Campaign Advertising in the Local Paper
Because local newspapers have a limited area of distribution, they can be an effective way to get your message across to local voters.
Ethnic papers are also a great way to target a particular population in your district.
Newspaper ads are usually sold by the column inch for each day that an ad runs. Prices are based on circulation. Here are some tips for campaign advertising in the local newspaper.
Start Early
Don’t wait until the last minute to buy ad space. Start plotting out your advertising campaign as early as possible, and get to know the newspaper’s advertising staff. Find out their rates. Many papers provide substantial discounts to bulk purchasers. Try to purchase as much advertising space as possible in advance. Smaller newspapers may allow candidates to buy a bulk contract together at a lower rate, leaving the candidates to allocate the space themselves.
Use Your Clout
During the campaign, you will be sending out news releases. Sometimes you have to fight for coverage. A press release can carry the same message as a paid ad, and it costs a lot less. If the paper never runs your news releases, call up the advertising manager and complain. If necessary, you can threaten to pull your ads. Odds are, your releases will probably start getting more attention.
In theory, newspapers have a wall between editorial and advertising, but in the real world, well … things happen. This trick works better if you have purchased a decent amount of ad space early in the campaign.
Know Your Deadlines
Advertising space is usually set up several days ahead of time, usually before the news deadline. Have your ads worked out ahead of time so that you do not run up against the deadline. That’s how mistakes get made.
Finally
Many local laws require that political ads carry a disclaimer. It is up to you to make sure that you comply with those requirements, if necessary.
Looking for campaign correspondence templates? The Online Candidate Letter Template Package is exactly what you have been searching for. This unique package includes easy-to-use letter, press release and newspaper letter templates that you can download and use right away.
Never Turn Down a Campaign Volunteer
Political campaigns can attract all types of people, and you never know what somebody can bring to the table.
If someone volunteers to help, never turn them down.
If the person wants to do something that isn’t something you planned to do, try to get them to do something more in line as to what you need done. Many times people who have never worked for a campaign will volunteer to take on all sorts of duties. Enthusiasm may exceed ability. It’s better to have a volunteer take on simple jobs to start, and gradually give them more responsibility when they have proven their reliability.
Sometimes a volunteer will present a new idea. If it’s something beyond what you were planning to do, consider letting the volunteer take charge of the idea and begin the organization process.
That said, any actions taken by your volunteers reflect on the campaign and the candidate. Volunteers should not be allowed to perform actions on behalf of a campaign without the express permission of a volunteer coordinator.
Putting people to work for a single purpose is a great thing. Everybody can do something. Enthusiasm is contagious. Don’t let it go to waste!
3 Online Strategies For Your Campaign’s Final Stretch
As Election Day grows near, reaching out to voters becomes more and more critical. There are the obvious ways of contacting them, such as through mailers and get-out-the-vote calling. Here are three ways to use your online resources to help get your campaign through that final stretch.
Use your Email List: Increase the number of messages as election day grows near. Use them to address specific issues, and to react to any unplanned issues that come up. Keep your messages brief and to the point. Some topic ideas include encouraging final campaign donations, providing absentee voting instructions and notifying voters who need rides to the polls.
Start or Ramp Up Your Online Advertising: Drive traffic to your campaign website with Pay Per Click or social media advertising. If you have the budget, consider running banner ads on local newspaper websites. Flooding the online market with advertising makes it appear to others as if your online support has surged.
Push for Final Donations: This is the endgame. Make use of the ‘rule of three’ and ask for a final donation from those who have already given, and have them donate through your website. Consider making the donation request already on your site more prominent. Remember that having a donation request for a specific purpose (such as a final mailing) is more effective than a more general donation request.
Looking for more campaign correspondence templates that cover ALL aspects of a local political campaign – from fund raising appeals to press releases to endorsement requests to thank you letters? Save time and effort with our Campaign Letter Templates!
Your Last Fund Raising Appeal – Make that Final Push!
As voting day nears, don’t become complacent! Make that final push for a campaign contribution.
The key at this point in time is to make your last fundraising appeal specific, and make let the donors know that the money will be used for a specific goal that is critical to victory. For example, you could say that you have one final brochure printed and ready to go, but you need money for the postage. Or that you need to hire more phone bank staffers to help get out the vote.
Of course, what you say you need the money for in your letter should actually be what the money is used for. Targeting supporters who have already donated to the campaign is a smart strategy, as they already have a vested interest in the campaign.
Your letter should be frank, but also a bit alarmist by reminding the reader that the campaign has come too far, and is too close to victory to lose it all for a lack of money at the very end.
And be sure you thank your supporters no matter the final outcome.
Save time and effort and download Campaign Letter Templates from our Download Store.
Use Signature Files in Your Campaign Messaging
Signature files are a simple way to promote your campaign through email. A signature file, commonly known as a sig file, is a short block of text that you and your campaign staff append to campaign e-mail to let people know who and what you are.
Your signature file should contain the following information:
• Your name.
• Your campaign name.
• A means of contacting your campaign.
• A campaign slogan. (optional)
Here are a few email signature examples:
Bob Smith, Campaign Director
John Jones for TinyTown Mayor
Ph: 888-555-7774
Fax: 888-555-8090
johnjonesforoffice.com
Bob Smith, Campaign Director
John Jones for TinyTown Mayor
177 West 20 Street, 6th floor
TinyTown, NY 10001
212.555.7646
800.555.8448
johnjonesforoffice.com
You can even get a little fancy, if you want:
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
JOHN JONES FOR TINYTOWN MAYOR
888-555-7774
johnjonesforoffice.com
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Putting the Local In Local Politics!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bob Smith, Campaign Director
John Jones for TinyTown Mayor
177 West 20 Street, 6th floor
TinyTown, NY 10001
212.555.7646
johnjonesforoffice.com
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Putting the Local In Local Politics!
Images, such as campaign logos, can also be added to sig files, though some recipients may be annoyed by additional files cluttering up their in boxes. We recommend keeping your signature text-only.
Check your email program’s HELP menu and search for signatures. From there you should be able to find instructions on how to set up a signature for your email account.
Types of Political Campaign Letters
Ongoing correspondence in a small political campaign is critical to keeping the momentum going. Advertising is geared toward the public, but the local media and individual campaign supporters require a more personal touch.
The typical types of political campaign letters are listed below. There is no particular sequence of letters once a campaign kicks off, and some are used multiple times throughout a campaign.
General Campaign Letter Formats:
- Press Releases: These include your entry into the race, endorsements, issue positions, campaign events, and post-event releases.
- Endorsement Letters: Sample letters to the editor, endorsement requests from other organizations and individuals.
- Fundraising Appeals: General, close family and friends, general appeals, push after primary, follow up appeals, final fund raising push before election or primary.
- Personal Invitation Letter: For guests of honor to campaign events.
- Thank You Letters: For event speakers, donors, volunteers, and supporters.
- Policy Briefs: Detailed policy proposals or positions.
- Volunteer Recruitment: Encouraging community volunteering.
- Community Outreach: Engaging with community leaders.
- Constituent Feedback: Addressing constituent inquiries.
- Event Follow-Up: Thanking attendees and summarizing events.
- Press Kits: Media resource packages containing background information and resources.
- Surrogate Outreach: Enlisting influential support from individuals or organizations.
It’s a good idea to have a series of pre-written letters created early in the campaign. Having your a press release to announce your candidacy, initial fund raising appeals, and thank you letters drafted before you actually need them will save you time and help streamline your correspondence later in the campaign.
Looking for campaign correspondence templates – from fund raising appeals to press releases to endorsement requests to thank you letters? Save time and effort with our Campaign Letter Templates or save with our Combo Package.
Or get a campaign website with Online Candidate and get free access to our Political Letter Generator and other content tools.
