Using Triggers or “How can Actions have Consequences”

Triggers are used to create a Tag based on an action. “Actions” are based on Ballot related action data from the RNC (like Ballot Requested, Ballot Return, Ballot Sent, Early Voted) or other Actions (sending of a templated message, completion of a form). An action trigger defines a sequence of operation.

The Trigger consists of

- An action type is selected (Ballot Requested, Ballot Return, Ballot Sent, Early Voted, Form, Message)

- A Ballot Code, Form or Message Template is selected

- A Tag to be added to the contact can be selected

- A Tag to be removed from the contacts can be selected
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The Trigger can either be run manually (one time) or it can be set to run automatically whenever a new synchronization with the RNC data has been prompted.

Set Up

1. Create Tags you want to add to Contacts based on Actions in “Setting-Tags”

2. Create your target audiences in “Contacts-Filters”

3. Create message templates in “Outreach-Templates”

4. Create Trigger in “Triggers”

Triggering the Trigger

- Prompt an update of the RNC data in “Triggers-Action Data Service Status”

- Prompt the action

Practical Application

Igniting the Vote or Ballot chasing

Before Ballots have been requested create an audience you want to drive to requestion absentee ballots. Once they have requested the ballots, message them to return the ballot

Specifics

- Create a set of Tags

o “Get you Ballot”, “Ballot Requested” (more as needed)

- Create one or more “Audience” with the Tag “Get your Ballot”

- Create one or more “Audience” with the Tag “Ballot Requested”

- Create a series of templated messages to the “Get your Ballot” Audiences by creating the message and timing them to be pushed out to the target audience on specific dates

- Create a series of templated message to the “Ballot Requested” Audiences by creating the message and timing them to be pushed out to the target audiences on specific dates

- Create a trigger that is prompted by the “Ballot requested” Action and adds the “Ballot Requested” Tag and removes the “Get your Ballot” Tag.

- Create a trigger that is prompted by the “Ballot Return” Action and removes the “Ballot Requested” Tag.

You can also create a trigger that creates a Tag following the sending of a particular message or completion of a form. For example, if you want to create an escalation in the urgency of your message, create a first Message that is email based, once that message went, have the sending of the message change the Tag to “2nd mail”. Create the next message for the audience that has “2nd mail” in it. It may be a more strongly worded message or a text message, or a Friend to Friend message. Obviously, you can create multiple instances of this same thing.

Or, for other applications, if you have invited people to an event and they completed the registration form, you can have the completion of the form change the Tag on the contact from “Invitee” to “Registered”. You would set the Trigger to be based on a Form and add/remove the tags accordingly. Those who have not registered yet you would continue to email/txt or have their friends contract them.

The different elements depend on each other, so we recommend the following sequence to set them up.

1st Trigger

2nd Trigger

3rd Trigger

Once you are comfortable with the set up, set the triggers to automatic operation. If they are set to "Automatic", they run during the night.

Either way, you have to manual trigger the "update now". Note: once you clicked "update now", it may take a few seconds before the text turns grey. This indicates that the system is processing. It can take a while for the trigger count to start counting up. The system also shows you when you last updated. FYI, most of the ABEV files come in the morning, so check after noon if you should trigger the next update.