Branding Power for Campaigns

Marketers have tracked branding in the marketplace for years. When it comes to campaigns, it is not that different. Simply substitute candidate for brand and you get the picture.

Brands work because you trust them and they have a recognizable personality. How do brands earn that status? It certainly doesn’t happen because of purchased air time and media spin. Brands become persuasive when people interact with them – try them out. This is the power of town hall meetings and visible voting records which directly win the voter’s trust.

A candidate’s campaign is an extension of his brand. When your campaign interacts and responds to the public, they need to be spot on. That enthusiasm they have for your candidate or cause must be tangible for voters. An easy way to keep your message out there is through offering branded promotions materials and incentives to your volunteers.

Creating an online campaign store builds awareness and generates funds. ElectionMall.com now offers a complete store as a simple add on for your existing website. For 25$/month, you can access these branding items without having to worry about fulfillment, inventory, production, securing transactions, shipping and legal compliance.

Online campaign stores can offer eyardsigns, t-shirts, buttons, balloons, candy, bumper stickers, pens and pencils, door hangers, bags, drinkware and mugs, magnets, hats, flags and anything else in a branding toolkit. Start watching your brand grow and win this election.

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

Building Awareness

Six ways to generate awareness today.

1. Offer promotional products. People who believe in your cause identify with your campaign. Let them further that identity by allowing them to purchase t-shirts, hats, yard signs, etc.

2. Start a Rewards Program. Motivate your volunteers with gifts from your campaign store that brands your message and keeps it in the spotlight.

3. Create an online campaign store. For $25/month, ElectionMall.com offers a campaign store that adds on to your website. All regulations, inventory and fulfillment are included.

4. Send out issue-related emails that voters care about. Educate the public by being very clear about what your campaign stands for and how you take action.

5. Use audio and video messaging. Tailor your messaging to viral forwarding and word of mouth communication.

6. Name all your images with campaign names. Make your campaign searchable by ensuring that your photos can be searched on Google, Yahoo, AOL and other popular search engine sites.

For more easy tech solutions, try our ElectionMall.com’s Grassroots Builder.

Generating Funds

Ten steps to raising money online.

1. Purchase a web based system that integrates into your existing website. Do not spend the time and money building your own.

2. Always offer online credit card processing as well as electronic check processing to accommodate older voters.

3. Offer a monthly donor program. Some donors will contribute the same amount as one time donors if given the option to pay smaller amounts over a period of time.

4. Use a program that allows you to customize. Contribution pages can be tailored to committees, coalition, initiatives or products.

5. Pick an online program that offers fundraising as well as eTicketing. Posting events online generates immediate income and helps you plan your fundraising.

6. Offer a reward program for volunteers. Create an online campaign store where volunteers can choose their own gift. Gratitude goes a long way when people are working hard to secure votes for your campaign.

7. Choose a program with real-time tracking. Collect those dollars while filling out your donor profile.

8. Provide audio and video fundraising messaging. Campaigns must be interactive to maximize their reach.

9. Create instant thank you emails and eCards.

10. Ensure that the fundraising program you use is compliant with current legislation laws.

ElectionMall.com offers an award-winning online fundraising package. Try out our free Contribute Now page that sets up in minutes on your webpage.

Today’s Voter Space

Should you campaign on YouTube?

Campaigning on YouTube means that you may lose control of your message, but given the fact that younger generations of Americans are participating in democracy is a thing of beauty and may well be worth the risk. YouTube can be an opportunity to get away from the sound bites and staged presentations politicians are used to. If you look at YouTube as a way to start a conversation with the tech savy voter population, this may result in generating more interest in your campaign and dollars for your campaign.

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