# Getting Started with Lobster

> Get familiar with Lobster's core concepts: themes, projects, TODOs, actions, goals, data, monitoring and Transparency Register reporting.

- URL: https://lobster.ist/getting-started-with-lobster/
- Language: English
- Also in Finnish: https://lobster.ist/fi/getting-started-with-lobster/

*Getting started*

Lobster transforms the way organisations do Public Affairs by bringing people together to work as one unified team. It’s easy to use — and getting familiar with a few core concepts will help you hit the ground running.

## Start here

Two short guides to get you — and your whole organisation — up and running.

### [First steps in Lobster](https://lobster.ist/getting-started-first-steps-in-lobster/)

New to Lobster? Learn the basics and set up your personal profile in minutes.

### [Guide for admins](https://lobster.ist/getting-started-with-lobster/lobster-guide-for-admins/)

Configure your organisation’s Lobster, invite your team, and manage access.

## Everything, organised in one place

*Your advocacy work*

The **Advocacy view** in the top menu is where all of your lobbying operations live. Work is organised into themes and projects, then brought to life with TODOs, actions and goals — the building blocks below.

![The Add new button open in Lobster](https://lobster.ist/images/gsl-ipad-add-new-button-open-eng-1024x790-1.png)

## The core building blocks

Five simple concepts power every campaign you run in Lobster.

### Themes

Broad, strategic areas of lobbying at the core of your organisation — a logical home for the projects beneath them. Themes are like umbrellas covering multiple projects.

[More on themes →](https://lobster.ist/blog/theme-and-how-to-create-one/)

### Projects

Where most of the work happens: plan, coordinate and track each file. Every action is reported under a project, which also feeds Transparency Register reporting.

[More on projects →](https://lobster.ist/blog/project-and-how-to-create-one/)

### TODOs

Task lists that help you plan projects and quickly delegate work across your team.

[More on TODOs →](https://lobster.ist/blog/todo-and-how-to-create-one/)

### Actions

Stakeholder meetings, events, campaigns and other project-related meetings — the record of what you actually did. Actions are the bread and butter of your lobbying work.

[More on actions →](https://lobster.ist/blog/action-and-how-to-create-one/)

### Goals

Track the progress of your projects, so your team can learn and steadily improve the impact of its work. Goals gives you the possibility to track your progress.

[More on goals →](https://lobster.ist/getting-started-with-lobster/goals/)

## The data

Thousands of ready-made stakeholder profiles, plus your own — searchable and GDPR-compliant.

### Search

Lobster’s search is the key to finding relevant data and adding it to your projects, TODOs and actions.

[Learn more →](https://lobster.ist/blog/global-search/)

### Lobster’s data

Key information on several thousand stakeholders, ready to use in a few clicks — so your time goes to planning, not data entry.

[More on Lobster’s data →](https://lobster.ist/blog/master-data-package-helps-to-focus-on-the-right-stakeholders/)

### Your own data

Add your organisation’s own data to a strictly separate, sandboxed Lobster — visible only to users in your organisation.

[Add stakeholders →](https://lobster.ist/how-to-add-stakeholders-in-lobster/)<br>[Merge duplicate profiles →](https://lobster.ist/merging-duplicate-stakeholder-profiles-in-lobster/)

### GDPR Audit

An admin tool that helps keep your organisation’s local data GDPR compliant.

[More on GDPR Audit →](https://lobster.ist/blog/what-is-the-gdpr-footprint-of-your-advocacy-work/)

## Monitoring & reporting

Stay on top of a changing political landscape — and report it without the busywork.

### Data monitoring

Political information changes constantly. Automated tracking keeps an eye on the topics that matter to you — fast, simple and effective.

[More on monitoring →](https://lobster.ist/getting-started-with-lobster/political-monitoring/)

### Transparency Register

When your advocacy is documented in Lobster, disclosures go straight to Finland’s Transparency Register — no Excel, no retyping.

[Verify your lobbying data →](https://lobster.ist/preparing-for-transparency-register-reporting-lobsters-tips-for-verifying-your-lobbying-data/)<br>[Automate your reporting →](https://lobster.ist/blog/automating-transparency-register-reporting-how-smart-organisations-use-lobster-to-save-time-and-ensure-compliance/)<br>[Authentication for mass reporting →](https://lobster.ist/transparency-register-authentication-for-mass-reporting/)<br>[Error reports & the API →](https://lobster.ist/transparency-register-error-report-and-submitting-the-report-through-the-api/)

### Pinning to timelines

Pin news, tweets and links onto project timelines to show how your team’s actions connect to the world around you.

[More on pinning →](https://lobster.ist/blog/introducing-pinning-to-timelines/)

## Questions? We’re here to help

Something missing or unclear? Our team is always happy to help you get the most out of Lobster.

- [Contact support](mailto:info@lobster.ist)