It’s another Saturday, so for those who tune in, welcome to a diary discussing the Nuts & Bolts of a Democratic Campaign. If you’ve missed out, you can catch up anytime: Just visit our group or follow Nuts & Bolts Guide. Every week I tackle issues I’ve been asked about, and with the help of other campaign workers and notes, we discuss how to improve and build better campaigns.
In this series I’ve covered call time quite frequently. Diaries that include how to improve your call time, and how to do call time the right way. Call time, a major part of fundraising, is critical in bringing in the funds needed to run your campaign. While those two diaries focused on the candidate, questions come to me about what a good call room actually looks like. Who should be in there? What equipment should be in there? How do you control distractions? This week, I’m going to shift from what you as a candidate or campaign staff should be doing to looking at what an effective call time room should look like.
Distractions will slow you down
Setting up a call room is about making sure you are effective. This means the candidate has access to lists, a phone, and a way to document or take pledges. If the room has other distractions—a TV, tablets with the internet, it is far too easy for call time to stop being call time and quickly become procrastination time.
Making phone calls for fundraising is not always entertaining. So, candidates who can will avoid doing it. If distractions are readily available for them in the call room, they will utilize those distractions and stop doing the work that is needed to bring in the money for the campaign.
Successful call rooms have everything you need to make calls, and as few distractions as possible. Candidates who can spend their time on Facebook, Twitter, or watching TV will do that rather than make the calls they need.
Have water handy
Try to avoid having carbonated beverages in a call room. You may love your favorite soda, but there is nothing more distracting then feeling gassy while you are in the middle of a fundraising call, and donors are almost never moved by restraining a belch.
With all the talking you will be doing, you do need to make sure that you also don’t run into dry mouth and you can keep moving forward. Having water available can address those needs without any consequences you do not want in the room. Having water handy also prevents a lot of excuses to walk out and leave the room—the fewer breaks you take, the more call time you can get done in one sitting, and the more effective you will be.
Google Voice can be your friend!
I’ve said this many times in this series, but if you can, set up an internet VOIP phone, or a “burner” phone for your call time. DO NOT EVER use your personal phone for call time. Using your personal phone will give out your cell phone number to everyone and after a campaign you need a break.
It is often easier for people who are dialing for funds to have an actual desk phone or a phone that can be computer dialed, than picking up a cell phone and dialing in the number. Whatever is comfortable is fine, but avoid at every step using a cellular phone number you will retain after the election.
A comfortable place to sit—but not too comfortable
Your sitting position should be upright, allowing your lungs to fully extend so you have plenty of room for a deep breath. The chairs should also not be so comfortable you fall into them and relax, which can make you sound and feel even more tired.
Furniture that encourages you to sit upright and project will help you present yourself far better on the phone, where your voice is the only way someone on the other end learns something about you. Human beings pick up the signs from your voice that give them an idea of who you are—and if they want to give you money. Don’t sit in a barcalounger.
Summary
Call rooms are built to be about FOCUS. Make sure your call room is setup to keep you focused on the task at hand, it limits distractions and allows you to sound your best on the phone. If you’ve done these things, you have a more effective call room.
Next week: So many digital advertising platforms ...