Leafleting: Door Dropping Leaflets

I wrote a little "Guide to Leafleting" a while back and posted it on a message board, where it got a good response. This post is based on the section about door dropping leaflets from that guide. If anyone has any comments, e.g. legal info or general tips, please share!

Door dropping is where you post a leaflet through a letterbox in someone's door. It's used by many people for advertising businesses or for campaign purposes.
 You have what is known as an "implied license" to door drop. If you didn't, you wouldn't get mail, free newspapers and other random leaflets through the door! If someone asks you to leave their property (e.g. their front path) you must oblige, or else you are trespassing.

Avoid door dropping in the same area too often. Not only will it potentially annoy people who may view the leaflets as "junk mail" after a while, you might as well door drop in other places to spread the message further. I don't door drop the same houses more than a few times a year. Be sure that you don't leave leaflets hanging out of letterboxes so they can be seen, as a leaflet left like this is a sign that a house is empty (i.e. the occupants are on holiday), leaving them more open to the risk of theft. And remember to leave things as you left them - if a gate was closed, close it once you're done!

While I think directly handing people leaflets is more effective as you can talk to them about the issues, door dropping is really quick and easy and can be done as you walk to the shops, to a friend's house etc. In about 15 minutes you could have covered around 40+ houses. That's 40+ households, many of which will have more than one occupant, who you are giving the chance to be informed about important issues. I'm not going to pretend that some of the leaflets we distribute don’t end up going straight in the bin, but I'm positive that some people read them, and hopefully take on board what they say.

Don't door drop anything with graphic imagery (e.g. of animals being slaughtered) in case a child picks it up. If you feel you really need to door drop such materials, place the leaflet in an envelope, or at the very least make sure it is well folded. I feel it's best not to door drop leaflets with graphic imagery at all. Be aware of leaflet content by being careful there's nothing libelous, threatening, or anything else that could land you in trouble. If you're using leaflets from the "main" organisations then it should be OK as they will have checked the content is legal, but still have a read through before distributing. Of course, you should be reading through the leaflet anyway so you know the issue!

Door dropping is also really good if you're a bit nervous about directly giving out leaflets as it usually doesn't involve communicating with anyone.

I definitely recommend you door drop leaflets with someone. Firstly, it'll be quicker and you'll be able to leaflet more houses. Secondly, it's safer in case there's the unlikely event someone is angry because they disagree with the leaflet or don't like you being on their property. I've never had a problem when door dropping leaflets, but I strongly advise you don't go on your own.

Recently, someone showed me a technique for pushing leaflets through letterboxes. Use a large wooden spoon to push the leaflet (which you fold over the spoon end) through. It can help get it through and is often safer, too. If there's an excited dog on the other side of the letterbox, I'd much rather they grabbed the wooden spoon poking through than my fingers. It can make door dropping slightly slower as you have to take a moment to fold the leaflet round the spoon each time, but now I've been shown this method, I'm definitely sticking with it.

Basically, door dropping leaflets is a simple way to quickly distribute campaign materials, so go for it!