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<\/a><\/p>\nBefore You Campaign<\/b><\/h2>\n
If you\u2019re running for office, you need an organized plan to enact in order to successfully campaign. There are many aspects to consider when creating a campaign plan<\/a>, some of which will require careful consideration. Here\u2019s a list of areas of the campaign that at the very minimum <\/i>should be considered prior to running:<\/p>\n With these areas, it\u2019s important to understand how you, an aspiring candidate, can utilize the tools and resources that are within reach to plan an effective strategy. You don\u2019t have to be a seasoned politician to organize and launch a successful campaign. Planning, researching, and following through with those plans will be your biggest asset in putting your best campaigning foot forward. Luckily, you won\u2019t have to do it alone. So let\u2019s dive into the areas listed above and so much more as you start your political journey!<\/p>\n Creating a Support Group & Getting Family Approval<\/b><\/p>\n Even before you hit the ground running in a campaign, you must create a support group that can rally around you, assisting you in operating your campaign. Think of this support group for your local or state campaign akin to campaign confidants or unpaid advisors at the national or federal level. These people will be able to lend their wisdom and insight into your campaign as you determine whether you want to run and later as a sounding board in addition to the campaign staff you will need to build.<\/p>\n Of course, the number one support that you can have is from your family. Discussing your desire to run for office with family is imperative for receiving support, plus, it\u2019s a courtesy to fill them in to give them adequate time to prepare for the rigors that attend a family during a campaign. Explain to your family that your candidacy will potentially put the entire family into the public eye. Though this won\u2019t be to the extent of a national candidate\u2019s family being thrust into the spotlight, with all the good and bad that may come with it, there is no doubt constituents will still partially judge you off your family. Even though you\u2019re the candidate, your family\u2019s actions, both current and past in many cases, will be in the spotlight and up for election as well.<\/p>\n As you\u2019re probably aware, building a support staff can extend outside of your family as well. Enlist the help of close friends and neighbors to increase the efficacy of your campaign. To help encourage your friends to help with your campaign, invite them to attend a focus group<\/a> that you host. The purpose of this focus group is to announce your plan to run for office, while holding an open question and answer session that will help you understand the needs of local citizens. These initial focus groups, when the campaign is serious enough (think: Mayor, State level, etc. ), can help the support group made up of family and\/or friends help you get a feel for the viability of your campaign and lend a hand to picking a campaign team and building your platform.<\/p>\n When preparing to host a focus group, select people of all walks of life to attend. A focus group consists of a diverse audience, which you will be able to ask questions about local issues and they will be able to respond and ask questions of their own. This meeting will be a great opportunity to gather information on the issues that are on the forefront of the minds of the people. As noted above, this information will be crucial for future planning of a campaign platform and other strategies throughout the campaign.<\/p>\n Building Your Campaign Team<\/b><\/p>\n Once you\u2019re backed by the support of family and friends, you\u2019re one step closer to launching your campaign. Now it\u2019s time to officially create your campaign team. Members of your support team may or may not also be official members of your campaign staff. Remember in the end it is critical to choose qualified individuals that will assist you in running for office and help you bear the load of your political venture. Depending on what type of office you are running for, you will need to fill certain positions (if you\u2019re running for a PTA or smaller elected position it\u2019s unlikely you will need a large campaign team). Brainstorm who you feel will best fit in each position listed below:<\/p>\n Along with the positions listed above, you have the freedom to appoint to a variety of jobs and responsibilities within your campaign. Depending on the level of government you are running for and the amount of money you are able to raise the biggest challenge in building a campaign staff may just be how much you can pay someone. For some, being a campaign staffer is a volunteer role with idealism driving their civic duty. For others, this is their career and they expect to be paid as much. Do your best to find that balance between paid and competent staffers to those less experienced but maybe willing to work for free.<\/p>\n Do Your Research And Pick A Platform<\/b><\/p>\n The political landscape is always changing. Becoming familiar with local issues and grievances within the government is essential in crafting your campaign platform. Thoroughly vet those who are currently in the position you are running for. Familiarize yourself with the platforms that current officials ran with and how effective they were in reaching out to the voters. Websites like votesmart.org<\/a> can help you determine current political issues as well as providing information on elected officials in your area. Knowing the incumbent\u2019s stances, and those of your potential competitors as well, will help you not only hone your message but be essential if your candidacy requires any kind of live debate.<\/p>\n Knowing the voters is also paramount in tailoring your campaign to meet their needs. Find out the local voter demographics (age, gender, income, etc.) as well as trends in their voting history. Information on past elections and voter demographics can be found on the website of your state, county, city, or town. Information on demographics can also be found on the census.gov<\/a> website. While it\u2019s obvious for many, some candidates fail to realize that picking a platform that is in opposition to the actual voters\u2019 opinions is the fastest way to lose an election! This is particularly true at the local level where many people want greater say in everything from schooling to funding for different city projects that directly impact the voter and their families. So while you may hold strong positions in certain areas if these don\u2019t align with the voters interests you either need to be willing to be a voice for the people or take a long hard look at whether it\u2019s worth running for office or not. Ideally your views are similar to those of your constituents and you can run on a platform that aligns the two.<\/p>\n Research what it takes to win. Are there areas in your community that hold the key to winning an election? Will increased voter turnout in less effective precincts give you the edge? What will it take to win those areas? These are just a few questions you should ask yourself when planning your campaign. Put yourself in the shoes of the voters; what would you want as a voter and how could you meet those needs?<\/p>\n Finding information about local and state issues is rather simple and only requires time on your part for researching. Following local and state news organizations will be your prime source for finding out about current political issues. You can also research local issues by following current local and state government officials on social media, as well as how those officials react to such issues. Attending local political meetings and events will also benefit you in understanding the political topics of the day. Participating in local The Council of State Governments<\/a> (CSG) is also an excellent resource for finding state issues. Perhaps the easiest way is to simply go out and talk to as many, and as diverse a representation as possible, people from across your geographical area that you are able to. This information straight from potential voters is the very best way to do research!<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve organized your campaign staff and have researched local issues and voter demographics, you\u2019re ready to choose a platform. At this point you should have a general idea of what stance you want to take on issues. If you\u2019re aligning yourself with a particular political party, then your stance on issues typically reflect the party\u2019s belief system. Whether you\u2019re running as a party representative or as an independent, you have to pick the issues that are pressing. Meet with your campaign staff and discuss what needs to be addressed in your local community.<\/p>\n Applying for Candidacy<\/b><\/p>\n In order to be recognized as an official candidate you must apply for candidacy. When running for any government position there are certain requirements for being eligible to apply. In most cases, elected positions in any state or city require a candidate to be a United States citizen and resident of the city for at least 9 months before the election. For specific requirements, each state\u2019s secretary of state website<\/a> provides information on running for office.<\/p>\n Along with legal requirements there are a list of forms and fees that must be submitted before a filing deadline (which is usually in February). Required forms can be found on your state\u2019s secretary of state website. Local city governments can also provide information on forms and deadlines. Generally, there are a couple commonly required forms that must be submitted:<\/p>\n As it varies from state to state, it\u2019s best to check with your state or local officials<\/a> for the required filing forms and timeframe on when to submit them.<\/p>\n In cases where a candidate is running as an independent, a petition may be required to file for candidacy. This petition is signed by registered voters and claims that you are qualified for running in the election. A petition is required to prove that there are people who support and consider voting for you. When running as a party\u2019s candidate, you will already have the seal of approval to run and a petitions is not necessary. Here are a few examples of petition requirements in New York<\/a>, Florida<\/a>, and Georgia<\/a>. Petition requirements can be found on your Secretary of State\u2019s website on Ballotpedia.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Communicating Your Platform <\/b><\/p>\n Starting a campaign from scratch as a new candidate will require publicizing your candidacy. Before you announce your campaign, you must prepare for the ongoing stream of inquiries and increased exposure that will pique the interest of voters. Communicating your campaign platform must be consistent and clear for voters to discern that you\u2019re trustworthy. There are a variety of ways you can communicate your platform and engage voters in participating in your campaign. Commonly used mediums include specialized campaign websites and news media outlets (news stations, newspapers, talk shows). In today\u2019s digital world it is absolutely critical your campaign website be professional and clearly outline your stances. This way people can discover who you are and what your platform is according to their schedule and at their convenience. This doesn\u2019t mean you have to spend thousands of dollars for a website. We\u2019ve outlined below how you can build a professional yet affordable website.<\/p>\n Building Your Website <\/b><\/p>\n Creating a central hub for your campaign on the internet will enable your platform to reach the voters instantaneously while presenting the opportunity for them to participate in your campaign through fundraising and other activities.<\/p>\n This website should be separate from a personal site or blog and is dedicated to informing the public of who you are and what you stand for. Websites can work in conjunction with a Facebook campaign page to increase campaign awareness online and in the community. There are a variety of website hosting services<\/a> that you can use to set up a domain name. In most cases, you will need to purchase a domain name and a subscription fee when using a website hosting service. Hosting services are relatively inexpensive and should not affect your campaign budget.<\/p>\n Once you have a website, it\u2019s time to design and create content for your website. If you\u2019re not a web designer yourself, it could be challenging to create a website from scratch. Some hosting services provide pre-designed layouts or design assistance. There are other services such as Wix<\/a> and Weebly<\/a> that provide easy to build websites. We would recommend a WordPress<\/a> based website and theme over these either of these two if you\u2019re going to go the DIY route. You can also use a local digital marketing agency to help with your design and content creation. This will of course be a more costly route with small business websites costing anywhere from 1-10,000. There are also websites that offer campaign website design (onlinecandidate.com<\/a>, campaignpartner.com<\/a>, mycampaignpage.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n For an effective campaign website<\/a>, focus content on the issues of the election, while emphasizing your stance on each topic. The stances on your website should be easily discernable for voters, clearing up confusion and informing them of how you will make a difference when elected. Create separate pages for each debated topic of the election, explaining what the issues is, why it\u2019s an issue, and how you will solve it. Along with content explaining the issues, create a page that explains who you are. An \u2018about me\u2019 page will help you connect personally with voters and tell your story. Use this page to give a brief background on your life, accomplishments, and qualifications for office. Pictures of you and your family will enhance the quality of this page.<\/p>\n You should also include an email sign up form for interested parties. Building your email list will not only help with this election but future ones as well. \u00a0We would also recommend blog functionality on your website to allow for regular campaign updates and news that can then be shared across social media.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most important aspect of your website should be the ability to collect campaign donations. Implementing a \u2018donate now\u2019 button on your page is just one of the ways your website can increase fundraising awareness among voters. Creating a dedicated fundraising page will provide voters with the information on where funds will be allocated and how important their contributions are to changing the political landscape. It also allows for instant contributions rather than those collected via check or at campaign events.<\/p>\n Creating a Brand<\/b><\/p>\n Marketing yourself as the leading candidate requires a captivating slogan and recognizable campaign logo. Voters gravitate towards those they recognize, so creating an identifiable campaign brand will stretch your influence farther. Campaign slogans<\/a> reflect the ideals of the candidate. In order to create a memorable slogan, it must evoke an emotional response with voters. This is achieved by focusing on core values like health, safety, and families, which voters will recognize as values they want in a candidate.<\/p>\n When designing a campaign logo<\/a>, focus on drawing attention using text and a unique color scheme. Use your name and indicate the position you are running for or include your campaign slogan. Beyond that, too much text can overwhelm voters and not resonate nor stick in their minds. Simple logos that convey your campaign message will become recognizable as you advertise during the campaign.<\/p>\n Now that you have set the groundwork for your campaign by creating your campaign team, thoroughly researching the issues at hand within your local jurisdiction, and having filed for candidacy, it\u2019s time for you and your campaign staff to labor in the political battleground. Even with a team of advisors, managers, treasurers, and volunteers, you will need to be involved in all aspects of the campaign process.<\/p>\n Fundraising<\/b><\/p>\n It takes a good chunk of money to run for office. It\u2019s been calculated that it can cost anywhere between $1 to $3 per voter in your area. While you plan for your campaign, look to see how much you will need to raise in order to fund your run. Coordinate fundraising efforts<\/a> with your treasurer and volunteer coordinator. Set measurable and timely goals for raising money.<\/p>\n So what exactly is all the money for? The costs from operating and running a campaign can range from paying for propaganda materials to renting spaces for rallies or events. In your planning efforts, list all the probable expenditures that will be incurred. Your treasurer will be in charge of updating and managing any variations throughout the election.<\/p>\n There are also restrictions in place to regulate finances received from fundraising. Knowing the laws behind fundraising will keep you in check with the law. All states will require you to disclose the amount of contributions received<\/a>. The government has also imposed donation restrictions<\/a> which limit the amount a group or individual can donate to a campaign. Each state has varying laws, which you can find links to each state\u2019s restriction here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The best ways to raise money will involve an all around effort from your campaign. Below you will find effective and simple ways to raise money.<\/p>\n It\u2019s crucial to have your volunteers knock on doors that you know will support you and talk to as many people as possible to expand the campaign\u2019s influence. Use voter lists to find registered voters and those who align themselves with a certain party. Collect data and monitor the response from those who are spoken to.<\/p>\n Advertising <\/b><\/p>\n Advertising goes hand in hand with your fundraising efforts. As your campaign moves across airwaves, signs, and online media, you will be able to win over the voters. The methods of advertising just mentioned here are just a few of the ways which you can spread your campaign message. Utilizing all avenues of advertising is a must for maximizing exposure and diversifying your campaign.<\/p>\n Creating official social accounts for your campaign will allow you to constantly update voters about your campaign and interact with those that would rather do so digitally. You can respond to questions, create videos updating on campaign progress, and allow the people to see you in a more casual environment. Just remember anything posted on the internet is there to stay! Edited posts or shares will undoubtedly be noted and copies made of any gaffes or insensitive posts.<\/p>\n Your campaign can also participate in local groups and online communities to see what the people are saying about the upcoming election, as well as responding to voter feedback or questions. For example, this can be done through neighborhood Facebook groups.<\/p>\n Social media platforms also have the option of advertising using online targeting tools included in the site such as demographic data on age, zip code, interests and more. Social media in many ways<\/a> can be a powerful tool to both fundraise and publicize your campaign.<\/p>\n An effective advertising campaign integrates every possible means to reach the voters. Because the world is becoming more and more digitized, planning a comprehensive online campaign is vital in an election. Again, it depends on the type of office you are running for and the quality of the competition but, no matter what environment you are running in, getting your name out to the people in a positive perspective is how you win votes.<\/p>\n Events<\/b><\/p>\n There are many facets of campaigning that work in tandem with one another. We mentioned earlier that your own presence in fundraising efforts can make you more likeable and transparent among voters. In conjunction with both fundraising and advertising, planning campaign events will boost the effectiveness of those efforts.<\/p>\n Start your campaign with a kick-off event. Use this opportunity to \u2018rally the troops\u2019 in a sense by calling to action those who support you and inviting undecided voters to consider your platform. In a kick-off event, plan to be the headline speaker, with supporting speakers to compliment your speech. This is where partnering with local businesses and other prominent locals can come into play to bring notoriety to your campaign. Even though you may be running in a local election, having \u2018bigwig\u2019 support will give you a great advantage over the competition. This support is the equivalent of the sought after political endorsement at the national level. The same principle applies, if voters don\u2019t know you and your position fully just yet, then get someone they trust to vouch for you and that trust passes on to you.<\/p>\n Other events that you can consider while campaigning are pep rallies, debates, dinner fundraisers, open-houses, and volunteer team building activities. Consider activities that encourage and inspire volunteers to go out and spread the message of your campaign. Ways in which you can involve volunteers are:<\/p>\n With any event that you host, incorporating volunteers will help to reduce the cost and increase the involvement the community has within your campaign. Becoming the \u2018people\u2019s campaign\u2019 is made possible when you involve everyone in the campaigning process. Events allow for the collaboration of like-minded voters in tandem with your platform being delivered. They also allow people to see and interact with you as a person. Because at the end of the day people vote for people they know and\/or trust.<\/p>\n Speaking To The People<\/b><\/p>\n Winning over voters comes down to how well you can convey your ideas and platform through your public speaking skills. Don\u2019t worry, even if you\u2019re not the strongest public speaker or are hesitant in front of a large crowd, we have some tips that will help you prepare an effective and professional speech to capture the attention of the voters. If you\u2019re giving a speech or being interviewed by the local news station, knowing what to say and how to say it will help you be an effective and persuasive communicator. Your speech, presentation, or interview is an opportunity to connect with voters. Voters want to see a candidate that can communicate with and for the people.<\/p>\n Prepare your speech<\/a> or presentation with the people in mind. Knowing your audience is crucial in speaking to their needs. If you\u2019re speaking to a group of teachers, then know the issues that teachers want to have addressed. If you\u2019re addressing a general audience, cover a variety of topics in a simple, easy to remember format. When stating your stance on an issue, be clear and concise, do not dance around the issue or create any confusion with what you say. A voter wants to know you\u2019re willing to be upfront with your position on issues so don\u2019t beat around the bush.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re involved in a debate, you will need to prepare and research the common issues that are being discussed during the election. Debate preparation<\/a> involves you and your campaign staff thoroughly researching topics and analyzing ways in which opponents will respond.<\/p>\n The saying, \u201cpractice makes perfect,\u201d applies to preparing for any speech or presentation. Going over your material will give you added confidence knowing that you\u2019ve rehearsed the speech and have become familiar with it. Practice hand gestures (body language) and voice inflections to infuse passion into your speech.<\/p>\n Know whether or not the venue you will be speaking in will have teleprompters for you to read your speech from. If the location is lacking teleprompters, then memorizing the content of your speech will be your best bet for presenting a professional and prepared talk. You want to prove to the audience that you know your material by heart, while presenting naturally and not robotically.<\/p>\n When it comes time to speak, be confident. Yes, nerves will be present and you might have a few butterflies but, if you\u2019re passionate about your campaign you will be able to use the adrenaline to overcome the nervousness. With that nervousness or adrenaline might come the tendency to speak quickly. Avoid this at all costs! Rate of speech is just as important as eye contact and body language. Speaking with clarity gives the audience the capacity to take in and comprehend your message.<\/p>\n Incorporate the art of storytelling<\/a> into your speeches. Entice voters by portraying captivating, relatable stories that relate to how you take a stand on issues. Arousing emotional responses from the audience is one of the best ways to leave a lasting impression on them. Be the candidate that connects with the people!<\/p>\n Get Out the Vote<\/b><\/p>\n Motivating voters to actually vote is one of the biggest challenges nowadays. Voter turnout has decreased in recent years<\/a> at both a national and local levels. This decrease can be attributed in shifts in demographics, election types, and voting laws. Knowing how to overcome voting obstacles and encourage voters to cast their vote will give you the edge needed in the election. But how do you overcome this decrease in voter participation? Obviously, paying voters is out of the question, so you will have win over voters with your platform and personality.<\/p>\n Get out the vote (GOTV) initiatives have become popular as voter turnouts have become less than ideal. This type of initiative happens towards the end of a campaign but it\u2019s never too early to start. One of the key components in GOTV initiatives is making election information readily available and digestible for voters. The more informed voters are, the more confident they will be in voting. When initiating a GOTV campaign, target only those who have expressed the will to vote for you. There\u2019s no sense in motivating opposing voters to vote against you. Your loyal followers can be used as a means to help perpetuate a GOTV initiative by encouraging their friends to vote for you too. This initiative is not used to persuade voters to vote for you but simply get them to the polls to cast their vote.<\/p>\n Contacting supporters frequently to remind them of the upcoming election day is key in getting people out to vote. Naturally, people forget to vote, so regularly planting in their minds the idea of voting will help to resolve any forgetfulness or apathy. Reaching out to voters can be done over the phone or in person. When contacted, a voter is invited to commit to vote for you. Providing information on where local polling stations<\/a> and times are will also help voters get out and vote. This is particularly critical on voting day as your campaign should have sufficient volunteers to make calls, send texts and emails and whatever else is needed to prompt people to act. In cases where online or absentee voting is part of the process these GOTV efforts may need to start well in advance of the actual voting day!<\/p>\n The most common way of executing GOTV campaigns is for your campaign staff and volunteers to divide up your area geographically and make sure every known supporter is contacted and encouraged to go vote. Staffers and volunteers should remind potential and actual supporters of when, how, and where to vote. On a local or state level, the effectiveness of these effort will most likely be the difference between a win and a loss!<\/p>\n Race to the Polls<\/b><\/p>\n Ideally, your campaign will continue to implement all of the aforementioned ideas and plans to have a successful run for office. It will be a juggling act to balance all of the different portions of the campaign but, with proper support from family, friends, and your campaign staff, you will be able to accomplish your campaign goals. The weeks leading up to voting day will be the turning point in the election. This is where you will expend all of your efforts and manpower to get undecided voters to swing your way. \u00a0Your campaign isn\u2019t over until you are elected and, even then, you still have to prove to the people you are electable for years to come.<\/p>\n It\u2019s necessary to remember the aspects of your campaign that you will need to focus on:<\/p>\n Running a campaign will test your mettle in many different ways but, as you apply the simple principles we have suggested, you will be well-organized and prepared to run with confidence. Make sure to download our summary\u00a0PDF<\/a> that outlines the main topics of this piece that you can use as a go-to reference guide to running your campaign.<\/p>\n\n
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Beginning Your Campaign<\/b><\/h2>\n
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