I mentioned, in the last video, that I am putting together an on-line course to help people who want to run for office. It will also be a great course for those who want to help political candidates, or serve as members of their campaign staff.
Looking for Help in Your Campaign? Call Jay at (845) 458-1210. The call is FREE.
In one of the lessons, I’ll be doing a deep dive into developing a campaign slogan that is just right for you.
Today, a little about what is in that lesson.
What is a campaign slogan? It is a short set of words that helps voters remember something about you. It can be the reason why you want the job, what you’ll do with the job, something that delineates what makes you different from your opponent, or that compelling cause you are fighting for.
All candidates need a slogan. Good slogans are easily remembered, interesting, and catchy. The one thing you want people to know about you even if they remember nothing else. Short enough to fit on palm cards, literature, posters, yard signs and the header on your website.
What should your slogan be? That is determined by four things you should consider as you develop yours.
- The political environment.
- The office you are running for and what you’ll do with it.
- The person you are running against.
- The slice of the electorate that you must win in order to prevail over your opponent.
During the coming weeks I’ll be going into these topics in detail.
Today, we’ll tackle the first of the four…the political environment.
If your message is irrelevant to the environment in which you are running, it will be irrelevant to the voters deciding your fate. I’ll illustrate that point by looking at the slogans of the Presidential candidates on the ballot in Iowa.
- Heal*Inspire*Revive.
- Fresh Ideas for America
- Reigniting the Promise of America
- Rebuild the American Dream
- Restore the American Dream
- Unleash the American Dream
- A Political Revolution is Coming
- Make America Great Again.
You don’t need to be a genius to know that not all is well in the United States, that people are unhappy about the economy, and that many feel as though they have been left behind. You’ll also note that no one has a slogan that says “Let’s Keep a Good Thing Going,” or “Happy Days are Here Again.” The slogans match the mood of the country.
As you construct your slogan, ask yourself these questions to ensure that your slogan is in tune with the environment in which you are running.
- Is the electorate in a good mood, or an ugly mood?
- Is the economy front and center, or are people more concerned about protecting the environment and improving schools?
- Are people clamoring for more social programs, or would they rather you cut their taxes?
- Do they feel safe and secure, or is terrorism on the front page of the daily newspapers?
- Is there a particular issue that is on the lips of everyone in your community?
Of course, none of the slogans used by the Presidential candidates would be appropriate for someone running for the Senate, or school board, or the state legislature.
So next week we’ll talk about how to tailor the slogan to the job you are running for, and what you’ll do with the job if you get it.
Have Questions? Call me at 845-458-1210. Or email me at Jay@JayTownsend.com.
Do you Want to Run for Office? Start with my Political Roadmap Series. The Road Begins Here:
- Running for Office? A Political Campaign Explained in 5 Minutes
- Then follow along on my Blog- Jay’s Campaign & Communication Tips or Watch all the videos on my YouTube Channel
Political consultant Jay Townsend works with smart, passionate candidates who want to run for office, win elections and make a difference. He has successfully helped candidates learn how to run for the U.S. Senate, how to run for Congress, how to run for Mayor and develop a winning campaign marketing strategy.
How to win an election:
Running for office and knowing how to win an election is a challenge, especially for first time political candidates just learning how to run for office. Discerning the fine points of how to campaign, raise political contributions, and execute a political campaign strategy often requires the help of someone who has served as a political strategist or who has experience as a political consultant.