Texting gives campaigns and organizations a fast, direct way to reach supporters with information they can act on. When there’s a volunteer shift to fill, a fundraising deadline approaching, or an important update to share, organizers don’t always have time to wait for someone to check their inbox.
Broadcast texting makes it possible to send those messages to a large group of opted-in supporters at once. It can help campaigns and organizations share timely updates, mobilize supporters, raise money, promote events, and keep people engaged throughout a campaign or organizing program.
What is broadcast texting?
Broadcast texting is the process of sending one text message to a large list of recipients at the same time. Unlike peer-to-peer texting, where volunteers or staff initiate individual messages, broadcast texting lets an organization send the same message to thousands (or even millions) of people at once.
Broadcast texts can be sent from different types of numbers, including short codes, toll-free numbers, and standard 10-digit numbers. Recipients need to be opted in to receive broadcast messages, and organizations should make sure their texting programs follow applicable carrier requirements and texting compliance practices. Many platforms, including ActBlue Field Tools, also support MMS, allowing teams to add images or GIFs when visual content can make a message more useful or engaging.
How can organizing teams use broadcast texting?
Broadcast texting is especially useful when the same information needs to reach a lot of supporters quickly. Rather than starting thousands of individual conversations, organizers can send one message with a clear update or call to action and give recipients an immediate next step.
That makes broadcast texting useful throughout a campaign, from recruiting volunteers and promoting events to fundraising and GOTV.
Mobilize supporters quickly
When timing matters, broadcast texting can help campaigns and organizations move supporters from information to action quickly. An advocacy organization might ask supporters to contact lawmakers before an upcoming vote, while a campaign might use a broadcast to fill an urgent volunteer shift or mobilize people around a rapid-response event.
The most useful messages make the action obvious. Instead of trying to fit an entire campaign update into one text, focus on what supporters need to know and what you want them to do next.
Example:
We need 20 more volunteers for Saturday’s canvass! Can you join us from 10 a.m.–1 p.m.? Sign up here: [link]
Promote events and increase attendance
Broadcast texts can help organizations promote rallies, fundraisers, canvasses, trainings, town halls, and other events. Teams can send an initial invitation, follow up with reminders, and share last-minute logistics such as a location change or updated start time.
Organizers can also use engagement data to make follow-up more targeted. Rather than repeatedly messaging the entire list, they can focus future outreach on supporters who clicked a link, responded to a message, or took another relevant action. ActBlue Field Tools, for example, supports trackable links and automated response flows that can help organizers understand and respond to supporter engagement.
Example:
Reminder: Our volunteer training starts tonight at 7! We’ll cover everything you need to know before your first canvass. RSVP here: [link]
Share important updates
Not every text needs to make a big ask. Broadcast messaging can also help supporters stay informed about what’s happening with a campaign or organization.
Campaigns might share early voting dates, campaign announcements, new endorsements, volunteer opportunities, or Election Day information. Advocacy organizations, nonprofits, and unions can use broadcasts for legislative updates, organizing victories, membership information, or new opportunities to get involved.
Drive fundraising and other actions
Broadcast texting can send supporters directly to the action you want them to take, whether that’s making a contribution, signing a petition, registering for an event, or signing up to volunteer. Trackable links can then help organizers see how people are engaging with that outreach and use those results to inform future messages.
For fundraising programs in particular, texting can also connect directly with an organization’s fundraising tools. ActBlue Field Tools supports an ActBlue integration that allows organizations to share contribution links and track donations from text campaigns.
Example:
We’re $3,200 away from tonight’s fundraising goal. Can you chip in $10 to help us close the gap? [link]
What makes a good broadcast text?
A broadcast might reach thousands of people, but the message itself should still be simple and specific. Supporters should be able to understand why you’re texting them and what they’re being asked to do without having to work through a long block of copy.
A few basics can make broadcast messages more effective:
- Lead with what matters. Don’t bury the update or ask halfway through the message.
- Include one clear action. Give supporters an obvious next step, whether that’s donating, RSVPing, volunteering, or reading an update.
- Give people a reason to act now. If there’s a deadline or timely reason for the message, say so.
- Use links intentionally. Send recipients directly to the page they need rather than making them hunt for information.
- Segment when it makes sense. Not every supporter needs every message. More targeted outreach can keep your texting program relevant.
- Plan your follow-up. A supporter who clicks, responds, or takes action may be a good candidate for a different next message.
What’s the difference between broadcast texting and peer-to-peer texting?
Broadcast texting and peer-to-peer (P2P) texting both help campaigns reach supporters over text, but they’re built for different types of outreach. With P2P texting, volunteers or staff initiate individual messages and can continue one-to-one conversations with recipients. That makes it useful for persuasion, answering questions, volunteer recruitment, and other outreach where a personal conversation matters.
Broadcast texting prioritizes speed and scale. One sender can distribute a message to a large opted-in list at once, making it a better fit for announcements, reminders, fundraising appeals, and urgent calls to action.
Broadcast texting with ActBlue Field Tools
ActBlue Field Tools gives campaigns and organizations the tools to build broadcast texting into a broader digital organizing program. Teams can send high-volume messages immediately or schedule them in advance, include images and GIFs, track link engagement, create automated keyword responses, and use forms to grow their texting lists. Integrations with platforms including ActBlue and NGP VAN can also help keep organizing and supporter data connected.
Broadcast texting is also available alongside peer-to-peer texting, relational organizing, canvassing, phone banking, and other organizing tools in ActBlue Field Tools. That means teams can use mass messaging when they need scale and shift to more personal outreach when a supporter needs a conversation or follow-up. Get started with ActBlue Field Tools and give your organizing team more ways to reach supporters when it matters.
This post is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Campaign practices — including voter contact, data use, and fundraising — are governed by federal, state, and local law that varies by jurisdiction and changes over time. You are responsible for your campaign’s compliance. Consult your own legal counsel with legal questions.
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