7 tips for writing political fundraising direct mail

Let’s be honest, no one really likes to ask for money, but it’s something that must be done in a political race and while there are many ways to go about it, one common one is through Direct Mail pieces. Raising funds through Direct Mail can not only help grow a base of support within the small to medium sized donors, it also provides another opportunity to get your message out to voters. In this post we’ll provide for you 7 tips to help you connect with your voters and write a successful DM fundraising piece.

Show Emotion

In order for someone to provide support for you financially, it is essential that you connect with them on an emotional level. Too many times, candidates make the mistake of trying to avoid making a personal connection with their voters. This mistake could not only cost you financial support, but votes as well.

Explain

Successful DM pieces tell a story and explain to the voter why it is so urgent that they provide some funding for your campaign…and now! Ideally the story should tie back to your campaign message.

Imperativeness

You need to be able to explain to them why you need the money immediately. The goal is for them to cut you a check immediately after reading your heartfelt plea.

Connect With Them

Voters don’t want to support someone that they don’t trust. Be personal and make them believe that they can trust you and that you care about them.

Be Clear

Another big mistake candidates make is assuming that an implication is enough. Be clear in asking for their financial support. Tell the constituents why the race is so important, why their financial support is so important, and then specifically ask for it.

Cross Your T’s and dot your I’s

DM fundraising pieces need not be overly formal (in fact it’s usually better when they’re more informal) but be sure to double check your grammar and spelling. The voters may want you to be like one of them, but they also want know that you care enough to double check yourself for errors.

Don’t Get Stale

If your campaign is doing a large amount of DM fundraising, be sure that it’s not the same piece or even seems like the same piece every time. Have different prominent members of the campaign (candidate, candidate’s spouse, campaign manager etc…) sign the pieces in have an appropriate message for each signee.

Political fundraising is not an easy or a fun task, but the direct mail portion can be a big boost to a campaign when done correctly.