There are many New Year’s resolutions that people make, but few people follow through with them. If you are running for office this year, here are some resolutions you’ll want to keep.
- Put together a solid political campaign plan. Today’s political landscape is more complex than ever before. There are many tasks required in preparing and executing a political campaign. A political campaign plan is a comprehensive document that outlines all the facets of a campaign. It includes what needs to be done, who will do it, and by when. It’s the outline of your overall campaign strategy. In addition to this outline, a calendar should be created to monitor upcoming events and assign deadlines for each task.
- Do your research. Research the problems facing your community. Attend local and organizational meetings. Speak with local and civic leaders for perspective. Get to know your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Follow what the opposition is doing for activities, advertising, and messaging. The campaign trail is tough enough. Do what you can to avoid surprises.
- Find out what your local voters care about and what they want for their future. It’s not enough to run just based on what you care about. Consider what your community cares about. You may not agree with everyone’s views, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them when developing your own platform.
- Focus on increasing donations from those who are willing to support your cause. The goal is to galvanize the supporters and ensure that you generate enough funds to get your message out. If you followed the previous resolutions, you’ll have an idea of what issues are important to various segments of your electorate. Use that information to send personalized ads, emails, texts, and even letters with a specific request for their help.
- Don’t discount volunteers. Even though donations are important, a helping hand can be just as important, if not more. Try to attract volunteers whose skills and expertise can help your campaign. Even a volunteer who can only put in a few hours of time can be invaluable. Make sure you have a volunteer coordinator who can effectively put good people to use.
- Plan to speak with as many voters as possible, online and offline. It is crucial for candidates to reach as many voters as they can to get them engaged and excited about the campaign. While in-person outreach may be limited due to the ongoing pandemic, online means such as social media and holding online events can help you develop two-way communication.
- Get some good photography. Having worked on campaign sites for over fifteen years, one of the biggest weaknesses that many candidates face when putting together a digital presence is poor images. Take the time and resolve yourself to invest in great campaign photos.
- Try something new online. Digital campaigning has rapidly evolved over the last few years. While political websites and social media accounts are standard these days, why not push things a little? Try running a Facebook Live event, starting a YouTube channel, or perhaps interacting on a forum like Reddit. Tip: Always try and test new formats so you know how they work before jumping into them on a campaign level.
Did you know that 85% of American adults now report that they go online every day? According to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey, 31% of Americans say they are online ‘almost constantly’.
Political resolutions are not just about following through on campaign promises; they’re also about convincing voters to support your candidacy.
Make this year your best ever!
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