What purpose does YouChoose serve?

How does YouChoose.net work?

Who are the brains behind YouChoose?

How does YouChoose make money?

If I get signatures on a Petition, who delivers the Petition to the recipient?

What types of issues or causes can I build a Campaign around?

How private is my personal information. When I Pledge support or sign a Petition, who sees my information?

Where can I learn more or ask additional questions about YouChoose?

What purpose does YouChoose serve? ^ back to top

YouChoose.net lets you take action on issues of importance to you. We refer to these actions as “Campaigns.” We’ve worked hard -so you need to hardly work - to start a Campaign.

First, start by selecting the type of Campaign you want to take:

Petition: Need to collect signatures to show support for a cause? Start a petition!

Pledge Campaign: Encourage people to take personal action, such as writing their representatives, car-pooling to work – anything you feel will help them and you support your cause. Create a Pledge Campaign

Second, tag news stories supporting or describing your cause. Links to these stories will appear on your Campaign Page alongside your description (and are also displayed when people search on issues related to your Campaign). You can also write your own news story.

Third, promote your Campaign. The easiest way to do this is to tell your friends. Simply send them an email with a link to your YouChoose Campaign. You should also post a link to your Campaign on any web page you or others control.

OK, so you’ve done your job, what does YouChoose do for you?

• automatically format and post your Campaign on YouChoose.net and immediately display the results as people participate in your Campaign
• provide you with an additional “Learn More” page you can use to provide additional details about your cause (you get one of these for every Campaign you launch)
• provide you with a Personal Page to describe YOU
• create a ‘social network’ of people who can communicate with each other, discuss issues and ongoing developments related to your cause and discuss your Campaign in forums
• Surround your Campaign with News articles and other content, making your Campaign a one-stop place for people to learn, discuss, and take action on your cause
• And importantly, keep track of all signatures made in support of your cause, providing you with a secure, third-party validation of your supporters.

Who are the brains behind YouChoose? ^ back to top

We try not to shed much light on us, because it’s you, and the rest of the YouChoose community, that give YouChoose its energy. But since you’ve asked, we’ll give you a little peek under the hood. YouChoose.net was conceived of by a great bunch of clever eccentrics at MindDrivers, LLC. It has since been spun off into its own corporate structure, YouChoose, LLC, but continues to share space with Mind Drivers’ other businesses at “The Mill”. The Mill mirrors the creativity of its residents. It’s an award-winning renovation of a 300 year-old grist mill, complete with operating 20 foot water wheel and a creek running through the building. A great place to work, even if you’re not one to keep your “nose to the grindstone.”

How does YouChoose make money? ^ back to top

Well, we don’t just yet. It is free for you to use all of the features on YouChoose, and we support that with a small amount of advertising revenues. But we do see the opportunity to make money by charging businesses for creating “commercial” Campaigns or by charging politicians for creating overtly political Campaigns. Any such “Paid Sponsorships” will be clearly identified. But it’s our belief that we must first provide value to you, in order to create value for us. As such, we constantly welcome your feedback and suggestions for how we can improve our value to you.

If I get signatures on a Petition, who delivers the Petition to the recipient? ^ back to top

That would be you, the Sponsor of the Petition. Our suggestion is to wait for a sizable number of signatures to be collected, then send a link to your Petition on YouChoose to the recipient, along with a explanation of the Petition. You may also send the Petition as you reach various signature milestones, and this may be the best approach in the case of a time-sensitive issue, but it is generally better to wait until your Petition will have the maximum number of signatures for the maximum impact.

We also recommend sending the petition link to appropriate media sources. This can generate substantial additional interest, support, and signatures.

What types of issues or causes can I build a Campaign around? ^ back to top

Pretty much anything. Take a look at some of the issues and causes on YouChoose today. The common element is that they are Sponsored by someone who cares about the issue, and is prepared to support it. The most successful Campaigns have a few common elements:

• A Passionate Sponsor
• Active Sponsor, co-Sponsors, and other supporters who regularly contribute and update news and participate in forum discussions
• Energetic supporters who actively tell their friends and promote their Campaign

Most importantly, be positive. "Just say no" to Campaigns that encourage activities that are illegal, discriminatory, or promote hate or violence.

How private is my personal information. When I Pledge support or sign a Petition, who sees my information? ^ back to top

YouChoose understands both the need to ensure that the people pledging support for a cause or signing a Petition are real people (and therefore the cause is taken seriously by others), and the desire for many people to remain anonymous. The following table shows who gets to see what:

(1) Except when a Member invites another Member to join their Personal Network or support a campaign

For additional details, please read the YouChoose.net Privacy Policy.

Where can I learn more or ask additional questions about YouChoose? ^ back to top

Just click here to send us your questions, comments, and suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you and greatly appreciate your comments and suggestions.