Planning Your Migration
Switching campaign platforms mid-campaign requires careful planning. Here's a step-by-step approach to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Step 1: Export Your Data
- Most campaign platforms allow you to export data as CSV files. Export:
- Voter list: Names, addresses, contact info, support levels, tags
- Donation records: Donor info, amounts, dates, receipt numbers
- Volunteer roster: Names, contact info, roles, hours logged
- Interaction history: Door knocks, phone calls, email responses
Step 2: Map Your Fields
- RidingDesk's import wizard will help you map your exported CSV columns to our fields. Common mappings:
- "First Name" / "Given Name" → firstName
- "Last Name" / "Surname" → lastName
- "Support Level" / "ID Level" → supportLevel (1-5 scale)
- "Postal Code" / "FSA" → postalCode
Step 3: Import in Stages
- We recommend importing in stages rather than all at once:
- Voters first: This is your core dataset
- Donations second: Link to existing voter records where possible
- Volunteers third: Create accounts and assign roles
- Historical interactions last: This preserves your contact history
Step 4: Verify Your Data
- After import, run these checks:
- Voter count matches your source
- Support level distribution looks correct
- Donation totals match your financial records
- No duplicate entries
Step 5: Re-Onboard Your Team
- Your team needs to learn the new platform:
- Schedule a 30-minute walkthrough for each role
- Share role-specific quick-start guides
- Set up a test canvass to practice before going live