One of the best reasons to use a telephonic campaign is that it prompts a conversation. If participants have questions about the Fitbit Plus app, there is someone ready and able to answer them and pique their curiosity for the service. Not many printed mailers can do that.

If carefully constructed, the telephone can be a great channel to secure participant enrollment. But before you fire up the phone and start dialing, make sure you've got the following in place for a successful campaign:

Cell phone numbers: Without participant cell phone numbers, you can’t really get started with telephonic outreach. As an increasing number of households no longer pay for landlines, cell numbers are often the only way to reach your participants. Remember that timing is everything when it comes to telephonic marketing. If you have only home numbers, ask your staff to make the calls after normal working hours to coincide with participants getting home from work. If you have cell phone numbers, calling around lunchtime increases the chances the participant has a few minutes to chat.

A prior relationship with the targets: Not many people enjoy receiving a cold call. But if your organization is familiar to the participants you’re trying to reach, a telephonic campaign can be much more effective than an email or a printed letter. If care providers are unable to make the call directly, consider leveraging the provider relationship during the call. For instance, an administrative team member might say "Dr. Seuss is quite excited about using Fitbit Plus! He thought of you as a great candidate for the service."