, your own personal views. Sure, you can use a script—and there’s no shame in doing that—but you can also convey how much you care about the issue just through how you speak.

But what about those of us who don’t like to use the phone, period? Those of us who stammer when we get upset, come down frequently with cases of verbal diarrhea, and are much more comfortable typing out our responses?

There are a couple of things people like us can do:

1. Write a small speech out. While many action centers provide a script, your own words are much more effective. Write out a little dialogue for yourself—it doesn’t have to be long, just a few lines. Be sure to include the specifics—such as the bill name you want passed—and your exact opinion on the matter.
2. Call during off-hours. I like doing this one sometimes, though I’m still usually nervous. Call in the evening or at night and leave a voicemail. It will still count and you won’t have to worry about someone responding to you over the phone!
3. Personalize your emails. If you simply cannot bring yourself to make a call, use the email option—but be sure to personalize it as much as possible.

For more information on this particular action from 1 Sky, click here.