How to Win a Campaign

If you think it’s hard asking strangers for money, imagine asking your own friends and family! Fundraising isn’t easy, but it’s essential to win your campaign. Most candidates will do anything to get out of calling donors, but Joe and Martín have some foolproof strategies to make fundraising easier for everyone on the campaign trail. This week, Joe and Martín discuss fundraising myths, where to find donors, and how to effectively ask for money. They are joined by Amie Kershner of AKM Consulting, and former fundraiser for the Democratic Priorities USA PAC. Amie will teach you how to shift your mindset from thinking about your donors as investors—investors in you, your campaign, and your vision. She also discusses the HR and logistics around hiring a fundraiser or fundraising team and the differences between having an in-house fundraiser and employing an outside fundraising consultant.ResourcesPolitical Fundraising Fundamentals for Your CampaignTop Campaign Fundraising ObjectionsCall Time for Campaign FundraisingConnect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

There is no better way to get to know the constituents in your district than going right up to their door and talking to them. Canvassing is essential, and it often becomes the most fun part of any campaign! Getting to know your neighbors, listening to the issues they care about, and telling them how you can help are key to not only convince them to choose you over your opponents, but also to convince them to turn out to the polls on election day. This week, Joe and Martín talk about the importance of canvassing and share some of their favorite stories from the field. Joe chats with Carmen Berkley, Chief Strategy Officer of Dancing Hearts Consulting, about her own experiences with canvassing, how to do it effectively, and how canvassing can and will help you win.Resources7 Questions with Dave Fleischer about Deep CanvassingNGP VANGrassroots UnwiredConnect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

When you run for office, you need to surround yourself with people you trust and people who believe in you. Choosing a campaign manager is one of the most important decisions you will make. You may have a plethora of campaign managers waiting to work with you, or you may only have a few friends or family members to choose from. This decision is going to be tough, and so this week, Joe and Martín chat about what to look for in a campaign manager and how to find the right one for your campaign. Martín is joined by Brandon Davis, Principal at GPSImpact, and former Chief of Staff at the DNC to share with you what he thinks you need to look for in a campaign manager.  Brandon has managed eight campaigns and has worked on over twenty, so he knows a thing or two about hiring campaign managers. ResourcesHow Do I Find a Campaign Manager Blog PostCampaign Manager Hiring GuideCreating a Campaign Manager ContractJob Boards for Political and Campaign JobsConnect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

In today’s digital world, any candidate without a robust digital communications operation is sorely lacking. Your campaign needs a healthy mix of in-person and online contact with voters to win. But with the ever changing landscape of digital media, as well as the constantly evolving rules surrounding political ads on social media, it is important to keep up to speed with digital campaign best-practices. That’s why in this episode, Joe and Martín discuss what digital means to them and what to keep in mind when setting up your campaign’s digital operations. Joe is joined by Lizzie Kendrick, former VP of digital at The Campaign Workshop and current SVP of Communications and Digital Strategy at the Climate Reality Project. Lizzie and Joe discuss the details of setting up and taking full advantage of your digital operation, such as how to test the effectiveness of different communications to improve fundraising. ResourcesThey Ask You Answer by Marcus SheridanUbersuggestGrassroots UnwiredYoastFrom The TCW Blog:How to Get the Most Out of Your Political Campaign AdsPolitical Campaign Website: How to Rank in Google Searches5 Tips for Your Political Candidate WebsiteWhat Happens if Facebook Stops Running Political Ads?Connect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

In 2020, the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic struck the United States. Campaigns up and down the ballot had to start moving their operations online as social distancing became the norm. This period challenged us all to think outside the box to come up with new practices for voter outreach and deploy new fundraising tactics. In this Special Episode of How to Win a Campaign, Joe and Martín discuss how to safely adapt to a changing environment to keep building campaign momentum. Resources Navigating Your Political Campaign and Coronavirus100+ Best Political Campaign ToolsConnect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

A campaign, like any business, needs to have streamlined and coordinated HR practices. Everything from onboarding to writing an employee handbook is essential, but can take time away from the campaign trail if you don’t do it right. This week Joe and Martín discuss the unique HR details of campaigns like having volunteers and full-time employees, union and non-union employees, and why campaign insurance is so important. Martín speaks with Claire Stein-Ross of CSR Operations, an HR professional with particular expertise in HR for campaigns. If you want to learn how to make sure your campaign operations run smoothly, this is a must listen!ResourcesThe Ideal Team Player TCW Blog PostJob Boards: Jobs That Are LeftDemocratic GainConnect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

Your campaign needs to have a winning message—one that resonates with voters and stays true to your values. How do you make one? Using a Tully Message Box of course! This week, Joe and Martín will walk you through how to use a Tully Message Box to come up with a winning message for your campaign.  Joe interviews Margie Omero of The Pollsters, the only bipartisan women podcast about polling, to teach you how to use polling to inform your message and what to look for when hiring an amazing pollster.Resources Tully Message BoxThe PollstersConnect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

Mayor Parker has run in 11 races and won nine in a row, so she knows a thing or two about what it’s like to win and lose. She has served as an elected legislator, an administrator, and as an executive, and now she works to help elect other LGBTQ+ candidates across the country.  Martín was super excited to interview Mayor Parker this week and we hope you are super excited to take a listen! Joe and Martín also discuss some of the most challenging aspects of running for office and what you can do to not only survive, but thrive on the campaign trail.Resources TCW Progressive Training Calendar: Victory FundVictory InstituteConnect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

In this episode, Joe and Martín discuss how to determine if it is financially feasible for you to run, how to harness your core values to craft a compelling campaign narrative, and how to make that difficult decision of whether to run for President of the United States or start a little closer to home. Anthony Robinson of the National Democratic Training Committee joins Joe this week to discuss the benefits of attending a candidate training, and the work we can all do to diversify the political arena. Resources Why I Run: 35 Progressive Candidates Who Are Changing Politics by Kate Childs GrahamNational Democratic Training CommitteeConnect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop

In this trailer, Joe and Martín talk about how they got started in politics and their inspiration for making a podcast. This trailer for the brand new How to Win a Campaign podcast gives you a taste of what’s in store for Season 1.  Connect with us!If you have campaign questions or want to learn more, reach out to us using the contact information below.The Campaign Workshop: Twitter: @cmpwrkshpInstagram: @TheCampaignWorkshopEmail: marketing@thecampaignworkshop.comJoe FuldTwitter: @joefuldInstagram: @joefuldMartín Diego GarciaTwitter: @gmartindiegoInstagram: @gmartindiegoPresented by The Campaign Workshop