The goal of activism is to persuade - to encourage others not just to think about a specific issue or idea in a different way but to be motivated to act accordingly. If you're reading this text it's likely that you're already freedom-oriented and looking to become more effective in your outreach. But before delving into tactics and strategy let's first take a moment to differentiate between working "within the system" and working "outside" or "around the system." It's that important.

Some choose to allocate their scare resources (time, talent and treasure) to get elected a new "leader" or to collect signatures for a petition or any number of actions done per the guidelines and procedures set and interpreted by those who claim arbitrary authority based on their title. Meanwhile others - in growing numbers and I'd argue, percentages - are working to bring about positive change through consensual interactions using reason, logic and emotion. Individuals in the latter group do not focus on man-made legislation or election cycles but on real, tangible interactions at the individual level.

Let no uncertainty remain, a top-down, centralized model that grants some the "legitimate" right to use force under auspices of "security" or "public good" will never lead to a freer society. Don't waste your time in that arena. Instead, strike the root - advocate for complete liberty, where individuals are free to act so long as they don't initiate force. Plant a flag and point to the ideal. Communicate that theft or murder is wrong, no matter the person's uniform or place of employment.

Still not sold? Consider the moral argument - if you agree that aggressive force is wrong then how can you engage in politics? Getting 50% of others to agree with you does not make you correct, and it certainly does not magically grant you the right to steal money from others so that you can force your views on them. Consider the efficiency argument - if you agree that your goal is to maximize freedom what's the surest way to make that happen? Through an increasingly-centralized and unaccountable bureaucracy that's sheltered from market signals or by planting seeds in the minds of others, who will in turn become spokespeople to those in their sphere?

You own yourself. Act like it. As voluntaryist thinker and author Carl Watner noted, "If one takes care of the means, the end will take care of itself."

That point made, let's move on.

Before engaging in activism make sure you have a solid foundation in the ideas of liberty. Doing so will make you more effective since you'll be comfortable engaging others in conversation and because you'll be more clear during such interactions. Also, it should go without saying, but have a clearly defined goal - ideally to advance the voluntary society.

Activism can be a very effective outreach method but as with all other things in life, there are opportunity costs - when you're doing A you cannot do B. If your goal is to persuade, take the time to evaluate how you can have a bigger impact. Don't be content with specific tactics simply because it's what was done last time around. Take what you've learned from others and from your own actions and modify your actions accordingly.

If you worked at Acme Metallurgy you could compare quarterly sales, the tensile strength of certain alloys, and other quantifiable things to create better products and grow your business. Unfortunately the same objective analysis is not available to us as activists since we peddle ideas. It's difficult to analyze or discern for certain the effectiveness of a particular form of activism.

Still, it's very beneficial to do a brain dump after engaging in activism. What went well? What could be improved upon? Where did unanticipated pinch-points exist? What language or phrasing seemed to go over well? Capture your thoughts on these and related questions while they're fresh so you can improve upon your efforts next time around. A conversation or brilliant idea may be at the forefront of your mind now but life happens, and soon the details become a bit more fuzzy, and the take-aways more vague.

Figure out what works for you and share it with others. This will lessen the asymmetry of information and the barrier to entry for activism, which translates into more individuals trying more things. The decentralized, open nature of our movement are major strengths. Exploit and add to that. Successful tactics will be replicated and built-upon and we'll all gain because of it.

Disseminate your content. If your particular form of activism involves the creation of a video, graphics, presentation, stencils, etc. share it in as many mediums as possible. The more hooks the larger your potential audience and the easier it will be for people to find and be exposed to your ideas.

Have talking points. Before hitting the street determine how to best communicate your ideas, whether interacting with a random passerby, thousands at an event or the media. Try to couch your perspective in easy-to-grasp sound bites that are both concise and informative. If your perspective is easily understood and appeals to that individual you're golden.

Make it personal. The same argument won't appeal to everyone so after initiating a conversation, listen, find common ground and continue the conversation from there. If someone tells you that they have the right to keep and bear arms to defend themselves, help them tease their underlying rationale - that they own themselves and thus have a right to defend themselves. Then expand that to other areas - such as drug use, because again, if they believe in self-ownership then an individual has the right to ingest whatever substances they choose, or taxes - because, if they've earned money through their own labor then taking it would violate their rights, whether done by you or someone who works for the IRS. Similarly, if someone with whom you're interacting believes that Agency X or Program Y must exist and you disagree, ask them if they'd put a gun to your head to force you to fund it. When the violence behind their claims is readily seen, it'll be much more difficult for them to support such stances.

Be relevant. Leverage your message by tying it to something timely. If you plan to engage in a specific activity, could you do it on another date or another location to help get more eyes (and minds) on it? Could you loop-in others interested so that their audience is exposed to your actions and ideas?

Follow your passion. If you're doing something you enjoy and excel at chances are you'll be much more effective. And the same holds true if you're working with others (which is ideal). Someone could cultivate media contacts while another writes a press release. Or someone can create graphics while another person markets the event through social networks. Or someone can film while another edits.

Be sustainable. Since you're so passionate about an issue or idea that you're actively working to introduce it to others it can become easy to try to do everything at once, to let it consume you. If this becomes the norm you stand a high likelihood of burning out. While work ethic is paramount, so too is finding a balance. If you're out of commission you're of no help to yourself or the ideas you seek to share.

Recognize risks involved. Individuals wearing badges have been known to kidnap and cage others for chalking public property, or for not walking fast enough or for any number of arbitrary "justifications." Have a "what-if" plan figured out. Should you leave a spare set of car keys with a friend? Should you bring your wallet with you? Do people you trust have the names and numbers of those you'd want reached in case something happens?

Effective activism ultimately comes down to the individual. Your ability to effectively communicate the ideas of liberty to other individuals, and to get them to think for themselves, is what will make the difference. I'll conclude this piece with a quote from Ludwig von Mises, which underscores the importance of being an effective activist for the ideas of liberty:

“Everyone carries a part of society on his shoulders; no one is relieved of his share of responsibility by others. And no one can find a safe way out for himself if society is sweeping towards destruction. Therefore, everyone, in his own interests, must thrust himself vigorously into the intellectual battle. None can stand aside with unconcern; the interests of everyone hang on the results. Whether he chooses or not, every man is drawn into the great historical struggle, the decisive battle into which our epoch has plunged us.”