Everything You Need to Get Started with Nova
Step 1
Import Your Contacts
Getting your people into Nova is simple. Choose the method that works best for your organization:
Upload an Existing File
Import contacts from spreadsheets, CSV files, or exports from your current CRM software. Nova accepts most common contact database formats.
What You Can Import
- Names and contact information
- Email addresses and phone numbers
- Addresses and demographics
- Custom fields and notes
- Transaction history
- Any other contact data you track
Manually Add Contacts
Add contacts one by one directly in Nova. Perfect for small teams or when building your database from scratch.
Website Integration
Our team can set up website integrations to automatically capture new visitors and create profiles for anyone who interacts with your site.
Automatic Profile Creation
- Form submissions create new contacts
- Website transactions trigger profile updates
- Tags applied based on visitor behavior
- Real-time sync with your website
Need help with import? Our team will assist with data migration, cleanup, and organization during onboarding.
Step 2
Create Your Tags
Nova’s intuitive tagging system lets you organize contacts however your organization needs.
How to Create a Tag
- Open the Tag Library
- Click "Create New Tag"
- Name your tag (e.g., "High Value Donor Q4
- Add a description for team clarity
- Choose a color using the slider or Hex code
- Save and start tagging
Real-World Example
Scenario: You want to track website visitors who made a transaction of $100 or more during your fall campaign.
Setup
- Create tag: "Fall Campaign $100+ Donor"
- Set criteria: Transaction amount ≥ $100, Date range: Sept-Nov, Campaign: Fall 2024
- Choose color: Purple (#7B2CFF)
- Activate tag
Inside Sally's Profile:
You’ll see the purple tag, making it instantly clear she’s a high-value fall campaign donor.
Tag Ideas
- Donation levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold donors)
- Geographic regions (Northeast, Southwest, etc.)
- Engagement status (Active, Lapsed, New)
- Event attendance (Attended Gala 2024)
- Product interest (Interested in Product A)
- Campaign participation (Volunteered Q3)
- Custom categories unique to your organization
What Happens Next:
When Sally completes a $150 transaction on your website during your fall campaign:
- Nova checks for Sally's existing profile (or creates one)
- Applies the "Fall Campaign $100+ Donor" tag automatically
- Updates her transaction history
- Makes her visible in filtered lists for this segment
Step 3
Build Your First List
Nova’s list creation tool gives you instant access to any segment of your contact database.
Building the List:
- Click "Create New List"
- Add location filter: TX or OK
- Add date filter: Added after [6 months ago]
- Add transaction filter: Total giving ≥ $50, Date range: Last 12 months
- Add tag filter: Includes "Event Attendee"
- Add activity filter: Last contact > 30 days ago
- Click "Generate List"
Result: Nova returns your exact match in seconds.
Creating a Targeted List
Example Need: Find people to contact about an upcoming event.
Your Criteria
- Live in Texas or Oklahoma
- Added to database in last 6 months
- Have donated $50+ in the past year
- Tagged as "Event Attendee" previously
- Have not been contacted in 30 days
What You Can Do Next
Export Options
Your Criteria
- Call List for your phone banking team
- Text List for SMS outreach via Mercury
- Mail List for direct mail campaigns
- CSV File for your digital marketing team
- Email List for email campaigns
All with one click.
Step 4
Start Communicating
With your contacts organized and lists built, you’re ready to reach your people.
Send Text Messages
Click any contact or list and launch an SMS campaign through Mercury integration:
- Pre-script messages for consistency
- Personalize with contact fields
- Schedule for optimal timing
- Track delivery and responses
Make Calls
Click any phone number to call through Pulsar integration:
- Automatic dialing
- Real-time note taking
- Call logging and history
- Contact taPerformance trackinggs
Track Everything
Every text, call, and interaction is logged automatically in contact profiles. See complete communication history at a glance.
Step 5
Monitor Transactions
If you’re tracking donations, sales, or other transactions, Nova handles it automatically through integrations.
Automatic Transaction Sync
With WinRed or Anedot connected:
- Donations appear in real-time
- Contact profiles update automatically
- Tags applied based on transaction criteria
- Transaction history builds over time
View Transaction Data:
- Total giving per contact
- Transaction timeline
- Campaign attribution
- Refund tracking
- Giving patterns and trends
Filter and report on transactions by any criteria: date, amount, campaign, or tag.
Tips for Success
Begin with basic tags and build complexity as your team gets comfortable. You don’t need to create every tag on day one.
Involve Your Team
Nova is built for collaboration. Get input from team members on what tags and fields they need.
Take Advantage of Automation
Set up website integrations and transaction syncing early to minimize manual data entry.
Review Your Tags Regularly
Use the Tag Library to see which tags are being used and which aren’t. Clean up unused tags to keep your system organized.
Use Color Coding Strategically
Assign colors that make sense visually:
- Red for urgent follow-up needed
- Green for completed actions
- Blue for specific programs or campaigns
- Purple for VIP contacts
Need Help?
Our team is here to ensure your success with Nova.
We Offer:
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Personalized onboarding sessions
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Data migration assistance
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Custom field setup
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Integration configuration
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Team training (if desired)
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Ongoing support
Questions? Our support team responds within 24 hours.
Ready to Get Started?
Launch your CRM today and experience the Nova difference. No complex setup, no lengthy training, just powerful contact management from day one.