Guide to Running Your Own Phone Bank
Phone banking is the most efficient way to talk with community members about the issues that matter to them. Our success on the Obama campaign depended upon our ability to share our message through as many discussions with voters as possible.
In order to realize the change that we all fought so hard for, we must continue to reach out to our neighbors and involve them in our movement by demonstrating the urgent need for leadership in Washington around the issues that matter most to our country. As we mobilize in support of health reform, clean energy, and education, we want our neighbors to join us. Phone banking is an effective way to spread our message as well as recruit new volunteers!
It's easy to run your own phone bank from you house, a local business or another meeting spot. This guide will walk you through each step of the process and provide you with all the resources you need to host a successful phone bank. Good luck!
Step 1: Find Your Location
Before you pick a place to host your phone bank, think of what you need. Ideally the place should have:
• Phone lines that your group can use
• Computers with internet for data entry and/or online calling
• Parking. This can make or break your phone bank!
• If it’s a business building, you should make sure the security features don’t make it impossible for volunteers to get into the building.
• Bathrooms, an important detail
Remember, though, all you need for a phone bank is an open and quiet space. If you can't find a space with multiple phone lines, you can always ask attendees to bring their cell phones. Here's some ideas of where you can host:
• Rooms in community centers, schools, churches
• Coffee shops or restaurants
• Any business with a meeting room
Step 2: Register your Event
Take a moment to register your event online. Registering your event online means you’ll get your own page for your event, be able to send an invite to your friends, track who is planning on attending, and send details and reminders to your attendees.
Step 3: Recruit Attendees
Invite as many people as possible to attend your phone bank. Make phone calls and tap into your network of friends, neighbors, and colleagues to find volunteers. You can also find your local My.BarackObama group and invite members to attend by emailing the group's listserv. You may also want to create your own flyers promoting the phone bank and post them at your local coffee shop, grocery store, or library.
Step 4: Prepare All of Your Materials
You'll want to print out the following items:
• informational flyers with more ways to get involved
• relevant policy one-pagers
• scripts and call lists.
Of course don't forget to bring pens so people can mark their responses.
Step 5: Make Reminder Calls
Be sure to make reminder calls to everyone who has signed up online or has told you verbally they plan on attending. Turn out will increase dramatically if you ask them for a firm commitment. You can download your attendee list through Manage My Events.
Sample Agenda For Your Phone Bank
This agenda is meant as a suggestion to guide you through your phone bank. Feel free to adjust the agenda to best suit your neighborhood and participants.
Welcome and introduction (10 min)
If possible, have each person introduce themselves by name. Have two people share their personal stories, addressing what is at stake for them personally. Stories should give a human side to our organizing work and remind us of the real impact of the decisions made in Washington.
Also be sure to explain why you’re phone banking today and what the group’s motivation and ultimate goals are.
Set expectations (3 min)
Share your goal for the number of calls you are trying to make and the number of people you are trying to reach. Display that goal on butcher paper or poster board for all to see. Put this number into perspective by reminding your volunteers that they are part of a huge effort with thousands of volunteers across the country engaging in similar efforts.
Review the script and role play with a partner (5 min)
Read the script outloud and ask if anyone has questions. Practice your pitch in pairs. What are you going to say when you get someone on the phone? Let people know that it's alright to personalize the message so it seems more natural but that they shouldn't vary too much from the script.
Hit the phone lines! (3 hours)
Check on your group during the phone bank. Keep people updated about your group’s success! Example: Alex reached his call goal for the hour! Caroline is leading the team in contacts made!
Debrief (15 min)
At the end of the phone bank have everyone tally up the number of calls made and the number that were successful contacts. Gather the information and make sure the data has been entered or will be. Present how your group fared overall and ask those who did well what made the difference. Ask those who struggled what the challenges were that we need to prepare better for next time.
Don't forget in your debrief to let people know about your next event or how they can get more involved in your local group.
Celebrate
If possible, organize a potluck or an optional social gathering afterwards. Talk about your success together!
Things to Remember while Making Calls
Smile! This is the most basic rule of voter contact. If you sound like you are enjoying yourself, people will be more interested in engaging in conversation with you and discussing what issues are important to them. Even on the phone, people can tell if you are smiling!
Stay positive! As a volunteer, you’re here to excite voters about the President's agenda and the work Organizing for America is doing - not to weigh them down with complaints about the opposition or their viewpoints. Comparisons are good, but keep a positive focus on the President's goals.
Don’t pretend to be a policy expert. It’s likely that someone will ask you a question to which you do not know the answer. That’s okay. You should never be afraid to admit you do not know the details of one of the President's policies. If you aren’t sure, say just that. You can point them to WhiteHouse.gov orBarackObama.com for more information on the particular issue.
Follow the script, but speak from the heart. You will have a script to help you engage voters. But think of it as a guide. You will always be more effective if you can clearly and concisely explain what inspired you to work with Organizing for America.
Things to Remember for Recording Results
• If you speak with a member of the household other than the voter on your call list, do not record the responses as those of the person on your list. You should simply report the voter as "Not Home" and move on to the next call.
• We only need the information required by the script. If you talk with a voter about issues beyond the script, that's great! Having a conversation is the most effective way to to share the President's agenda with other voters or bring them into Organizing for America. However, you do not have to worry about reporting any information beyond the questions on the script.
• If you reach a disconnected number, you can report it as a "Wrong Number" if "Disconnected" is not listed as a reporting option.
• If you get a busy signal, you can report it as "Call Back" if "Busy" is not listed as a reporting option.
Capture Information
It's extremely important that you enter the calls and responses online. We'll provide more details on how to do that depending on the specific calling campaign.
Also, make sure to enter the information from you sign-in sheets. You can enter the information online here. If you are unable to enter it online, you can fax it to (202) 350-6058 or mail it in:
Organizing for America
430 South Capitol Street SE
Washington, D.C., 20003
Thank your guests
Send a personal email thanking everyone who participated in the phone bank. Be sure to stay connected with your fellow volunteers and get ready for the next action!
Congratulations
Congratulations, you are making the change you voted for possible. Now begin planning your next event. It's up to each one of us to keep this movement going. Thank you for all your hard work!
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