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.
Campaign Writing Can Make or Break a Vote
First impressions will make or break a voter’s support. The campaign material you distribute should always be your best work.
Check Out Our New Political Platform Generator Tool [Fun]
Coming up with campaign slogan isn’t too hard. The real work comes when it’s time to come up with a political platform to attract voters. We can help!
5 Tips To Mix Online Into Your First Fundraising Event
With some planning, you can turn your first fundraising event into something that increases awareness, gains you more interest in your campaign – and perhaps brings in some additional money!
The Fundraising Chicken and Egg Question For Local Candidates
Fundraising might not be fun for political candidates, but it’s a necessity. People can win elections on a shoestring budget, but that’s the exception. Typically, the candidate that can raise and spend the most money tends to win.
They’re Not Campaign Supporters Until You Get Them in Voting Booth
The ultimate goal of any political campaign – local, state or federal – is to get people to the voting booth and cast a ballot. It’s a simple idea that it cannot be emphasized enough.
First Person vs. Third Person Copy for Political Campaign Websites
We’ve recently had a few clients reach out to us, concerned that their campaign websites are not ranking as well as expected for candidate name searches. Generally, this has to do with the age of the site, the existing content that ranks and whether the website content actually mentions the name of the candidate.
Alternate Domain Names for Campaign Websites
Sometimes the original domain name of your campaign turns out to be the wrong choice. Though you had thoughtfully considered your original name name, as the campaign moves ahead, you find that it just isn’t working out.
5 Things Candidates Should Never Do Online
More and more politicians are getting themselves in hot water for things they say or do online. It doesn’t have to be this way. With a little knowledge, foresight and attention, any political candidate can create and maintain a positive online presence.
A Local Political Candidate Fail
Political candidates are often hurt by what they say or do on social media. A single Tweet can get a campaign in hot water. Sometimes, though, doing absolutely nothing can also become a problem.
Special Elections and Voter Turnout
Often the election of a local candidate is decided by just a handful of votes. Low voter turnout tends to occur for special elections or primary elections. Because of this, the winner often is the candidate who can get the most voters to participate.
Online Candidate makes it easy to launch your political website and build your online presence.
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