Political Campaign Tips and Strategies

One Campaign Messaging Style Does Not Fit Every Office

Online Candidate — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:02:05 +0000

Many first-time candidates assume campaign messaging works the same for every race. It does not.

What works for a sheriff candidate may feel completely out of place in a school board race. Judicial campaigns often require a more restrained tone … Read the rest

How Many Households Must I Reach to Win A Local Election?

Online Candidate — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:23:40 +0000

Winning a local election is not about reaching every household. It’s about reaching enough of the right voters to build a winning margin. Once you know how many votes you likely need, the next question is how many households … Read the rest

Comparing Political Donation Platforms – Our Recommendations

Online Candidate — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:09:36 +0000

We are often asked by our political website clients (and potential clients) what fundraising services and tools we recommend for their online campaigns. In this article, we’ll walk you through the best political donation platforms, offering a comparison of features, … Read the rest

How Much Does a Political Campaign Website Cost?

Online Candidate — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:17:59 +0000

How much does a political campaign website cost? It can be almost nothing, a few hundred dollars, a few thousand dollars, or much more.

That range confuses a lot of candidates, especially in races where budgets are tight and website … Read the rest

Campaign Website Pages: What Every Candidate Needs to Include

Online Candidate — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:36:58 +0000

Most campaign websites are either missing key pages—or filled with pages that don’t do anything.

Some sites launch with only a homepage and a short bio. Others include everything: long issue pages, press releases, photo galleries—but no clear direction for … Read the rest

Why Fundraising Is the Hardest Part of Running for Office

Online Candidate — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:55:48 +0000

The hardest part of running for office is asking for money.

Unless you’re independently wealthy or have a generous benefactor, you will need outside financial support to get your campaign off the ground. For many candidates, this is unfamiliar territory. … Read the rest

Why Starting Your Campaign Website Early Makes Sense

Online Candidate — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:48:53 +0000

Most political candidates don’t decide they need a website on their own. It’s usually when someone else points it out.

A supporter asks if there’s a place to learn more. A reporter looks you up. Or you Google your own … Read the rest

Campaign Website Mistakes That Cost You Votes (and How to Fix Them)

Online Candidate — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:57:13 +0000

A campaign website should do three things: clearly identify the candidate, guide visitors to take action, and support the campaign over time. Most campaign website mistakes happen when one of those three functions breaks down.

A campaign website is not … Read the rest

What To Know Before You Accept Political Donations Online

Shane Daley — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:46:09 +0000

With the decrease in expenses and technical barriers, almost any political candidate today can raise money online. However, it takes a bit of planning to properly set up your donation infrastructure. And if you wait to begin the process, you … Read the rest

What Happens If You Miss a Campaign Filing Deadline?

Online Candidate — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:08:58 +0000

It’s a big problem it you miss a campaign filing deadline.

In many cases, it will end your campaign before it even begins.

Every cycle, first-time candidates assume there’s some flexibility built into the process. They might assume there’s a … Read the rest

Can You Run for Local Office With a Full-Time Job?

Online Candidate — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 02:11:53 +0000

Yes. People run for local office with a full-time job all the time.

But it’s rarely easy.

Most first-time candidates ask this question quietly before they ever say it out loud. They’re not wondering whether they care enough about the … Read the rest

Should You Run for Local Office? A Practical Self-Assessment for First-Time Candidates

Online Candidate — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:22:21 +0000

Running for local office doesn’t begin with paperwork and an announcement.

It actually begins with deciding whether you’re ready for what comes with it.

Local political races are often described as small or community-based. Sometimes they are. Other times, they’re … Read the rest

Tactics for Conducting Digital Political Opposition Research

Online Candidate — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:14:18 +0000

In local elections, details matter.

A past vote.
A statement at a town meeting.
An old Facebook post that resurfaces two weeks before Election Day.

Opposition research today happens online. Even in city council, school board, and county races, digital … Read the rest

Run a Local Political Campaign Without Overcomplicating It

Online Candidate — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 03:46:52 +0000

Most local political candidates assume the hardest part will be fundraising, messaging, or voter outreach. In practice, most local political campaigns struggle much earlier—when candidates build systems that don’t match the scale of a small local campaign.

Running for school … Read the rest

2026: Running for Office as an Online Candidate – The Book

Online Candidate — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:14:03 +0000

Running for Office as an Online Candidate: Web Strategies for Local Campaigns, is available in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com. The book is packed with useful strategies and provides a blueprint for digital political campaigns.

Key Topics Covered:… Read the rest