As new technologies change the way we communicate and connect, a new method of Peer to Peer (P2P) texting voters has been quickly recognized as one of the most effective ways to reach a large audience and increase voter support and turnout.
Peer-to-peer texting (P2P) is successful because it has the grassroots elements of door-to-door canvassing but can reach thousands more at a time. Moreover, because it is manually driven, it is one of the very few legal ways you can reach out to voters on their cell phones.
P2P texting to voters is one of the core services we offer here at Monarch Broadcast Messaging. If you are interesting in going immediately to our P2P service page, you can click here.
Meanwhile, here is a quick run-down on why and how P2P texting is changing campaign strategies and tactics in winning elections and how it is helping candidates engage contacts, form meaningful connections, and rally supporters.
What is Peer-to-Peer texting?
Peer to peer texting, also referred to as P2P texting, is the newest method of communicating with voters – and research shows it’s highly effective. As the name suggests, peer-to-peer texting involves texting your contacts directly and engaging in one-to-one personalized conversations. When coupled with Monarch Broadcast’s advanced voter texting platform, peer to peer texting allows you to engage your contacts and rally your supporters in an entirely new way.
How is P2P texting different than robo-texting?
Peer to peer texting is quite different to robo-texting, an automated method of mass text. Robo-texting is a “once and done” and less conversational text blast. It is also illegal unless you have the explicit opt-in permission of the voter to text them. With P2P texting, individuals and volunteers are crafting the message and ultimately, and manually, hitting “send.” It is not automated dialing and not done by a bot. This distinction is what makes peer to peer texting far more effective and compliant.
Why Peer to Peer texting works
As other methods become exhausted and lose efficacy, this proven method of communication outperforms, and gets results. Here are some reasons why P2P texting to voters is more preferred than other methods.
Phone calls require impeccable timing
While calls can add the appeal of a voice and reach targeted groups, calls can’t reach everyone. Over half of Americans don’t have landlines. And of those who still do, many aren’t picking up. While leaving a message on voters’ voicemail is a great option in this situation, that suddenly leaves contacts without the ability to respond back in real time. With texts, the conversation stays open, and voters can reply while on the go.
Ads aren’t as cost-effective
If you need to maximize every campaign dollar, putting it all in advertising can quickly run through your budget. Traditional ads are notoriously expensive, and although digital ads are far less costly, they don’t “cut through the noise” the same way a text campaign does. Consider all the ads you see throughout your day and how much you notice and interact with them. Users frequently tune them out. According to Hubspot, the average click-through rate of a search ad is only 1.91% and 0.35% for a display ad.
Make no mistake – advertising should be a part of your campaign efforts, and can even be integrated with a P2P texting campaign for powerful results, but your budget shouldn’t solely be allocated to ads. When trying to maximize a limited campaign budget, you’re left with no room to optimize your ads, and dismal click-through rates can leave you feeling disheartened.
Emails are opened at a lower rate
Emails are quite effective, but they can only be effective when they’re read. The average email open rate is generally varies from 15-25%, and they’re responded to even less. Peer to peer texting, on the other hand, has an approximate 98% open rate. While emails are an important piece of a campaign, if you want to reach a larger audience, foster relationships with potential supporters, and encourage replies from your contacts, you should include peer to peer texting in your efforts.
More efficient than door-to-door
Door-to-door canvassing is a grassroots method of communicating with voters, and it’s historically been an important part of campaigns. But if you want fast and efficient results, this isn’t how to get it. While door-to-door canvassing is highly personal, it’s a lot slower than peer to peer texting. In the time it takes to ring a dozen doorbells and connect with locals, imagine how many P2P texts can be sent? In just one hour, a volunteer can send anywhere between 1000 to 2500 P2P texts and start simultaneous conversations. In addition, door to door campaigns are a problem during the pandemic, when people are trying to decrease their interactions and exposure to others.
Benefits of Peer to Peer Texting
Here are eight immediate benefits to starting a peer to peer texting campaign:
1. It’s efficient
There’s a reason texting is the preferred method of communicating in our personal lives; it’s efficient. Likewise, peer to peer texting is an instant, cost-effective method of getting your message to many contacts at quickly. While the thought of having volunteers individually reaching out to voters sounds like it would be time consuming, when you set up your P2P texting campaign with Monarch Broadcast Messaging, it’s simple to scale your conversations with your contacts. We help you create templates, gauge the amount of volunteer power you’ll need, and measure results.
2. It starts a conversation
A lot of voters feel a left out of the election process and political conversation. They want to be heard and feel like their vote matters. The best way to get voters involved and generate enthusiasm is to start a conversation; peer to peer texting does just that.
When you utilize P2P texting, you can ask questions and have more back-and-forth in your conversation, instead of just a one-sided approach. On the other hand, when voters see an ad, they can’t respond to it, ask questions, or feel involved in any way. By nature, texting is interactive, which is really important in connecting with voters and leaving a lasting impression, while hearing their concerns on a variety of issues.
3. Reach a larger audience
Nearly everyone has a phone. And with P2P texting, you’re not excluding those without a smartphone or a landline. When you add peer to peer texting to your campaign efforts, you bridge the disconnect that exists with ads, and emails, and phone calls, and you do it fast. It’s a no brainer.
4. It’s personal
The medium is the message. Texting, by nature, is a far more personal and casual approach. By speaking directly to voters, you form a connection that is far more engaging and grabs attention in a much better way than generalized messages. And the message is far less formal, adding an element of authenticity and creating trust. With P2P texting, you can use emojis and images to catch the eye of the reader and personalize the message to the user, facilitating a deeper connection and leaving a lasting impression.
5. New channel for fundraising
When you include peer to peer texting in your campaign efforts, you increase your reach, and acquire a new channel for raising funds. When crafting your message, you can include links to your donation page, making the process simple for your contacts. Because this method is so personalized, it packs a much more effective punch in appealing to potential donors.
6. Improves voter turnout
It’s no secret that voter turnout in the US is abysmal. Only half of Americans vote in presidential elections, and even less in local elections, which typically see a voter turnout under 20%. When you start a personal connection with voters through peer to peer texting and start a two-way conversation, you can help voters along the way and provide useful information, like where and when to vote.
7. Setup is a breeze
It’s so easy to implement a peer to peer texting campaign. Once you have a goal in mind, consider your message, and then have your volunteers start firing it away. When you start your campaign with Monarch Broadcast Messaging, you’re able to send highly personalized messages and measure the results of your P2P texting campaign.
8. It prompts action
When you mobilize your supporters, you see results. Because of the technological aspect of P2P texting, it can be highly effective in getting your contacts to act. With the ability to add links, phone numbers, and map locations, voters are just one tap away from action. In addition to raising your campaign’s visibility and increasing voter turnout, P2P texting can be utilized to get readers to sign a petition, call their senator, or RSVP to events. In P2P texting, you control the message, and guide the end user into action.
Use P2P to Connect with Voters
Ultimately, if you don’t incorporate peer to peer texting in your campaign efforts, you’re not maximizing your reach, and you’re closing the door on incredible insights in voter sentiment. If starting a conversation with your potential supporters is what it takes to mobilize them and get results, start talking and making connections.
At Monarch Broadcast Messaging, we understand the challenges to connect with voters. That’s why we take the guesswork out of starting a peer to peer (P2P) texting voters campaign. Get in touch with us at 888-387-8636 to find out how easy it is to start and connect with voters today.