Drew Ryun of American Majority provides a detailed podcast on how to win your precinct.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Drew Ryun of American Majority provides a detailed podcast on how to micro-target your community.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Chris Faulkner, Vice-President of Faulkner Strategies (and direct-mail guru), provides campaign tips on best practices concerning campaign mail.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Chris Faulkner, Vice-President of Faulkner Strategies, provides campaign tips on running a successful voter contact program.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Chris Faulkner, Vice-President of Faulkner Strategies, provides campaign tips on best practices of campaign yard sign usage.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Ned Ryun, President of American Majority, provides campaign tips on how to conduct a successful door-to-door campaign operation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Ned Ryun, President of American Majority, delivers the twenty-second episode of the series entitled, “Running for Office.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

2010 promises to be a good year for conservative campaigns both in North Carolina and across the country. Whether you are running a campaign for town council or a statewide Senate campaign, Twitter can play an important role in helping you win.

I’ve compiled ten tips and observations to help conservative campaigns engage conservative voters in 2010. These important (and perhaps obvious) Twitter tips are based on what I’ve seen campaigns do and not do with their Twitter strategies in the past year.

Take a look, remember that followers are potential voters, and get tweeting!

1. Realize Successful Twitter Accounts Do Not Come Overnight.

Campaigns need to be prepared to invest in this new media tool. Twitter accounts, like all other aspects of your campaign, will require staff time and resources. Start by creating a long term Twitter strategy that focuses on reaching and educating your potential voters. As you continue, remember that successful Twitter accounts are not measured by the amount of followers you have, but the impact your message has on those you are trying to target.

2. Customize Your Twitter Account

Fill in any possible information on the Twitter Profile (name, website, and bio at minimum), including dates for primary or general elections. Create a custom background that corresponds to the branding on your website and Facebook Page or use the background space to list url information for your other social media accounts. There are multiple options for customization, but the point here is to create a Twitter profile that is engaging and informative.
3. Remember You Have a Twitter Account

This seems obvious, but I can’t tell you how many campaigns I have seen start accounts on social networks and then fail to follow through. Twitter should be your second new media priority (after Facebook), but if your campaign hasn’t developed a strategy for using Twitter, don’t launch an account yet. It does you no favors for potential voters to see a campaign Twitter account that hasn’t been updated in months. (Of course, if you are itching to start using Twitter and just can’t seem to come up with a strategy, let’s talk).

4. Know Who Is Tweeting

For most organizations, parties, groups, and online grassroots movements, I recommend keeping personal and business accounts completely separate. However, for campaigns it’s effective for candidates to show a personal side. The trick here is to make sure it’s clear who is tweeting. If campaign staff will tweet sometimes and the candidate others, create an easy way for followers to distinguish the tweets.

5. Hashtags. Use them.

Hashtags are my favorite part of Twitter because they allow you to reach new people and categorize your tweets.  I am continually amazed that there are candidates running for any office, especially Congress or Senate, who are still not using hashtags. Look around and find out which hashtags your potential followers are using and use them constantly. You could also create your own hashtag and feed it to your campaign website (warning: don’t forget that anyone can tweet anything with any hashtag). Either way, encourage your supporters to retweet or tweet about you using the hashtags your campaign is using.

6. Stop Expecting People to Come to You.

Many savvy political tweeters will seek out your Twitter account, but many, many more potential supporters will not. The best way to increase your base is to follow the people you hope will follow you. My tip for finding your followers is to pick influential tweeters in your district and follow the tweeters who are following them. You might even ask those same influential tweeters to recommend people for you to follow.

7. See Follower, Think Voter

When you see the word follower, think “potential voter” and engage tweeters in every way possible. For example, thank followers for retweeting important links and encourage them to do so in the future. Consider encouraging followers to ask questions and use the Twitter account to respond to those questions. However you go about engaging your followers, remember that followers are potential voters and you need them come Election Day.

8. Use Twitter Lists

Engage and recognize your supporters by grouping them in specific Twitter lists. Consider sending the people on these lists your press releases and links to your latest blogs first. It’s likely they will appreciate the recognition and start spreading your content. Twitter lists are an easy and quick way to see what your supporters are tweeting about.

9. Know What People Are Tweeting About Your Campaign

Don’t rely on Google alerts and the Twitter @ reply function (which is unreliable at best) for Twitter reputation management. It’s important to take time to use the Twitter search function to search for your name, district, your opponent’s name, and other relevant keywords. Follow the people who are supporting you and address any questions that have been raised by other Tweeters.

10.  Don’t Stop Tweeting Once You Win

Change your account name from @nameforcongress to @RepName and tweet more than ever. You will be glad you did when the next election cycle rolls around.

(Note: This blog has also been posted at majorityconnections.com and runsmart2win.com.  Comments or suggestions? Connect with me on Twitter @jessicanwood.)

American Majority is pleased to announce that our Candidate and Activist Training Program will be coming to Tampa, FL on Saturday, January 30 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The event will feature general sessions as well as two different tracks. One track is for individuals interested in running for public office (Candidate Track) and the other is for those looking to become more effective in their state and community (Activist Track).

The event will be located at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center located at 11606 McKinley Drive in Tampa, FL.

Information and pricing for each track is as follows (Space is limited, pre-registration is strongly encouraged):

Candidate Track (Costs Include Lunch)

$55/per candidate or first attendee in advance.  $75 at the door.

$25/per additional attendee (spouse, campaign staffer, volunteer, etc., attending with the candidate/first attendee – EXCLUDES ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES) in advance.  $35 at the door.

Attendees of the Candidate Track will receive specialized training (in addition to general sessions) on subjects including:

• Communications
• Campaign Planning and Strategy
• Fundraising
• Grassroots
• Utilizing New and Traditional Media
• Much More!

Activist Track (Costs Include Lunch)

$30/per first activist attendee in advance.  $40 at the door.

$25/per additional attendee in advance.  $35 at the door.

Attendees of the Activist Track will receive specialized training (in addition to general sessions) on subjects including:

• Building Coalitions and Organizing Meaningful Events
• Holding Elected Officials Accountable
• New Media Engagement: Blogs, Wikipedia Projects, Social Networking, and More
• Effectively Communicating Your Views
• Much More!

Included in the training materials will be samples and supplements to help you apply what you learn in the training to your organization, candidate, cause or community.

To register for the event, please click here and use our online reservation system. For questions, please contact American Majority at 540-338-1251 or email info@americanmajority.org.

American Majority together with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is pleased to announce a full day of Activist Training to be held on  Saturday, February 6 in Honolulu, HI.

The goal of this training is to empower citizens to make a difference in their communities by learning the strategies used by professionals and political parties. In addition, attendees will receive training in modern tools of information and technology and have the chance to network with other like-minded individuals and organizations.

The event will be held from 10:00am – 3:00pm at the Navy-Marine Golf Course (Sam Snead Clubhouse) located at 943 Valkenburgh Street in Honolulu.

This special training is only $10 per activist.*

*Lunch and training materials are included in the cost of registration.  Online pre-registration is strongly encouraged to ensure that your seat is reserved!  Space is limited and is expected to fill quickly.

Presentations that will be offered include:

• Implementing Freedom: How to utilize your time on a campaign
• Grassroots Action: How to build, manage, and use an effective organization
• Patriotism 2.0: New media activism
• Precinct Power: Organizing at the precinct level, voter registration, and hard-wiring precincts

To register, please click here. For more information, please contact American Majority at info@americanmajority.org or call 540-338-1251.