Virtual Phone Bank for Nonprofits and Political Campaigns

Virtual phone banks are a game-changer for nonprofits and political campaigns looking to connect with voters or supporters. With a virtual phone bank, you can reach a large number of people in a short amount of time.

This technology allows volunteers to make calls from anywhere, using their own devices, which can significantly increase the number of calls made. For example, a campaign can set up a virtual phone bank with 100 volunteers, each making 50 calls per hour, resulting in 5,000 calls in just one hour.

By leveraging virtual phone banks, nonprofits and campaigns can save time and resources, while also improving their outreach and engagement efforts.

Virtual phone banking has revolutionized the way campaigns connect with voters. It's easy to see why many choose this method for efficient voter contact.

By using virtual phone banking, you can make calls faster without manually dialing a phone number. This is especially helpful when you have a large team of volunteers making calls.

Virtual phone banking also allows you to route calls through a central caller ID number with a local area code. This makes it seem like the calls are coming from a local number, which can be more effective for reaching voters.

One of the best things about virtual phone banking is that it eliminates the need for burner phones. Volunteers can make calls via browser, which is a huge time-saver.

Virtual phone banking also improves your calling analytics and contact method scoring. This helps you understand what's working and what's not, so you can refine your strategy.

With branched scripts, you can even tailor your script responses to the flow of conversation in real-time. This means you can adapt to different voter responses and have more effective conversations.

Here are some key benefits of virtual phone banking at a glance:

One of the biggest advantages of virtual phone banks is their adaptability. You can easily change elements of the system, like the script or what information is displayed to volunteers, with just a few clicks.

With a virtual phone bank, you can make changes on the fly, which is a huge time-saver compared to traditional methods. This is especially useful if you need to update your messaging or adjust your targeting strategy.

If you need to make a last-minute change to your script, you can do it in seconds, without having to reprint or recreate any materials. This flexibility is a game-changer for campaigns that need to be agile and responsive.

And if something goes wrong, like a volunteer accidentally calls the wrong number, you can quickly adjust the system to prevent further mistakes. This level of control and flexibility is hard to match with traditional phone banking methods.

Volunteers can enter call results directly into the virtual phone banking software, saving campaign staff hours of data entry during the busy election cycle.

This means you can focus on more important tasks, like getting out the vote, instead of getting bogged down in paperwork.

With its user-friendly interface, OpenVPB makes it easy to call voters, follow the script, and enter responses directly into the software.

You can even do this from the comfort of your own home, or on the go, making it a convenient option for busy volunteers.

By using virtual phone banking, you can eliminate the need for manual data entry, which can be a real time-suck during an election cycle.

To begin using a virtual phone bank, you'll need a computer or mobile device with a stable internet connection. This allows you to access the virtual phone bank platform.

First, choose a virtual phone bank platform that suits your needs, such as the one that offers a free trial period for a month. This gives you a chance to test the platform's features and see if it's a good fit.

Next, set up your account by providing the required information, which typically includes your name, email address, and password.

To make calls, you'll want to use the Virtual Phone Bank (VPB) tool in VAN or send your phonebank to OpenVPB. If you have a VAN account, you can use the tool directly. For those without an account, you can send your phonebank to OpenVPB.

First, create a list of voters you're looking to call. Load the list and click "Calls" then select "Set up Virtual Phone Bank List" and click Next.

Leave the default option "Use this static list (Fixed set of people)" and click Continue. This will allow you to keep the list of voters the same.

If you want to send the phone bank to OpenVPB, check the box to Publish as an OpenVPB. This will make the phone bank available for volunteers to access.

If you're using the VPB to schedule volunteer shifts on the myCampaign side of VAN, check the box to Include Event Scheduler and then use the fields to select the specific event.

You can select what voter information you want to display during the phone bank on the right side of the screen.

After it's live, you can change details of the VPB by searching Virtual Phone Bank List on the left-hand search bar. Click the title of the phone bank you want to edit it.

If your phone bank is not available in OpenVPB or your volunteers are getting an error when they try to log in, check the following:

Access Your Virtual Phone Bank (VPB) is the next step in getting started. You'll need to access your VPB to make calls and connect with voters.

If a VPB has been shared with you, you'll see the title of the VPB listed. Otherwise, you'll need to enter the VPB code.

If you don't have a VPB code, don't worry! You can ask your VPB coordinator for help. They'll be able to provide you with the code or point you in the right direction.

If you're having trouble finding the phonebank you're looking for, it might be because you're in the wrong side of the database. Make sure you're in the correct section, such as MyVoters instead of MyCampaign.

Keep in mind that phonebanks are only available during regular calling hours, which are from 9am to 9pm. If you're trying to access a phonebank outside of these hours, you won't be able to find it.

Here are some steps to log into a VPB, assuming you have a VAN account:

* Step 2: Enter your VPB Code, but since you should have shared the Virtual Phone Bank with your whole committee, the name of it should be available to select, then click Next.