The Sample Message

Previous Step: Targets

Next Step: Confirmation

With your issue laid out in the alert and your targets chosen, you’ll need to set some parameters for the message you want your supporters to send and likely create a pre-written message. There are three steps to this process:

1. Select the targets (from among those you already set on the Targets page) to receive the sample message you are about to create. 
2. Set the basic format and options for the sample message.
3. Create the sample message.

Select the Targets

When you first come to the Sample Message page, you need to specify the recipients for this particular sample message. The default option is that all of the targets you previously selected will receive the same message, but you can split them up into up to three groups. To split them up, simply choose the targets for the first sample message. When you are done creating that message, the VoterVoice system will loop you back through to create the next message. 

Set the Basic Format and Options

Modes of Communication

Choose how you want your supporters to reach out to the targets. The options are typically email, Twitter, and phone. Faxing can be added if you wish; just contact your account manager for that option.

You can find more information on Twitter and phone call campaigns here.

Format of the Message

Choose the general format of the message. We generally suggest prewritten messages for campaigns to elected officials, especially at the federal level. We generally suggest blank forms (meaning that your supporters will write their own messages) for campaigns to regulations.gov comment forms and media targets.

Where to Send the Messages

The messages your supporters send to their officials do not come from you; they come from the supporter with their name, address, and email. That means that someone who changes your message in an unfortunate way will not cause any legislators to assume that your association's position is other than what it is. With that in mind, most clients send them straight out to the targets. 

You do also have the option to require approval for either all or only modified messages. Your supporter will not be aware that their message was submitted for approval before being sent, and they will not be aware if you choose to delete their message. You can approve or deny pending messages via Advocacy > Manage Pending Messages. If the campaign is deactivated while messages are still pending approval, the pending messages will disappear until the campaign is reactivated. 

Create the Sample Message

In this final step, you will provide the pre-written message you want your supporters to send to the targets.

Emails and webforms sent to federal legislators and the legislators for many states require that you select a topic from a dropdown list. These topics are provided by the governments in question and cannot be changed by VoterVoice. Select whatever you feel is most appropriate.

Below, you have plain text fields to provide a prewritten subject line and message. Note that the character limit for your message depends on the character limits imposed by the officials you are targeting. If you go over an official's limit, you will be warned when you hit continue. You may opt to either edit your pre-written message or allow the users to pare the message down themselves. 

To ensure that your supporters cannot change what you wrote, uncheck the "make editable" checkbox. 

The messages are plain text only for security reasons. If you need to send a link, you will have to include the full URL. 

If you opted to include Twitter messages or phone calls, you can enter the content of those below. 

You can create different versions of the same script as an added option. The “Add Rotating Message” button saves the script that you just created and allows you to create another version. There is no limit to how many rotating messages you can add. Your supporters will see a random version when they come to the campaign, but you can also allow them to see a "switch message" button. 

Previous Step: Targets

Next Step: Confirmation