There are two primary purposes behind telephone calls and e-mail notes: to give information or to get information.

Giving information may include invitations to events and meetings or reminders such as asking the recipient to follow-up on a task or complete and return a survey. E-mail might be used for the same purposes and also to announce updates on a website, to send an attached document such as background information or a newsletter, or to inform about the availability of new publications or reports and where to get copies.

Telephones and e-mail can also be used to gather information such as a brief, simple opinion survey to learn the degrees of support for, or opposition to, a particular project or action. If speaking to a person, the questions need to be yes/no or rated on a scale; open-ended questions cannot be included. They can be included if the survey is done on e-mail. For special events or festivals, contact potential volunteers by telephone or e-mail to ask for their help.

Finally, requests can also be made for money. Telemarketing needs to be entered cautiously. Improperly used, it can lead to resentment and animosity and lose potential supporters. Do not use a telemarketer who simply reads from a script; make the phone call more personal and use someone who understands the project thoroughly and who may already have a relationship with the potential donor. Since it is less personal, e-mail has greater limitations in the area of fundraising. Consider it as a first step: ask if the recipient would consent to speaking about a gift, to set up a meeting or a phone call, or to inquire if he or she would be willing to receive more information by mail. Phone calls or e-mails should be followed up with a complete package of information that includes a letter, a brochure or some other document that thoroughly explains the project or request for funds, and self-stamped return envelope and pledge card.

When considering using either telephones or e-mail for communication, keep in mind the following:

• Ask people directly if it is okay to phone them. When conducting a phone survey or solicitation, if people ask to be removed from your list, do it. Many states require this by law; regardless, it damages organizational credibility if requests are ignored.
• When collecting information from individuals, find out if they prefer you to call their home phone, work phone, or cell phone. On a signup sheet, next to where people will enter their phone numbers, include a box that they can check indicating the best number to reach them.
• Be mindful that not everyone has access to e-mail. It is important that people not feel they are missing out on information coming via e-mail. Be sure to send the same information by regular mail that is sent electronically. If possible, plan the distribution: send regular mail a day or two before sending e-mail so that everyone receives it at the same time.
• For people who have e-mail at work, be sure to check if it permissible to send information to that address. Many companies do not want employees using e-mail for personal reasons, so they may monitor messages.

1. Determine the purpose

What is the goal of the telephone call or e-mail? What will be accomplished? How does this fit into the project’s overall public outreach plan? If requesting information, know exactly how the data will be used. People will want to see evidence that the time they took to complete an opinion survey, no matter how brief, was taken into account.

2. Get your list

Most likely this will be a targeted group of people with whom you want to regularly communicate such as a task force or an advisory committee. Collect phone numbers and e-mail addresses at public meetings and events, on surveys, on websites, by referrals, and other outreach methods.

3. Write a draft

Before calling, write down a few key points. Reading a script will result in an unnatural conversation, but it can be helpful to know exactly what needs to be covered. Always begin a conversation by identifying yourself and the organization and asking if it is a convenient time to talk. If the response is no, ask for a time when you can call back or give your number. Speak clearly and be enthusiastic – if you smile, it comes through in your voice. For e-mail, most importantly, check spelling before sending! Succinctly summarize the e-mail’s purpose in the subject line and include all relevant contact information at the end of your message: your full name, organization, e-mail address, and telephone number(s). Keep in mind that e-mails can take on a life of their own: they can be forwarded, printed and saved, and even used in a court of law.

4. Handle no responses

When leaving a message on an answering machine or voice-mail box, give your name, a succinct summary of the purpose of your call, and your phone number repeated twice. Unless someone has specifically requested a full explanation of why you are calling, avoid the temptation to leave lengthy messages. For e-mail, keep in mind that not everyone checks e-mail daily. Many mail programs have a function called "return receipt" which will automatically notify you when your message is opened. Also consider calling and letting the recipient know he or she has an e-mail message from you.