Renee Davidson

Renee Davidson is the Director of Digital Strategy at The Brady Campaign, a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control and against gun violence.1 In her role, Davidson has been instrumental in leveraging SMS (text messaging) as a crucial tool for the organization's advocacy efforts.

SMS Strategy at Brady

Under Davidson's leadership, The Brady Campaign has seen exceptional growth in their SMS subscriber list in recent months.1 She emphasizes the importance of SMS in their overall strategy, particularly due to its rapid response capabilities. This allows the organization to:

• Send immediate notices and resources directly to people's phones following significant events
• Provide supporters with instant ways to take action
• Generate donations through direct links in text messages
• Connect supporters directly with their elected officials' offices

Effective SMS Campaigns

Davidson highlights several key aspects of their SMS strategy:

• Rapid Response: Utilizing texts to quickly mobilize supporters after significant events
• Fundraising: SMS has become a large revenue stream for the organization
• Direct Action: Enabling supporters to easily contact elected officials about legislation
• Peer-to-Peer Communication: Targeting smaller, engaged groups for more personalized outreach

Storytelling Approach

Davidson has implemented a storytelling-focused approach in their SMS communications:

• Leveraging voices of gun violence survivors, including executive team members
• Sharing personal stories to create emotional connections with supporters
• Using real-life examples to illustrate the importance of their advocacy work

This strategy has reportedly led to higher success rates in their campaigns, as it helps people understand the real-world impact of their advocacy efforts.1