NOTE: Prior to getting started, ensure that you have set up the communication channels you intend to use to engage with Constituents. This involves creating an account and connecting the integration for each channel you plan to utilize.
Creating Your First Touchpoint
To create your first Touchpoint, follow these steps.
- Click on the Stewardship Automation icon on the left-side navigation bar.
- Click the Add New Touchpoint button to open up the Touchpoint modal.
- Within the modal that pops up, you will see two sections:
- Triggers on the left side under "When". Triggers are specific conditions or events that will initiate the Touchpoint, such as reaching a donor milestone or receiving a donation.
- Actions on the right side under "Then". Actions, on the other hand, are the automated responses or tasks that will be carried out once the Trigger is met, such as sending a thank you email or automatically creating a Note Action on the matching Constituent profile.
Selecting your Triggers
Triggers are essential components of Touchpoints that serve as specific conditions or events that will activate the automated communication process.TIP: If you're having difficulty deciding which Triggers to use, don't worry! You can make things easier by using pre-built templates that come with predefined parameters. These templates can help simplify the process of setting up your Trigger parameters.
Communication Channels
Once you have selected your Trigger parameters, the next step is to choose the communication channel through which your automated content will be delivered. The communication channel serves as the medium through which your messages, emails, or notifications will reach your intended audience. This could include email, SMS, and handwritten letters.
Selecting the appropriate communication channel is crucial in ensuring that your messages are delivered effectively and reach your constituents in a timely manner. Choose the channel that best suits your communication goals and audience preferences to maximize the impact of your Touchpoint.
Approval Intervals
The next step is to set your approval period. The approval period is the amount of time allocated for reviewing and auditing any content that is scheduled to be sent out automatically. Having a longer approval time allows for thorough scrutiny and ensures that the content meets all necessary criteria before being distributed. The recommended approval period is typically set between 3 to 5 days, giving ample time for any necessary adjustments or revisions to be made before the content is officially sent out to the intended recipients. This timeframe allows for a comprehensive review process to guarantee the effectiveness and accuracy of the automated communication being delivered.
Send Options
Next, select your send options. You can choose to schedule messages to go out either on week days (Monday - Friday) or week days and weekends. All outgoing messages are queued to send between 8AM–12PM EST on the day that they are scheduled.
Settings
The final step is to name your Touchpoint and click the Save Touchpoint button.
