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 Articles
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
Setting Up Your 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
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
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
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.
Don’t Let Weak Copy Undercut Your Political Campaign
When you're running for local office, it’s easy to think that words are the easy part. After all, you already know your values, your community, and what you stand for. Why not just write it yourself? But here’s the truth: the words on your campaign website, print...
Are You Ready for a Political Campaign? Take the Survey and Find Out!
We're excited to introduce our latest tool: "Ready to Run for Office? Self-Assessment Survey." This tool is for aspiring politicians and campaign trailblazers. It's here to help you assess if you are ready to launch and run a successful political campaign. This...
Sample Follow-Up Political Fundraising Letter
Not everyone donates to your political campaign the first time you ask—and that’s normal. Many supporters will see your first fundraising email or letter and intend to donate, but they get distracted, busy, or wait for a better time. A well-timed follow-up gives them...
Sample High-Dollar Donor Fundraising Letter (With Tips to Personalize Your Ask)
Some donors can make a big difference with a single contribution, and when you're running a political campaign, you need to know how to ask. A high-dollar donor fundraising letter is different from a general appeal. It's more personal, more focused, and written with...
Sample Campaign Fundraising Kickoff Letter (With Tips to Make It Your Own)
Your campaign is underway—and now it’s time to ask for support. One of the first steps most political candidates take is sending a fundraising kickoff letter. This message introduces your candidacy, shares why you’re running, and asks supporters to help you build...
Why Every Political Campaign Needs a Google Account
If you are running for local office, consider creating a Google account for your political campaign. You may already have a personal Gmail account, but creating a new Google account for your campaign will help separate your personal activities. Many candidates create...
How to Prepare Before Running for Office: A 12-Month Timeline
Running for office is a big decision—and announcing your campaign is only one part of the process. Long before you make anything official, there’s important groundwork to lay if you want to run a strong, organized campaign. This early phase, often behind the scenes,...
Holiday Political Campaigning in December: What Candidates Should Avoid
This message came to several of our business email accounts on early December morning: I'm Running for Congress My name is [REDACTED], and I'm running to be the next US Congressman for [REDACTED] Congressional District. And the email went on for another 400 words...
Political Campaign Fundraising FAQ: How to Raise Money for Your Campaign Online
The pursuit of public office is closely tied to the pursuit of raising money. If you’re a political candidate today, you’ll need funding to mount an effective campaign. And if you’re new to the process, get up to speed early—don’t wait until the thick of election...
What Are The Basic Requirements To Run For Public Office?
Local government is the fundamental building block of our government structure. Local officials and agencies are in the best position to understand the needs of the constituents they serve, and actively work to solve their problems by improving infrastructure,...
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