Reach Out!
Educate Your Community
Make Brochures Available to Your Community Members
If you work for an organization that serves consumers directly, it may have a location designed for the public to pick up free information. Or, you may know where in your community most people get their information. Make sure that consumer brochures are available - in Spanish and in English - in these places so people can pick up free copies.
- Order consumer publications - free of charge - in English and in Spanish from the FTC, at www.ftc.gov/bulkorder.
- Place FTC brochures in public meeting areas such as the lobby of your organization, a community center, public computer rooms, at your local library, and in other areas where the members of your community go for information.
Encourage Your Co-Workers to Use Consumer Information
Sharing information with your colleagues can help them better understand certain consumer issues, which, in turn, can make it easier for them to help those they work with. Let them know about the resources you have found!
- Depending on where you work, email can be a quick and effective way to let your co-workers know about free consumer publications available from the FTC. Send an email to your colleagues and encourage them to use those resources when counseling clients. You can include a link to www.ftc.gov/espanol, where they can find all the FTC publications in English and in Spanish.
- If email is not the best way to reach your colleagues, order publications from the FTC and place them in their inbox at work, or distribute them at a staff meeting.
Include Consumer Messages and Tips in Your Organization's Newsletter
Does your organization have a newsletter? By including consumer messages in your newsletter, you can provide valuable information that everyone can use. The information from the FTC is not copyrighted, so you can copy it or publish it in your organization's newsletter. Make it yours!
- Prepare short articles with practical and easy-to-follow tips on consumer issues. Use the information in Read Up! How to be an Informed Consumer or the publications available at www.ftc.gov/espanol.
- Create a consumer education column in your organization's newsletter. See the calendar of events for ideas about topics to write about each month.
Link to the FTC's Website From Your Organization's Website
Your organization can help inform consumers about their rights by linking to the FTC's website. Visitors to your website will appreciate having a direct link to important information from the nation's consumer protection agency.
- Identify your organization's "webmaster" or content editor. This is the person to whom you will send material to post online.
- Ask your webmaster to place a button on your website with a link to the FTC consumer pages. Visit www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer/partners.shtm to find the FTC's collection of "quick-jump" banners and buttons that direct consumers to FTC educational websites on credit, online safety, identity theft, diet and fitness issues, and others.
Distribute Consumer Brochures at Your Organization's Events
Does your organization participate in fairs, festivals, or town hall meetings? These are great opportunities to reach out to consumers directly and distribute information.
- Order consumer publications - free of charge - in English and in Spanish from the FTC at www.ftc.gov/bulkorder 4 to 6 weeks before the event.
- If you don't have time to order the publications, you can download them at www.ftc.gov/consumer, print them, and make copies. Add your logo or name.
- If you participate in any meetings or conferences, bring copies of relevant consumer information to share with the attendees. Let them know they can order more free copies at www.ftc.gov/bulkorder.
- If you have regular mailings to your organization's members or clients, include a brochure on a relevant consumer topic.
Keep in mind that the information the FTC provides is free for consumers and that your organization can take the information and reproduce it under its own name using its seal or logo. It's easy to make the information yours, and then pass it along to others!
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