Online Fundraising is Only a Widget Away

What is clear in the current internet environment is that everything is now personal. Such social networking sites as MySpace and Facebook give users a place to express themselves, a virtual identity. The web environment lends itself to customization. There is no way to maintain a web presence without customizing your own campaign websites. One vehicle for that customization is now considered the widget.

Widgets are portals of code that easily attach to web pages and social networking sites. Widgets can even be customized for bloggers. When your supporters place widgets on their networks, your campaign has increased avenues and streams of fundraising. Widgets are the ultimate grassroots tool which are, by definition, extremely effective.

Widgets give your campaign power to spread your message and a way to literally, identify with your campaign. If you are looking for one campaign tool that could make the difference on election day, take the widget to heart, and to your website. This is one tool that can bring in donations from multiple sites with the least amount of effort.

For more information, visit www.electionmall.com or call 1-888-WEB-2WIN.

Generating Funds

Five ways to keep and attract donors.

1. Target young people ages 18 – 34 for online donations. Current research indicates 80% of this age group pays using credit or debit cards through websites. This group commonly does not write checks.

2. Personalize your communications. General messages and overused phrases can tune out your donor base. Customize your messages to micro-targeted audiences.

3. It’s not about talking at your voters. Voters respond to conversation openers. Your campaign will benefit by actually listening to voters and responding to their concerns.

4. Identify and meet your voter’s needs. Remember that successful campaigns are in the persuasive business of ideas, issues and results. Adjust your topics to resonate with your audience and show them how you are meeting their needs.

5. Take advantage of digital networking tools and widgets. Keep conversations and donations going with easy to use tools that are highly functional and visually interesting.

ElectionMall.com offers widgets and easy to use online fundraising pages. Try out our free Contribute Now page that sets up in minutes on your webpage.

Meditate on this

In 2007, the Federal Election Commission estimated that the 2008 presidential race would be a 1 billion election and that serious contenders would need to raise $100 million by the end of 2007.

Breathing exercise

Take time out of your day to see what it new on the web. Try being young again. Go to interactive features and immerse yourself for 15 minutes. This hands-on exercise can bring you valuable insight to how younger voters interact with the world which can inspire your Get Out The Vote tactics.

New Vocabulary

Traditional Definition

Widget: gizmo, gadget, doodad, that thingy, a do hicky, thingamabob, thingamajig; a small device that is useful for a particular job whose name is either not known or can’t be recalled.

Modern Definition

Widget: an icon or graphical interface element that can be used by internet users to perform a desired function; virtual stickers that act as instant fundraising portals that are added to social networking sites or web pages

Did you know?

Did you know that you could get a widget to watch YouTube? Get weather reports? There is even a Stock TickerThis widget that gives you stock quotes in real time. There are thousands of widgets for your desktop comfort. Visit ElectionMall.com to create your own.

Today’s Voter Space

Do voters care that this is the hottest presidential race since 1928?

With no incumbents in sight and no clear shoe-in, the field is wide open. If you don’t think that young voters are engaging in politics, think again. In the July 23, 2007 democratic presidential debate, 3,000 YouTube viewers submitted questions through video. Only 39 of those questions were asked in that debate. Be that campaign that addresses those remaining 2,961 questions.

– Campaign Guru and CEO of ElectionMall.com, Ravi Singh