5 Tips to Help Start Your Facebook Campaign

5 Tips to Help Start Your Facebook Political Campaign

Why should you focus your campaigning efforts on Facebook?

Facebook has become an integral part of political campaigns. With over 2.7 billion monthly active users, Facebook is a powerful tool for political candidates to reach out to voters and spread their message.

1. Build a Strong Profile

The first step in starting a successful political campaign on Facebook is to create a strong profile. Your profile should reflect your political views, values, and personality. Use high-quality images and videos that are consistent with your branding. Fill out all the necessary details, and make sure your bio is clear and concise. Your profile is often the first thing people see when they come across your page, so it’s essential to make a strong first impression.

Create a campaign Facebook Page

Don’t use your personal Facebook profile for campaigning. Create a “Community or Public Figure” page with the category as “Politician,” “Political Candidate” or “Political Organization.”

Choose the best name for your page

Keep it simple. Use keywords like “elect” or “vote for” with your name as the title. Avoid using the position you are running for because you may run for a different position in the future.

Add your profile picture, biography and contact information

Add a nice headshot as your profile picture. For your cover page, you can use your campaign logo or a photo of you in action. Be sure to have up to date contact information with working links to your campaign website and social media platforms.

Get authorized to run ads

Get authorized to run ads about social issues, elections or politics if you plan to run ads subject to this policy. Additionally, you’ll need to include a “Paid for by” disclaimer on your ads. The process can take up to two weeks to complete, so we recommend that all Page administrators who plan to run or manage these ads get started as soon as possible to avoid delays.

2. Identify Your Target Audience

It is crucial to identify your target audience before launching a political campaign on Facebook. Analyze the demographics of your followers, such as their age, gender, location, and interests. This information will help you tailor your messaging and reach out to the right people. Facebook’s ad targeting options can help you reach specific demographics, making it easier to connect with potential voters.

Craft different messages for different audience

Consider content that addresses key messages of your campaign and the election.
Use mixed formats (carousel, stories, Feed) and asset types (video and static images) to connect with different types of viewers.
Test and learn which drivers are unlocking new supporters.

3. Create Engaging Content

To keep your followers engaged, it’s important to create content that resonates with them. Share news articles, opinion pieces, and other relevant information that aligns with your political views. Use visuals, such as images and videos, to make your content more engaging. Avoid using jargon or technical language that may be difficult for some people to understand. Use simple, concise language to convey your message effectively.

Highlight important announcements

Proactively link to authoritative voting information to educate your supporters and potential voters about where they can vote. You can pin important announcements to the top of your Facebook Page for ease of viewing.

Increase your posting frequency

Re-package your content into a variety of different post types leading up to Election Day, such as text-only, photos, videos, links and Live video to ensure you maximize your organic reach. You may also consider scheduling posts leading up to Election Day.

Go live

Communicate with your supporters and potential voters in real time and answer their questions.

Create Stories to provide Election Day updates

Create “behind the scenes” experiences to let voters know what you’re doing on Election Day, such as heading to vote or meeting with voters.

→ In-stream: Long-form video best practices:

Crop tight on main characters.
Boost impact with text.
Design for sound on.

→ Stories & Feed: Short-form video best practices:

Create for vertical (9:16).
Surprise with transitions and editing.
Keep attention with motion.

4. Leverage Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and potential supporters. Join relevant groups and participate in discussions to build your reputation as a thought leader in your area of interest. You can also create your own group and invite your followers to join. Use your group to share news and updates about your campaign, answer questions, and engage with your supporters.

Get more information about how to use Facebook to help your campaign.

5. Utilize Facebook Ads

Facebook ads are an effective way to reach a broader audience beyond your existing followers. You can target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors to ensure your ads are seen by the right people. You can also use retargeting ads to reach people who have visited your website or engaged with your content. Set a budget and monitor your ad performance regularly to optimize your campaigns.

Ads that click to message

Optimize delivery of your ads: Use the Messages option when setting up your campaign.
Set expectations that your ad will open a conversation: Add text, images and CTAs that prompt people to engage with your organization in a chat.
Set up a greeting for people after they click on your ad: In order to optimize the experience, a supporter must reply to your organization before you can start communicating with them.
Create an automated response for instant communication: Consider providing information about when your organization is available to chat live or provide any other additional information.

Lead ads

Choose the right form objective. Use More Volume for a form that is quick to fill out and submit on mobile. Use Higher Intent to add a review step that gives people a chance to confirm their information.
Set the right budget and duration. We recommend running your ads for at least seven days to find the right audience. You’ll be able to see an estimate of how many people your ad will reach based on your audience size and budget.
Attract supporters with new offers. Highlight a sale in your campaign store to excite your new supporters about your campaign.

Ready to improve your Facebook outreach?

Facebook is an essential tool for political candidates to reach out to potential voters and spread their message. By following these five robust tips, you can create a strong profile, identify your target audience, create engaging content, leverage Facebook groups, and utilize Facebook ads to start a successful political campaign on Facebook. Remember to stay authentic, transparent, and respectful in your interactions with your followers to build trust and establish yourself as a credible political candidate.

You can build a sense of community and support by understanding what to post and how to deal with your responses. We’ll give you and your campaign a free social media audit so you can see where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Contact us today 985-951-2270 ext. 1002

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