With 2024 being an election year, campaigns are revving up in full force. With the majority of voters tuning out campaign calls, yard signs, and flyers, this year’s candidates will largely be vying for attention on cell phones through private texts.
In most states, phone numbers on voter registration can be used for political activities. Candidates are also busily collecting phone numbers at dozens of campaign events and purchasing contact info from third-party companies.
However, not all of this contact information is accurate. That’s where RealPhoneValidation can help.
The impact of disconnected phone numbers
Phone numbers are priceless to this year’s political candidates because the cost of purchasing them is far more affordable than television ads or printed mailers, but there’s a catch. Thanks to data degradation — also known as data decay — the data on those lists of contact information has an expiration date, just like a jug of milk in the refrigerator.
Data decay refers to the degradation of contact information over time, rendering it outdated or invalid. This issue poses a serious hurdle for campaigns that heavily rely on accurate phone numbers to reach their target audience efficiently.
One of the leading causes of data decay is the frequent changing of phone numbers. People switch phone service providers, change plans, or simply abandon their old numbers for various reasons. Consequently, political campaigns often find themselves in possession of phone number databases that are no longer accurate and, at times, even disconnected or reassigned to other individuals. This leads to wasted resources and efforts as valuable time is spent contacting incorrect or obsolete phone numbers.
Even when political campaigns purchase phone numbers from third-party data providers, data decay is an inherent problem that cannot be entirely eliminated. These providers are typically diligent in their efforts to maintain accurate information, but the most up-to-date databases still contain a percentage of outdated or incorrect phone numbers
What’s more, the percentage of erroneous data increases over time. A conservative estimate puts the rate of phone data decay at approximately 18% each year.
How political campaigns can combat data decay
JoAnn Fitzpatrick, COO at RealValidation, Inc., works with candidates to fight the challenges posed by data decay. “Our entry into political campaigns was purely organic,” she recalls, “and we never relied on advertising or a sales team. Political clients stumbled on our services just like our clients in other industries.”
The company’s flagship product, RealPhoneValidation, sets itself apart from other solutions with real-time connected/disconnected validation. While competitors only disclose whether numbers are active/inactive or valid/invalid, RealPhoneValidation digs deeper because active/inactive status only confirms a number is registered to a carrier — not a user — and valid/invalid status only checks for correct formatting rather than current usage.
RealPhoneValidation verifies phone numbers to determine their current status and type so political campaigns can know whether a number is connected and whether it is a mobile or landline. This allows campaigners to determine whether the most effective outreach method will be a phone call or a text message.
Clean, validated lists lead to higher deliverability rates, enabling candidates to avoid the pitfalls of contacting disconnected numbers. Too many random calls can prompt phone carriers to flag or block calls as spam, and texting disconnected numbers or landlines can negatively impact a candidate’s sender reputation, risking penalties or suspension from texting platforms due to high bounce rates.
“RealPhoneValidation’s service equips campaigns to tailor their outreach,” says Fitzpatrick. “We maximize impact while maintaining compliance and efficiency.”
Mitigating data decay enhances outreach and optimizes communication
Phone validation services empower candidates to rectify fake phone numbers, outdated contact information, and invalid numbers. By ensuring the accuracy of their voter database, campaigns develop targeted outreach strategies, contact potential supporters, and engage with the electorate more efficiently.
Fitzpatrick firmly believes that phone numbers are key to connecting with this year’s voters. “RealPhoneValidation can help ensure that political outreach efforts are directed toward valid and current phone numbers, boosting voter engagement strategies and allowing campaign teams to mobilize support, disseminate information, and maximize participation more effectively,” she concludes. “Targeted communication increases voter support because personalized and timely interactions are more likely to resonate with constituents — empowering political campaigns to build meaningful connections and drive campaign momentum.”
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