TECH FOR CAMPAIGNS TEXTING
Political texting campaigns are a challenging proposition. Inserting yourself into somebody's texting app is already a more intimate announcement than, say, a door knock. Politicians broadly have abused this channel, giving texting a bad name. However, when done thoughtfully, texting can move the needle. This is especially true in state-level races or GOTV initiatives.
TFC Texting Playbook
Heading into the 2018 midterms, I worked directly with the TFC leadership to develop the Tech for Campaigns texting playbook. It included strategies, sample messages, digital guides, software instructions, and best practices. I first joined Tech for Campaigns because I knew I could do more with my skillset than just text bank. Creating this playbook is a perfect example of how I was able to do exactly that by socializing my messaging knowledge across the entire organization.
In addition to the playbook, I wrote texts for candidates: Matthew McQueen, Aaron Lieberman, Kelli Butler, Chris Marsh, and Michele Wherley. I also wrote for a critical 2020 GOTV campaign in the swing state of Pennsylvania.
TFC Texting Report
The first test of the playbook was the same year it was generated: 2018. Democrats generally outperformed their expectations, and candidates in the TFC universe were no exception. But winning races wasn't the only benefit. We learned a lot about how texts work, how they don't, and how we could optimize them in the future. Those learnings are collected in the 2018 Texting Report.
