What is a call number?
Unlike your campaign's number which sends SMS and MMS broadcasts, a call number allows you to transfer calls to select targets. A campaign can have multiple call numbers.
Who can I patch calls to?
Strive can transfer calls to US. Representatives in the House and Senate, State Legislators, or custom targets such as local mayor's office or a corporate officer.
Strive will match callers to their US. Reps. and State Legislators based on their street address and zip code when available.
Can supporters call in to my call number?
Yes, you can share your call number via text or advertise it on a webpage or social media. If a supporter calls your call number they will be transferred to your configured targets.
Can Strive call supporters?
Yes, if a member replies with the keyword CALL while interacting with a flow that contains a patch a call bot action, the member will be called via your call number and patched to your target(s).
Alternatively you can enable call upon arrival on your patch a call bot action, which will call your member as soon as they reach the flow step.
Can I greet callers with an audio message before transferring their call?
Yes, by default supporters will hear the default audio welcome message configured for the call number via the Call Numbers page.
Alternatively, you can upload a custom audio welcome message in a flow that contains a patch a call bot action. This custom audio message will overwrite your default audio message if a supporter is interacting with your flow. Learn more.
Callers will hear your audio message before being patched to a call target.
What are the file limitations for audio greetings?
We accept MP3 or M4A audio file types. We recommend that your audio file does not exceed 26 MB.
Can my call number opt-in cold callers?
Yes! You can ask non subscribed callers if they would like to join your list via a Non-Subscriber Follow Up Message, which can be enabled from the Options tab of your call numbeer.
Cold callers who do not opt-in will be recorded as unsubscribed in your Members list.
How does Strive match supporters with a target when routing calls?
US House and Senate, State Legislators
Strive will always attempt to match callers with their elected officials based on the caller's street address and zip code. Strive will use a caller's saved address and zip code in your Members list.
If a match cannot be made due to invalid zip/address data or you do not have the caller's address or zip code saved in your Members list, Strive will use the caller's area code to make the best possible match.
If an exact match can be found, Strive will save that data in the Members list.
Custom Targets
Strive will transfer calls to your selected custom targets at random.
Tip: If you would like Strive to match callers with their US Senators, include a default Zip Code Prompt.
Cold callers who do not have zip code saved in your Members list will hear this audio message prompting them to enter their zip code before being patched through.
What if a caller cannot be matched to a target due to insufficient address data?
Strive can route callers to a Fallback phone number, if an exact match cannot be made. Enable a fallback number via the Options tab of your Call Number.
If a Fallback number is not enabled, Strive will attempt to make the best possible match using the caller's zip and address data first. If no data is available, Strive will use the caller's area code to identify the best possible match.
How often does Strive update US House and Senate, State Legislators data?
Strive pulls in any available updates on targets nightly. To see the last update received from our data partners and the data source of each line, click Details next to the target.
Call Number Options
Enable settings for your Call Number via the Options tab:
Default Audio Message
Play a default audio recording to help guide callers on talking points or provide important info before their call is patched. When enabled, the default audio recording will play before a caller is routed to a target, unless they are interacting with a flow containing a custom audio message.
Non-Subscriber Follow Up Message
Send an SMS follow-up message to unsubscribed callers. This SMS follow up is a great way to engage cold callers to join your list after their call is complete. Strive will send your SMS message to non subscribed callers with mobile devices after they hang up.
Zip Code Prompt
Prompt callers who do not have zip code saved in your Members list to enter their zip code on their phone's keypad before being patched through. When enabled, Strive will play your written prompt in IVR (interactive voice response).
Strive will wait 5 seconds for a callers entry. If no zip code is entered, Strive will connect your caller to a target at random. If a zip code is entered, Strive will save this data in your Members list.
Fallback number
A fallback number is a phone number that, when enabled, will match callers if:
- The caller does not have enough geolocation data (address, zip code) on their member record to match with their elected official. Instead of the member being connected with one of the possible matches, they will be routed to your fallback number.
- The caller is matched with a target who does not have contact info available. Instead of matching the caller with a target who is unreachable, they will be routed to your fallback number.
Tip: Select a fallback number that routes to an operator who can connect the caller to their elected official, for example a capitol switchboard.
Should I always enable a fallback number?
No. If you are patching callers to custom targets or a limited set of representatives that are from another district, we recommend that you do not have a fallback number set for your call number. For these use cases, Strive does not need to use the caller’s geolocation to patch callers to targets.
Can I test my call number?
Yes! Learn how to test your call numbers.
Configure a call number
Before you can get started, you must request a call number from the Call Numbers page.
- Go to the Call Numbers page.
- Click Edit next your call number.
- From the Overview tab, name your call number.
- Next upload your default audio message by clicking Choose a File.
Note: This default audio greeting will play before the caller is routed to one of your targets, unless the caller is interacting with a flow's patch a call bot action that contains a custom audio message. - Check the box of any Advanced Options you'd like applied. For a Zip Code Prompt, type in your script and an IVR (interactive voice response) will read your script before your call is patched through. For Non-Subscriber Follow Up Message, type in your auto reply which will send after the caller hangs up. For a Fallback Number enter a valid phone number you'd like to route unmatchable callers to.
- Click Save.
Select your call target(s)
- Go to the Call Numbers page.
- Click Edit next to your call number.
- From the Targets tab, select if you would like your call targets to be the US House and Senate, State Representatives, and/or Custom from the drop down menu.
- Next, select your target(s) by checking the box next to their name. You can see the total number of targets selected in the call target drop down (from step 3).
- Select your priority number for your target(s).
Note: By default, Strive will prioritize US House and Senate target's capitol office number. If you would like a new number added to the target's priority number list, click the Add a Line button.
Add a line to federal and state targets
- Click details next to the target you would like to add a line to
- Enter the phone number and label
- Click the checkbox next to the new line if you would like to direct callers to the new line
Note: Strive will not save custom lines for Federal and State targets who are no longer in office, or re-elected.
Add Custom targets
- Go to the Call Numbers page.
- Click Edit next your call number.
- From the Targets tab, select Custom from the targets drop down menu.
- From the Custom targets page, click Add Target
- Name your new custom target and add their title.
- Next, add the custom targets phone number and label it (i.e. NY office).
- If your custom target has multiple contact numbers, click Add Number to add additional numbers.
- Set each number's priory. For example, if your target has multiple numbers, and you would like Strive to prioritize the target's DC office number when patching calls, set the DC number to priority “1”.
- Click Save.
