Topics

On OpinionFirst topics are important. A proposal, petition, 360°' poll or statement is always related to a topic.

Would you like to initiate a discussion in your neighborhood, town, province, country or group about an important issue? Then you start with a new topic. Citizens (Places) or members (Groups) have different options to respond on your topic:

360°

With a 360° they inform readers by sharing their advice, vision, arguments, recommendations, knowledge, experience and other information. Every contribution is a 360° except a proposal.  Read more about 360°'s

Proposal

With a proposal they add their concrete plan, idea, petition, solution, motion or initiative. On proposals can be voted.  Read more about proposals

Why start a topic on OpinionFirst?

Every registed voter can start a topic for any neighborhood, place, province, state, country or group that was joined. In particular we urge experts, policy makers and managers with extensive experience and knowledge in their field to involve their citizens, members and employees. 

You start a discussion by creating a topic on which everyone can respond with a proposal, petition, 360°, statement or poll. There are many reasons for starting a topic. Take a look at why a parent, a policy maker or anyone else could start a topic. 

The moment you start your topic you can monitor the response and promote it to citizens and members. Naturally, you also can add your own proposal or 360° in response to the topic that you just started yourself! 

Click here to start your topic! 

OpinionFirst is a worldwide platform. Consequently, it is important to inform the right people about your topic. Who should respond to your topic? Which citizens, employees or members does it concern?  OpinionFirst gives you a 'place' or 'group' suggestion, which you can change if needed.

Now that is clear who should be informed on your topic, let's start it:

①  Start a topic

A topic consists of a very short neutral title, an appealing picture and a category. Think carefully, read the instructions and verify existing topics before you place a new unique topic. This helps to prevent duplicate topics and ensures better attention to your issue.

Extra options:

Explain what your topic is about

Explain in short and neutral words what your topic is about. Remember that people do not always know everything about the issue you raise.

What questions do you have?

Next you indicate what questions you would like to see answered. People will respond based on your topic, explanation and questions.

Placing your topic and using the extra options offer you many advantages. Read below about the guidelines and standards on how to start a successful topic. If you are satisfied, then confirm your topic. 

②  Promote your topic

You immediately can start promoting your topic with a click on the blue button.

Politicians, policy makers, directors, experts, leaders, ...

Modern decision-makers recognize the power inherent in the people around them.

They lead their town, state, country, company, team, association or club by using the skills and talents of their inhabitants, employees or members. Starting topics help decision-makers and their communities to reach concrete decisions on the basis of open dialogue without endless debate and discussion.

OpinionFirst helps you come to decisions everyone accepts and supports.

A topic allows everyone involved to respond and have their say. Thus you make the most use of every individual’s views, expertise and knowledge to contribute. OpinionFirst helps you to access these skills, allowing you to use the wisdom of everyone involved. Their contribution and preferences are used by you to make sound decisions easily and quickly which are embraced and supported by the population or organization at large.

Do you work for the government, local government or a foundation?

Do you struggle with how to efficiently include your community in decision-making? With your topic you will attract many citizens to engage, respond and participate. You facilitate collaborative discussion and encourage participation and engagement in communities.

Are you a manager or board member of a club, company, association, team or other type of group?

You don't see involving your members or employees as a burden, but as an opportunity for improvement? Then starting a topic is excellent to get everyone involved and to measure which proposals gain popularity.

Guidelines to start a successful topic

Naturally you want people to take your issues seriously, so read below on how to start a successful topic:

①  Write your topic briefly, concisely and to the point

It's important to state your topic concisely. Use short sentences to explain what your topic is about and use open questions to guide and stimulate response.

②  Spell check, proofread and let others read.

If you want people to take your topic seriously, then you need to spell-check and to put in the time to make sure your topic is well formulated. It is a good idea to have others review your topic before publishing it.

It is good to have more persons review your topic before publishing. More ideas and thoughts could clarify your topic before publishing it. Other eyes read differently.

③  Be neutral

Your topic should be strictly 100% neutral. ​The best topics sound reasonable, intelligent, and acknowledge all proposals and points of view. If visitors to your topic think it is one-sided or that you have already made your mind up, they will be unlikely to respond or participate, even if they have great proposals or views.

Standards for your topic

Our moderators maintain the quality of OpinionFirst. They are warned if something isn't decent and or does not comply with the 'Rights and Responsibilities'. They may decide to remove a topic, if it's:

• previously stated, so check if your topic already exists for that place or group
• not constructive or neutral
• not appropriate or not complying with the law
• not clear what your topic is about
• about personal issues
• party political
• confidential, libelous, false, racist, offensive or defamatory
• contains language that may cause offence, or is provocative or extreme in its views deceptive or misleading
• advertising or spam
• nonsensical, not serious
• breaking the local law or violates intellectual property rights
• potentially confidential, commercially sensitive or might cause someone distress or financial loss
• naming people (except for senior politicians or management)

Procedures

Editing a topic

A topic can be edited until a proposal has been published for that topic.

Removing a topic

A topic can be removed until a proposal has been published for that topic.

Inappropriate topics

Registered voters can warn our moderators if a topic is not appropriate or does not comply with the 'Rights and Responsibilities'.

Temporary or permanent topics

Temporary topics concern a temporary situation or an event. As soon as the situation is resolved, then voting will cease to continue. A permanent topic is for example a request to change the law. These types of topics will continue to evolve in time and basically voting will never stop. You will not see any distinction on OpinionFirst between these types of topics.

Promote your topic

Have you posted your topic on OpinionFirst? Then read about all the possibilities you have to promote your topic!

We wish you success!