What Impression Does Your Campaign Website Leave On Voters?

You only have one chance for your campaign site to make a good first impression, and that chance might only be a few seconds. Good or bad, your online presentation will leave an impression with visitors and voters.

So, what does your campaign site say about you?

Does it say ‘Vote for Me’? Do you actually ‘make the ask’? Are the words ‘vote for’ and a date prominently displayed on the site? Too often critical information is nowhere to be found on candidate websites. Is your ballot name presented consistently?

Does it make you look like a leader? Does your site inspire active support? Is there a volunteer page asking for help? Does the site invite others to join the campaign? Easy to read content, captivating imagery, and concise calls to action are crucial for success.

Does it make you appear vague? Is there enough real information about you and the issues? If someone reads about your positions, will they get the sense that you know the issues and have serious ideas for dealing with them? On the flip side, too much information can work against you, as well. No one wants to scroll through screens of endless text. If you have a lot to say, summarize it and package longer policy information for download.

Does it say your campaign is underfunded? A bad-looking website will reflect poorly on your campaign. Make sure your website content is easy to read and laid out neatly. Even a well-designed site will fail to impress if the page content is jumbled mess. Quality affects perception.

Does it show that you are articulate? Again, this goes back to content. Poor grammar and misspellings reflect poorly on your competency and attention to detail. If you want people to take you and your campaign seriously, you need to proofread all of your content.

Does it say you’re open? Are there ways for people to reach the candidate? Do you invite feedback and questions? Is your campaign website too partisan? Will your content immediately turn off half the electorate? Does that even matter to you?

Does it say that you are socially networked or just a poser? We’ve covered many social media topics on this site. A Facebook page is nice but it won’t help if it’s just used to push out one-way, promotional information. A Twitter feed only helps if you’re really using the service rather than just posting infrequent updates. A lack of social media engagement shows that you either don’t know or don’t care enough to use the tools.

For most voters, your campaign site may be your biggest opportunity to connect with a voter. If it leaves a lasting and positive impression that lasts into the voting booth, then it did its job.

Ready to start your political campaign website? Check out our affordable campaign site packages and marketing services.