Campaign Website FAQs

• Why have a campaign website? Why Online Candidate?
• How long have you been creating campaign websites? Why?
• Do you work with Democrats or Republicans exclusively?
• How does Online Candidate work?
• How soon can my website be set up? What do the sites look like?
• How much does an Online Candidate package cost?
• Are there any hidden fees?
• What is the content management system (CMS) based on? Is it open-source?
• What are the website design limitations?
• What kind of server do you host the Online Candidate websites on?
• How do you handle e-mail?
• Can I use my own domain name?
• Is my website my own or part of another domain?
• Domain guidelines
• What support do you supply?
• If I have a problem or a question, what should I do?
• What is the Content Library?
• What other products/services do you provide?
• What are the Terms of Use?
• More Questions?

If I am running for local office, should I have a campaign website?

Definitely, because voters will look for you online. Whether you are running for Senate, Town Supervisor or the local school board, a website can be an essential component in your campaign. Over half of all Americans are now online, and a growing percentage of the voting public seeks election news and candidate information on the web.

Campaign websites give you more freedom to get your message across than other delivery methods. A candidate isn't limited by the size of a brochure size or the time of a radio ad. It costs far less to raise one campaign dollar from your website than through direct mail, telemarketing or prospecting lists.

A web site can be used to invite feedback, recruit volunteers, solicit contributions and share media ads and news reports as they happen. In a recent survey, over half the volunteers recruited from candidate websites had never before volunteered for a political campaign.

Having a custom web site built by a professional can cost thousands of dollars, and each update can become an additional expense. On the other hand, having an amateur build your site can end in a less than desirable result.

Online Candidate is your perfect solution for a professional-looking, full-featured website that candidates or campaign staff members can create or update without the assistance of programming talent.

See for yourself how it works. Try the online demo!

How long have you been creating campaign websites? Why?

We worked on a local campaign and built our first campaign website in 2003. The site was successful and had an impact on the race. It forced the opponent to spend (a lot of) money on a competing site. It also helped raise issue awareness. In the end, our candidate won!

After that, we had the idea of using our web skills to help other local candidates. Most local campaigns don�t have a lot of money, so Online Candidate was envisioned as a turnkey solution to allow campaigns to create and update their own sites. But the key was to make the sites not look like cheap �turnkey� websites you find with other website building platforms. That�s where the custom templating and support comes in.

Do you work with Democrats or Republicans exclusively?

We work with Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Green Party, etc. We don�t run a partisan service.

How does the Online Candidate process work?

After you order your website package, we will contact you to verify your chosen domain and go over the specifics of your site design. Then we will purchase your domain name and set up your website hosting. After your domain goes live, we will send you an e-mail containing your user ID and password, and a link to the "Admin" area. From there, you will have all the tools at your disposal to build out and maintain your site.

During this time, we will create your custom header and tweak your the site design to suit your needs. We take pride in our personal service and attention to detail.

Once the design is done and you have your content in place, you can go 'live' with your site!

Read more about the Online Candidate process. 

How soon can my website be set up?

We set up sites as quickly as a day. Typically, it will take 2-3 business days to get your domain set up. It's possible to have the design completed in that time, as well. Having specific colors in mind, a good candidate head shot and an idea of the design you want makes the process go a lot faster.

Check out our Facebook page for samples of our work. As you can see, our designs are very flexible.

Read more about the Online Candidate process. 

How much does an Online Candidate package cost?

The price is just $399, inclusive! This includes site setup, the first 12 months hosting, and header/template modifications. See our features page for a list of what's included. Additional campaign products and services are also available. See our online store for more information.

View some site samples on our Facebook page.

Are there any hidden fees?

No.

What is the content management system (CMS) based on? Is it open-source?

We built the CMS ourselves. It�s home-grown, and designed specifically for our purposes. The main issue in designing a CMS is balancing features and usability. Our goal was to create an easy to use system that allowed for an attractive, full-featured website. We think it's pretty easy to use. Check out the Demo section to get a feel for how it works.

What are the website design limitations?

All of our website designs are custom, based on the client�s specifications. The page template header, colors and page fonts can be edited to create a unique look. The headers can be tall or short, we can add backgrounds or match any campaign color scheme.

The only general restriction to the design is the vertical navigation bar. Because you can change the name and order of the navigation items, it�s difficult to use a horizontal navigation system. Also, a left navigation bar makes the content area more narrow and easier for visitors to read.

What kind of server do you host the Online Candidate websites on?

All Online Candidate websites are hosted on our own private server. We run the server and we control it. The only websites on this server are our own websites, our client�s websites, and other Online Candidate sites.

How do you handle e-mail?

Most campaigns work well with email forwards, meaning an email sent to contact@yoursite.com will be forwarded to one or more different email accounts. For a small cost, we can set up POP email accounts for the domain.

A basic mail list system is included with the regular Online Candidate package. If you are running a larger campaign with greater email needs (autoresponders, HTML messages, tracking), we recommend using a professional service like AWeber. We can easily integrate the product into your site.

Can I use my own domain name?

If your domain name is already registered: Online Candidate websites must reside on our dedicated servers. Following signup, we will provide information to 'point' your domain name to our servers.

If your domain name is not already registered: We will register your domain for you, in your name, when we set up your website.

Read more about the Online Candidate process.

Is my website my own or part of another domain?

Your website will be completely stand-alone. You will have your own domain name and dedicated server space. Some of our competitors let you have your own domain name, but then redirect the name to a subdirectory on their own website. That hurts the ability of voters to find you online, and kind of defeats the purpose of having a campaign website.

Read more about the Online Candidate process. 

Domain guidelines

An Online Candidate hosting package includes your site setup, configuration of your Online Candidate software, the setup of one or more email forwards, and 500 megabytes of server space. We do not impose a bandwidth limit on your account.

What support do you supply?

Our success hinges on your success. We want your site to look sharp, both in design and content layout.

Your Online Candidate administration contains several help files. Should you have questions on how to use the system, or any other question, feel free to contact us . We always welcome feedback or suggestions for our product.

We can also perform custom system edits on request. Many of our website features were based on user requests, so don't be afraid to ask. However, extensive programming work may incur additional charges.

If I have a problem or a question, what should I do?

Call us toll free at (866)-460-0995. Or email us if it�s not time-sensitive.

What is the Content Library?

The content library is a client-only assortment of additional images, articles and downloadable templates for print and web advertising. Our goal is to help you win, both online, and offline in the voting booth - where it really counts!

What other products/services do you provide?

We carry a great line of digital products designed to help local campaigns. Current products include Campaign Letter Templates, Campaign Slogans and our exclusive Running for Office as an Online Candidate e-book. For your print needs, we offer Political Brochure Templates. We also offer a Web/Print Combo to match your website and print templates together for one low price!

What are the Terms of Use?

See our Terms of Use page for details.

 

What if I have more questions?

Feel free to contact us by email or phone.

Visit our Facebook page for plenty of site design samples.