Campaign stress is inevitable. By running, you’re stepping out of your comfort zone; and even the smallest races come with a great deal of public scrutiny. You have to convince members of your community, your friends, coworkers, and neighbors that you are the best choice to represent them and their families. Once elected, you may be taking part in a process that is completely foreign to most of your community.
That being said, that stress doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There are some steps that you can take before you start running that will help you overcome the day-to-day struggles many candidates have.
3 | You Need More Than Slogans
One of the first questions almost every person you talk to once you start your campaign is “What do you stand for?”
You may think you have an answer, but all too often first-time candidates and veteran perennial change makers fail to consider just how thought-out you need to be to break through to voters. You must go beyond simple slogans and have real policies that speak to your community. This will help mobilize supporters to your cause.
A fancy slogan might be nice, but ask yourself: Will people show out for a few buzzwords and phrases if there’s no substance? Will people knock on doors, call strangers, and put hours into supporting a candidate who isn’t strong on the issues? Some folks may, but an overwhelming majority will be hesitant to join your movement if they can’t point to concrete ways you will improve their lives.
The planning goes beyond just having good positions as well. You can have the best ideas, but…
2 | You Need Community Support
You can’t win without your community.
A campaign is nothing without a base. You need to spend plenty of time building your base before you even consider announcing your intent to run for office. Whether charity work, joining local organizations, identifying and befriending established community leaders, or any other similar action, you need your community to know you.
Once you’ve started your campaign, you’ll find very quickly that you will be relying on your first support base to help you cross the finish line. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of cultivating your support as early as possible – and building that base at every opportunity.
That being said, a community can do a lot, but you need a dedicated core to your campaign to keep it going smoothly. In short…
1 | You Need a Team
You can have the best ideas and widespread name recognition, but it’s your team that turns those variables into votes.
The most important step of the campaign setup process is identifying who will support you day in and day out in every aspect of the race. These team members are people you’re going to spend every day with – people you are going to have to rely on for every obstacle that gets in your way on the campaign trail. You need to choose your team wisely to win.
These people will feel like a family by the end of your race. They’re going to keep the momentum going – and keep you from stumbling when things get tough. Without them, you can’t possibly hope to manage all of the needs that come with running a dynamic and successful campaign.
Need help figuring out how to get started, or want someone to show you how you can improve your own operations? Which Side Digital has years of experience organizing at every level and can help be the bedrock of your campaign team. Set up a free call with us today, and see what we can do to give you a plan and ensure you’re getting everything you want out of your efforts in the digital space.
Avoid the headache of having to find staff and hope for the best. We’re here to help, and excited to talk about what we can do for you.
Need help with your campaign? Want to see how we can help?
Sound off below!
