Course description
New to SmartVAN? This foundational training introduces you to the platform’s key tools for voter outreach, data management, and campaign organization. You’ll learn how to build and classify contact lists, create scripts and phone banks, and report on your results — all within SmartVAN.
Join us for a guided walkthrough of SmartVAN’s essential features and workflows. You’ll discover how to get the most from your data and tools, and understand how SmartVAN integrates TargetSmart data into your day-to-day organizing.
What you’ll learn:
- Understand SmartVAN: Learn how TargetSmart and NGP VAN work together to provide up-to-date voter data and campaign insights.
- Search and build lists: Use Quick Lookup and Create a List to find records, build outreach universes, and preview search results before running them.
- Apply Activist Codes, Survey Questions, and Tags: Track supporter engagement, categorize contacts, and gather flexible responses for more targeted outreach.
- Create and use scripts: Design linear or branched scripts that guide conversations and automatically record supporter responses.
- Set up Virtual Phone Banks (VPBs): Create and manage VPBs and OpenVPBs, customize display settings, and involve volunteers in calling campaigns.
- Cut turf for canvassing: Use the Turf Cutter tool to map canvassing areas manually or automatically, and manage saved turfs in My Turfs.
- Report on your outreach: Explore reports like Contact History, Activist Code, and Survey Response to measure campaign progress and data quality.
- Get support: Know when to contact NGP VAN vs. TargetSmart for help with tools, data, and updates.
By the end of this training, you’ll understand how to organize, target, and track your outreach in SmartVAN— turning data into action with confidence.
Who this is for: Beginner SmartVAN users looking to build a solid foundation in VAN tools and campaign workflows.
Course duration: 60 minutes