Create a path

A path is step-by-step workflow to complete a chain of actions. Paths define reasons for engaging supporters.

Updated over a week ago

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A nation's goals can be broken down into paths to meet those goals. Paths can serve as a map of where a relationship currently stands. It is a step-by-step workflow to complete a chain of actions. Paths define reasons for engaging supporters and creating alignment and accountability within an organization.
Paths appear in the People section of the control panel. 

Create a path

Default paths are included automatically based on features enabled in your nation. You may find it easier to edit default paths to accommodate your organization's workflow rather than creating new paths from scratch. However, if you'd like to create a brand new path, we find it useful to use the following guidelines:

1. Decide the purpose- Include in path name, e.g. "Become a donor." Complete the path when the purpose is fulfilled.

2. Steps are the workflow for completing the path. Include a verb in the step name to help explain when a person moves to that step. For example, "Ask to pledge" is a prescriptive step, stating that a control panel user should ask the person to pledge. For example, "Pledged" is the step a person lands on after she has taken action. By using the past tense verb, the step is descriptive of the person's state. It is possible to skip steps.

3. A path should move a relationship forward. Paths that sustain an organization by nurturing an existing relationship are reactive, e.g.customer service. Paths that grow an organization are proactive, e.g. become a donor.

4. A path or step can be assigned to a control panel user. Default assignments indicate who is normally responsible for completion. Assignment creates internal accountability and clearly differentiate responsibilities. 

5. Most paths have a clear end point. Paths should be defined in a way that completion is expected. It may be useful to create a few paths that do not end. An example of a persistent path is "donor lifecycle."

Click on the People tab. You’ll see the path picker button, click on it.

At the bottom of the dropdown menu, click + Create path. You’ll be taken to the new path screen.

1. Give the new path a name. E.g. Attend a fundraiser.

2. If you’d like to enable a completion date for the path, select the checkbox and select your timeframe. (optional)

3. If you want to give the path a value, you can select the checkbox and input a value.

4. Assign path to- If you would like to make one person responsible for this path overall, select that person via the dropdown menu.

5. Click Create path.

Adding steps to a path

Now you need to add steps (or actionable items) to your path.

1. Give each step a name.

2. Set step due date for- If you’d like this step completed within a certain timeframe, select one from the dropdown menu.

3. Assign step to- If you would like to make a person responsible for this specific step, select that person via the dropdown menu.

4. Click Create step.

Steps will populate at the bottom of the page. To reorder your steps, you can click and hold a step to drag it to a new position. To edit a step, hover over it and click Edit

Abandonment reasons (Optional)

You may want to create reasons that you abandon a path for a person. For example, maybe they moved out of the area where you hold events, so a reason for abandonment on the path “Attend an Event” could be "Moved out of area."

Completion reasons (Optional)

You may want to create completion reasons for a path. For example, if I have a path aimed at getting a person to attend an event, maybe a completion reason is that they actually did attend the event, therefore completing the path goal.

Set up automated path movement

When a broadcaster is contacted or a person takes action on a webpage, the action can trigger movement on a path. (This is optional, as you can also manually move people along paths.)

Add to path step when broadcaster is contacted

Whenever a broadcaster is contacted, the action can trigger movement to a path step. The settings are specific to each type of contact: someone who leaves voicemail can be placed on a different path from someone who sends a text message. Similarly, emailing a broadcaster, reaching out on Twitter, or posting to a Facebook page can trigger movement on separate paths depending on what paths you have set up.

Adding people to a path can be set within the Email, Phone, Texting, Twitter, and Facebook subsections of the broadcaster's settings menu. For example, when a broadcaster is receiving incoming email, and you have an email path, you go to Communication > [Broadcaster name] > Settings > Email.

1. At the bottom of the screen, check the box next to "Add people who email to a path step". Additional options will appear.

2. Select the path an emailer should be placed on.

3. Then, select a step. You can also choose to assign the step to a control panel user and select a due date for completing the step.

4. Be sure to click the Save broadcaster button to save changes made to broadcaster email settings. 

Add to path step when action taken on website

When a person takes action on your website, they can be added to a path. 

To add this functionality, go to the Website section of your control panel. Select an action page (e.g. petition, donation v2, signup, volunteer, event, endorsement, and survey pages).

Go to [page type] settings > Basics.

Find the “Add to path” checkbox. Click the checkbox to see path options. Be sure to click the Save settings button to save changes made.

👉🏼 Next steps

You'll want to know how to view a path as well as how to manually move people along paths.

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