It's Summer - Time To Get Your Political Campaign Underway!

For most people, the summer means long, lazy days, fun in the sun, and family vacations.

But if you have an election this fall or a primary coming up, now is not the time for relaxing by the pool.

Labor Day is considered the traditional start of the political campaigning season. By then, party primaries have ended, and voters are just starting to pay attention to the upcoming elections. However, if you wait until the end of August to start the groundwork for your offline and online campaign, you’ve waited too long.

Starting your campaign preparations early ensures you’re not scrambling last minute. You’ll experience a smoother process and have time to address unexpected issues. Early groundwork during the summer lets you build a solid foundation of volunteers, voters and donors, so by the time the traditional campaign season starts in September, you’re already ahead. This preparation will reduce stress and increase your confidence because you’ll already have systems in place and will be ready to focus on voter engagement.

Successful candidates plan ahead. Over the next few months, you’ll need to get your campaign plan together, raise initial funds, and get your campaign staff and volunteers organized. Here are a few things you’ll want to work on during the dog days of summer…

Get your finances in order

Appointing a campaign treasurer right away means you’ll have someone dedicated to managing your funds, ensuring your financial activities are legal and organized. This can prevent financial missteps and allow you to focus on campaigning.

Do you plan on raising and spending money for your election? If so, you’ll want to appoint a campaign treasurer and create a bank checking account. You’ll need one if you plan to take online donations. Start early as it can take time for an online donation service to verify your account and set up donation pages.

If your campaign is large enough, setting up a finance team to handle budgeting and spending tracking can make a huge difference. This team will set up the campaign’s budget, track all expenditures, and ensure that the campaign abides by all relevant laws and regulations. For federal congressional campaigns, this can include registering with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and filing reports and other paperwork.

Working with your fundraising committee early helps you meet financial goals through various activities, easing the pressure of fundraising. Setting up an online donation service early is crucial; delays in verification can stall your fundraising efforts. With these preparations, you’ll experience fewer financial headaches and be more effective in your campaign efforts.

Start preparing your campaign website content

A campaign website is a critical tool for politicians today. Developing your campaign website early will be central to your campaign, offering updates, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment. A candidate website can be used to accept contributions, post updates, and get people onto your email list.

You’ll find that having your website up and running provides a platform to share your story and vision, making it easier to connect with voters. Getting your website content and photographs ready will make things easier when it’s time to register a domain name and build your site. If you have not already started your campaign website, it is important to begin early.

You should have a site live by the time you announce your candidacy. The sooner you do, the more time you will have to raise money through the site. It will also provide a place to help organize your campaign events and recruit support. Preparing website content and photographs in advance can make your site launch smoother, saving you from last-minute content creation stress.

Keep in mind that a website can always start small and grow over time to keep people informed about your progress. You can post updates about the campaign, such as fundraising totals or goal updates. You can also use it to tell your story and share information about you, the cause, and your supporters. Regular updates keep supporters informed and engaged, which can build a stronger connection with your base and make them feel more involved in your campaign.

Start warming up your social media accounts

When was the last time you went through your personal social media profiles? Reviewing and updating your personal social media profiles ensures you project a professional image. Removing outdated or embarrassing content can prevent potential PR issues. Use this time to clean up your old posts and update your profile images to project a professional look.

Most politicians, even local ones, use social media to get their messages out to the public. By starting to post content that appeals to voters and cross-linking your profiles with your campaign website and donation pages, you’ll boost your online visibility. If you are planning to use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you’ll want to set up your accounts and start posting content that will resonate with voters. This strategic social media use can lead to higher engagement rates, better voter connection, and more donations, enhancing your overall campaign impact.

And don’t forget to cross-link your social profiles with your campaign website and donation pages. This is important for ranking better in search engines.

Know the law and local rules of political campaigning

Getting to know your local election laws is crucial if you want to avoid any of the many legal pitfalls that go with politics. Whatever you do, become familiar with your local election laws. Understanding restrictions on campaign activities, advertising disclaimers, and filing deadlines ensures you comply with all legal requirements. For example, there might be dates before which you cannot engage in campaign activities or raise money.

This knowledge can prevent fines or penalties and keeps your campaign running smoothly. Of course, filing deadlines are a must. There may also be advertising restrictions or specific disclaimers required on your print and web material. Laws vary from state to state and may even depend on the elected position you are running for. It also builds your credibility with voters who value transparency and adherence to rules.

Have a fun and productive summer!