Reach your audience wherever they are, sending your message right to their pockets, through texting.
These days, it’s more unusual for a citizen not to have a cell phone than to have one. And constituents of all ages are becoming tech-savvy and text-literate. In fact, 99% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 own text-capable phones and 97% of Americans text at least once a day. That opens exciting new avenues for your office to engage your community and building stronger relationships with constituents.
Text messages meet citizens where they are, making it a quick and convenient way to relay important information including updates on legislation, resources during an emergency or natural disaster, event details, and surveys. And unlike other forms of mass outreach, text messaging won’t be sent to a junk folder, meaning you can reach your constituents directly and immediately.
Many citizens are waiting for your text message. Around 81% of Americans have opted-in to receive texts from a business or government office and the majority of Millennials actually prefer receiving promotions and surveys via text message. With IQ integration, it’s simple to ask citizens to opt-in for your messages. And there are multiple options for engaging citizens through texts including:
- Send mass texts: IQ can handle sending mass text campaigns to either large groups of constituents or small targeted groups.
- Receive and respond to texts: IQ can also receive texts. Incoming text messages are sent to a queue where staff can save them, remove them, reply to them, or send them to another staffer.
- Manage 1:1 conversations: IQ users can engage in one-on-one, back-and-forth conversations with constituents all within the CRM.
All text campaigns, incoming messages, and dialog between your staff and citizens are automatically saved in IQ, making contact history easy to reference. IQ users can view a constituent’s full communication history within each contact record, including social media messages, emails, phone calls, contact forms, and texts.
Leidos’ partnership with L2 also gives your office the option of receiving vetted voter profiles that will allow you to send targeted messages to hyper-focused groups of constituents, whether by county or town, occupation, party affiliation, or another demographic signifier.
All text campaigns, incoming messages, and dialog between your staff and citizens are automatically saved in IQ, making contact history easy to reference. IQ users can view a constituent’s full communication history within each contact record, including social media messages, emails, phone calls, contact forms, and texts. And with texting integrated through IQ, your team can message constituents without waiting for a third party to hit send.
Although there is more flexibility in reaching out to constituents via SMS, rather than email, there are still best practices to consider when considering text outreach, whether a targeted or mass message.
- Compliant Language: Avoid using all caps or language that could sound like a spam message.
- Sender Identification: Each message should clearly identify you as the sender. This is not necessary for follow-up message in an ongoing conversation.
- Message Variation: Create at least two variations of mass messages when sending to more than 40,000 contacts.
- Opt-Outs: We strongly recommend avoiding one-word opt-out instructions like “STOP=end.” Instead, use phrasing with spaces like “Reply STOP to end.”
Our team is pioneering improved practices and strategies for SMS outreach. Contact us for more best practices and ways texting can be utilized by your office.
Pro tip: Take advantage of Leidos’ partnership with data industry leader L2 and receive vetted voter profiles that will allow you to send targeted messages to hyper-focused groups of constituents, whether by county or town, occupation, party affiliation, or another demographic signifier. This allows your messages to be specific and personalized for whatever audience you’re trying to reach.
