In an ever-changing political landscape, information is power. An informed citizen is more connected, better equipped to vote, and more likely to engage in their community. How do organizations tap into this power?
A strong step is to encourage people to sign up for political text alerts. By doing so, you cultivate participation in the democratic process and empower individuals to create stronger communities.
Impact of Political Text Alerts
With many different communication channels available, the challenge lies in finding the most impactful way to cut through the noise.
The Limitations of Traditional Channels
Social media algorithms can be unpredictable, and content promotion on those platforms is not always cost-effective. Print media is not always a feasible option, and even the most engaged readers cannot always check your website regularly for updates. They may miss out on key information or updates.
Political text alerts, however, give you a tool to reach readers directly, leveraging the near-constant presence of cell phones in today’s society. Because nearly every adult has a cell phone, and 98 percent of U.S. adults text, this medium offers unparalleled accessibility.
Building Direct Connections
Compared to other forms of communication, text messages are a near-direct line of communication to members of the public, fostering a relationship with people ready to engage. Establishing trust with citizens can even lead them to take further action to interact with your content in other ways, whether they sign up for your newsletter, visit your website, or share your message themselves.
Advanced SMS platforms, with the ability to develop one-to-one rapport or connect to a larger community, are a valuable tool to achieve a wide range of communication objectives.
Benefits of Civic Participation
Civic learning—or staying informed through channels such as news platforms and political text alerts—is one type of civic participation. It is a basic building block that empowers citizens to engage in other forms of civic participation.
The next step is active engagement and interaction. Civic participation builds a bridge between citizens and the institutions of their communities. Here’s why this matters:
- Influence: When people can access information and engage with what they’ve learned, it can encourage them to take additional actions. Informed citizens are more likely to vote in primary and local elections.
- Community: Research shows that voters have stronger social connections, which comes with various benefits. Strong social bonds promote collective resilience and cohesion, which can serve a shared purpose for the community.
- Empowerment: Active participation in civic life encourages citizens to take ownership of their communities and become agents of change. They may donate money or volunteer their time or skills for political organizations or community organizations they care about.
- Transparency: Mechanisms like citizen surveys, calls for feedback, and SMS polls connect citizens with current community events and the governing bodies. This offers a firsthand view of the decision-making process and the factors that influence it.
Offering an additional avenue for civic participation is a powerful way to invest in the community's best interests. Through text messages, citizens have greater opportunities to stay informed and develop a valuable sense of collaboration.
Effects of Real-Time Updates to Empower Citizens
While civic participation and access to information have excellent long-term benefits, what are the immediate effects of real-time access to updates through political news alerts? Here’s how sharing real-time information can empower citizens in the moment.
Real-time updates allow citizens to:
- Stay informed about critical political events.
- Navigate complex issues.
- Meaningfully engage in current affairs.
- Gain valuable context and background information.
Ultimately, the instantaneous nature of text messages gives people the chance for action when it matters most—and when they’re the most likely to follow through.
Creating a Feedback Channel
When readers sign up for political text alerts, it’s also an opportunity to utilize features like polls, Q&As, & two-way messaging to encourage dialogue about current events. This can be incredibly valuable for both sides of the conversation—organizers can quickly mobilize support for an initiative, while citizens have the opportunity to show up for a cause with just a few taps.
Presenting Opportunities
Real-time information prepares people for activities happening in their backyard. It also provides them with relevant information to take action, whether getting out to vote, sharing their opinions, showing up for their community, or planning to attend an event.
Reaching Large Audiences
For national or international organizations, news alerts reach citizens on a larger scale. Users can get information about court cases, congressional legislation, or international affairs.
You can also use SMS to discuss events already reaching a wider audience, such as an election), when readers are typically highly engaged. This allows users to ride the momentum with fellow citizens and even grow their audience for future communication.
Following the Action
This influence holds immense potential in the hands of other political entities, too. Political officials or candidates can share information with their constituents or potential voters through political text alerts, such as policy updates, voter registration information, or event invites.
This can be a powerful tool for keeping voters engaged in years without a presidential vote. Read more about how leveraging SMS can improve the midterm election experience for voters and political organizations alike.
Achieving Diverse Goals
Community organizations can take advantage of this connection as well. Text alerts are an excellent way to build a network of people who can get involved in action, such as mutual aid or organized activism, such as petitions or protests.
Real-time updates allow groups to communicate about events as they happen, which allows them to efficiently match desire and availability with current needs.
Advantage of Personalized Updates
The personalization available through text alerts makes the tool appealing to both organizations wanting to send messages and individuals wanting to receive them. Subtext offers a variety of features that make it easy to communicate with your audience in your own voice:
- Tailored Text Updates: Personalization means you can send only the most important messages to your audience.
- Audience Segmentation: Senders can set up custom contact cards and segment audiences easily so you can keep it relevant and interesting to everyone on your list.
- Custom Messages: Organizations can take advantage of custom welcome messages to establish expectations upfront.
- Scheduled Sends: You can schedule messages, use templated or auto-replies, and use drip sequences to send exactly the information you want when you want.
- Smart Controls: Senders can utilize smart inbox controls to filter messages, mute certain subscribers, and prioritize contacts.
How to Inform Voters and Get Results
When you encourage citizens to sign up for your political text alerts, you’re not only disseminating crucial information. It’s also a powerful step toward taking charge of your impact and empowering citizens to do the same. These alerts provide a direct, efficient way to get the word out, keeping members of the community informed and engaged with the things that matter most to their communities.
With Subtext, advanced civic engagement tools are at your fingertips. Take the lead and start making your voice heard. Book a demo today to get started.