Action Network Features We Don't Use (And Why)
Action Network includes a wide range of campaign tools, but not all of them are the right fit for how we work as a UK political party. Some features have been switched off entirely, while others are available but discouraged due to practical, strategic, or ethical reasons. This article outlines the tools we don't use, what they're designed to do, and why we've taken a different approach.
Petitions
What Do Petitions Do?
Petitions allow you to collect names and email addresses from people who support a particular cause, or demand. Supporters see a short summary, add their name, and may leave a comment. There is a built in mechanism to allow the list of supporters to be sent to the target of that petition (for example, a local authority or bus company).
Why We Don't Use Them
In the UK, recognised e-petitions must usually be submitted through formal routes, for example:
- For UK Parliament: https://petition.parliament.uk
- For the Senedd: https://petitions.senedd.wales/
- For local councils: check your local authority's website for details of how to create and submit a petition.
Because Action Network petitions, and e-petitions in general more generally, aren't recognised, and supporter identities can't be verified, they're unlikely to influence decision-makers. This can mislead supporters into thinking they've taken effective action, when in reality all they've done is share their data with the petition creator.
Petitions also tend to bring in very low email opt-in rates. Many people who sign a petition choose not to subscribe to ongoing updates, meaning that the vast majority of signatories can never be contacted again. Prior to the Green Party decision not to use Action Network petitions, we would typically see email opt-in rates at around 20% of signatories. This can be confusing, and frustrating for campaigners who see a large number of people engage, but who have no way of building a relationship and mobilise those supporters further.
The decision not to use the petitions feature was made in 2021, largely due to ethical concerns. The Green Party is known for doing politics differently, and while other organisations or political parties may use e-petition tools as a way to harvest data, this is not something we do. We believe supporter trust is essential, and that every action we ask someone to take should be meaningful, transparent, and capable of delivering real change.
Letter Campaigns
What Are Letter Campaigns?
Letter campaigns let you create a customisable message for supporters to edit and sent to a specific target, based on geography, such as their ward councillor or constituency MP.
Why We Don't Use Them
While letter campaigns aren't switched off, we don't encourage the use of this particular action. Letter Campaigns can be powerful tools, but they require significant set-up, including careful targeting and creating accurate lists of all targets and the area they represent. They're more appropriate for national-level campaigns, given the significant time and effort needed to create a campaign.
At local level they're unlikely to provide a good return on the time invested, and like petitions they can bring in a large volume of new data with low long term engagement rates.
Letter campaigns also come with specific data protection considerations, since by their nature they involve sharing data with someone outside of GPEW. Supporters need to be clearly informed that they are not only sharing their date with the Green Party, but also with the recipient of the letter- such as a councillor, or other decision-maker. This may include their name, email address, postcode, and the content of their message. Supporters should also be made aware of what this means in relation to their rights under data protection legislation.
If you think your campaign might benefit from a letter campaign, speak to the Digital Team, before you get started. We can help ensure that the action is targeted, compliant, and effective.
Mobile Messaging (And The Mobile Messaging Inbox)
What Is Mobile Messaging?
The mobile messaging feature allows campaigners to send text messages (SMS) to activists, and manage responses within Action Network.
Why We Don't Use Them
We don't currently run text message services due to the cost, compliance requirements, and consent management involved. The mobile message inbox would also introuduce a separate channel for incoming messages, which many local parties wouldn't have the capacity to support, and could lead to activists feeling ignored. While GPEW has trialled various SMS tools to support our campaigning, this is not something that we do regularly, and never within Action Network.
Call Campaigns
What Are Call Campaigns?
Call campaigns invite activists to phone a designated target and offer a script to follow during the call.
Why We Don't Use Them
Call campaigns are tailored to the US political system, where elected representatives and public officials typically have phone lines set up for this kind of engagement. In the UK, targets are less likely to have accessible or appropriate phone contacts, and this tool would lead to confusion or poor supporter experience if implemented here.
Groups
What Are Groups?
Groups allow for the creation of sub-groups within Action Network, each with it's own permissions and activist mailing list. We use this feature to build a federated network of party units- such as local parties, regional parties, and special interest groups.
Why Can't Local Parties Create New Groups?
The ability to create new groups is switched off for local parties. This helps prevent the creation of unmanaged, or unofficial sub-groups, which can lead to poor user experience, and increased data protection risk.
If you want to understand how group structure works, and for more information on sub groups, check out these guides:
Files
What Is The Files Feature?
This optional feature allows you to upload and store files within your group space in Action Network. These files can be accessed by anyone, and can be linked within emails, actions, or web pages. This can be useful for sharing static documents, but for most party units is unnecessarry.
Why We Don't Use It (By Default)
All files uploaded using the Action Network files feature are publicly accessible via a direct link- there is no way to restrict or manage permissions. This means there is a significant risk or outdated or sensitive content being made accessible. This feature is opt-in only, and we recommend against using it for most use cases. If you need to discuss storing sensitive documents on Sharepoint you should speak to your Field Organiser in the first instance.
If you think your group may need access to the Action Network files feature you can find out how to request it in this guide: Requesting Access To The Action Network Files Feature.
Need Advice On The Best Tool For The Job?
If you're not sure whether a particular Action Network feature is right for your campaign, please get in touch with the Digital Team, or your Field Organiser. We'll do our best to help you get the most out of our tools, and to use them in an effective way.
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