Around The Corner Blog

A Phone Call - Adding the Personal Touch

Today's avenues of communicating with supporters, contributors and voters can be complicated.  The mediums available include direct mail, radio, television, phone calls, email, web sites, blogs and now social media avenues that include Facebook and Twitter - to name the popular. 

However, how do you know that the folks you want to communicate to are getting your message?  Unless you are seeing them in person and witnessing them open that email, viewing the website or reading the piece of mail, you just will not know.  When it comes to asking for someone’s vote or for a contribution, picking up the phone and initiating a conversation is the most effective method to getting your point across.

It may sound time consuming to dial through a call list asking folks for their support, vote or contribution, but it is this personal interaction and respect that can make a world of difference.  It is humbling and respectful for a candidate to make "the ask" and it is those types of candidates that tend to be successful in the end.  Let us remember, politics relies on the social interaction of humans and institutions.

Therefore, while there are unique ways in delivery information, candidates must be vigilant in making sure that they are being heard.  That is why a candidate, on a daily basis, should schedule themselves at least two hours of calling time.  Make those calls, be it for support, a vote, or to ask for a contribution.  Taking the time to make a phone call not only shows that you are committed, but it also puts the person on the other end of the call on the spot because now you are in a position to ask for their commitment.  There is no opportunity to breeze by that email, throw away the mail or getting side tracked viewing another webpage.

When it comes to planning that next campaign fundraiser, factor in time to make calls so that the candidate can personally make the ask.  In the long run, the person on the other end should respect and appreciate the fact that you took the time to call them rather than initiating the contact through an email, mail, or other means of communication.