Get free publicity by getting others to talk on your behalf. Don't try to rally support for your cause by encouraging your friends and neighbors to write letters on the same topic you have chosen. Editors despise organized letter-writing campaigns. The only thing they hate even more is when someone writes a letter to the editor, makes 20 photocopies, and gives them to 20 people to sign and mail to the newspaper.

A much better alternative is to circulate a list of "talking points" and facts that people can discuss if they choose to write a letter about a particular topic. If you're working on a committee to pass a bond issue for a new school addition, for example, consider distributing a list of facts and figures on how the addition would benefit the school district. Encourage supporters to use those statistics in their letters but to state their opinions in their own words.
To learn more on how to get other talking on your behalf and writing letters to the editor see Special Report #4 "How to Write Crisp, Compelling Letters to the Editor to Promote Your Product, Service or Favorite Issue"