Political Campaign Tips and Strategies
Practical guides for candidates running local and state campaigns. Find advice on starting a campaign, building your online presence, fundraising, messaging, voter outreach, and more.
Essential Guides for Political Candidates
How to Prepare for a Run for Local Office
Learn the basics of preparing for a local campaign, including qualifications,
budgeting, fundraising, building a campaign team, filing requirements, and
getting voters to the polls.
Read the guide
Political Campaign Timeline
See what needs to happen before, during, and after a campaign launch, from early planning and filing through fundraising, voter outreach, and Election Day.
View the timeline
How to Build a Political Campaign Website
A practical guide to planning, building, and launching a campaign website that gives voters the information they need and supports your campaign goals.
Read the website guide
Campaign Website Pages: What Every Candidate Needs to Include
Find out which pages and content your campaign website should include to inform voters, collect support, accept donations, and keep your campaign active.
See the essential pages
Comparing Political Donation Platforms
Compare common political fundraising platforms and the factors campaigns should consider when choosing a service for accepting online contributions.
Compare donation platforms
Differences Between a Campaign Slogan, Message and Platform
Understand how your campaign slogan, core message, and issue platform work together—and the different role each plays in communicating with voters.
Learn the differences
Need a Campaign Website?
Online Candidate has helped political candidates build their online presence since 2004. See our custom campaign website packages and campaign-specific features.
So You Want To Run For Sheriff? Here’s How To Get Started
The office of sheriff varies considerably from one state and county to another. Sheriffs are generally elected county-level law enforcement officials, but their qualifications, duties, term lengths, and responsibilities depend on state law and the jurisdiction they...
Who To Contact If You Want To Run For Office
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." This is an old Chinese proverb meaning that great things start from simple beginnings. Sometimes that first step begins with a basic question. If you want to run for public office in U.S., the most common...
Combining Political Print and Digital Marketing Strategies
Campaign advertising has always been a powerful tool for politicians. Marketing for politicians provides an effective way to get their message across to voters. Winning campaigns use a combination of traditional media, print, and digital marketing. They often combine...
Starting a Local Grassroots Political Campaign
Starting a local grassroots campaign is challenging. But with commitment and the right strategy, you can make a meaningful impact in your community. This guide will walk you through the steps to successfully launch your local grassroots campaign, from planning to...
So You Want To Run for County Government? Here’s How To Get Started
A county government is the local governing body that administers a particular geographic area that encompasses a county. It's responsibilities include law enforcement, public health and safety, and infrastructure. County government serves as an intermediary between...
Reach Early Voters Online: Mail-In and Absentee
Reaching early voters is more important than ever, particularly for primaries and local elections, where voter turnout can make all the difference in winning. Two methods for casting a ballot during an early voting period: Registered voters that can vote in person at...
Political Design: Creating an Effective Campaign Presence
Political design is a form of marketing to influence voter's opinions or behaviors. It is used in election campaigns, advocacy websites, and organizations. The goal is to persuade their audience in a way that benefits the organization or candidate. The best political...
Why Your About Page Ranks Higher Than Your Home Page
Typically, a website’s Home Page is the ‘strongest’ page, one that tends to rank in the search engines for the candidate’s name. So why would the About Page get top billing?
School Board Campaign Logo Design
School board campaign logos are primarily used to represent a specific candidate and to establish a connection with parents and voters. Candidates for local school boards need a logo design that will help them rise above the noise and show off what they really stand...
Questions for First-Time Political Candidates
Every two years in the United States, over 500,000 public offices are up for election. During that time, more than a million and a half candidates will seek elected office. For many of these candidates, it will be their first race. If you’re thinking about running for...
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