Want to know the biggest mistake I see first-time candidates make? They rush to announce their campaign before doing the one thing that could make or break their success: building their key campaign lists.
Let me tell you a quick story. Last year, I worked with two candidates running for city council. The first one couldn’t wait to announce – she was so excited to get started that she launched her campaign immediately. The second took six weeks to quietly build his support network before going public.
Guess which campaign raised more money in their first month? After some basic political campaign preparation exercises, the second candidate brought in three times as much. Why? Because he knew exactly who to call the moment he announced.
I remember sitting down with a school board candidate who was frustrated that her campaign wasn’t gaining traction. “I’m posting on social media every day,” she told me. “I’m speaking at every event I can find. Why isn’t it working?”
When I asked her about her campaign lists, she looked confused. “You mean my Facebook followers?”
That’s when I explained something I’ve learned from years of running campaigns: your success isn’t just about what you say – it’s about who you’re saying it to.
Here’s a truth bomb: campaigns aren’t won with flashy websites or clever slogans. They’re won by people who believe in you enough to open their wallets, knock on doors, and tell their friends why you matter.
I recently worked with a candidate who thought she only knew a handful of potential supporters. But when we sat down and really mapped out her network – the parents from her kids’ school, her professional connections, people she’d volunteered with – we discovered over 200 potential supporters she hadn’t even considered.
Let me share another story that changed how I think about campaign strategy. A first-time candidate was running for county commission in a district she’d lived in for decades. She thought she knew all the important community leaders. But when we did a proper stakeholder mapping, we discovered dozens of influential voices she’d overlooked – from the head of the local business association to religious leaders who commanded huge followings.
Here’s what makes this interesting: after reaching out to these community leaders early, several became her strongest advocates. One even hosted a fundraiser that brought in $15,000 in a single evening.
I love telling the story of a state house candidate who thought he needed to knock on every door in his district. “That’s 20,000 doors!” he told me, looking overwhelmed.
After we analyzed the voting data, we discovered something fascinating: only about 4,000 households were home to truly persuadable voters. By focusing his time and resources on these specific voters, he could have meaningful conversations instead of rushing through superficial interactions.
Here’s the thing about building campaign lists – it’s not just about throwing names into a spreadsheet. I watched a campaign waste three months trying to manage their contacts in Excel before finally admitting they needed help.
Think about it this way: your campaign lists are living, breathing documents that need to track:
And that’s just the beginning.
I remember a candidate who came to me frustrated after a failed campaign. “If I could do it all over again,” she said, “I would have spent more time building my foundation before launching.”
She’s right. The strongest campaigns I’ve seen all started the same way: by quietly building their networks before making any public moves.
Here’s what I’ve learned works best:
Every campaign starts with that spark – the moment you decide to run. But what you do next can make all the difference. I’d love to hear about your race and help you build the foundation you need to win.
Want to discuss your campaign strategy over coffee (virtual works too!)? Choose a time or reach out at Sean@VOTEGTR.com. I’m always happy to share ideas and help good candidates build the strong foundation they need to win.
