Campaign Website FAQs: What Local Candidates Need to Know Before Building a Website

Candidates often know they need a campaign website, but they aren’t always sure when to build it, what to include, or how much it should cost. Scarlet Strategies answers some of the most common questions we hear from candidates preparing to launch a local campaign.

Does a local candidate really need a campaign website?

Yes. Even in a local race, voters are going to search for your name.

Your campaign website gives them one reliable place to learn who you are, why you’re running, what you stand for, and how they can support you. It also gives donors, volunteers, reporters, community leaders, and local organizations an official source for information about your campaign.

Social media can help you reach voters, but it shouldn’t be the only place they can find you. Not everyone uses the same platforms, and social media posts quickly disappear from view.

A campaign website belongs to your campaign. It keeps your most important information organized, easy to find, and available at any time.

When should a candidate build a campaign website?

Ideally, your campaign website should be ready before you announce your candidacy.

When someone hears that you’re running, one of the first things they may do is search for your name. You don’t want them to find an empty search result, an outdated personal profile, or information published by someone else.

Before building your website, you should have a basic campaign message, professional candidate photographs, a short biography, an understanding of the issues you’ll discuss, and a plan for how voters can get involved.

If you’re still preparing to run, start with Scarlet Strategies’ free Pre-Announcement Campaign Checklist. It will help you identify what should be in place before your campaign becomes public.

What should every campaign website include?

At a minimum, a local campaign website should tell voters:

• Who you are

• What office you’re seeking

• Why you’re running

• What experience you bring to the race

• What issues matter to your campaign

• How to donate

• How to volunteer or contact the campaign

• Where to follow you on social media

• How to vote

Your campaign name and the office you’re seeking should be immediately clear. Voters shouldn’t have to search through several pages to figure out why they’re there.

The website should also have a clear next step. Depending on the stage of the campaign, that may be donating, signing up for updates, volunteering, requesting a lawn sign, or making a plan to vote.

Is a one-page campaign website enough?

For many local candidates, yes.

A well-built one-page campaign website can introduce the candidate, explain the campaign’s message, summarize the major issues, collect email addresses, accept donations through a linked fundraising platform, and direct voters to social media accounts.

A one-page website is often the most practical starting point for candidates running for school board, township committee, borough council, county committee, or another local office. It gives the campaign a professional online presence without paying for pages and features it may not need.

Additional pages can be added when a campaign has more content, a larger budget, or a reason to expand. Common additions include separate pages for the candidate’s biography, platform, endorsements, news, events, volunteer opportunities, or voter information.

Can social media replace a campaign website?

No. Social media and campaign websites serve different purposes.

Social media is useful for distributing timely information, sharing photographs, promoting events, responding to current issues, and reaching supporters. A website organizes the campaign’s most important information in one permanent location.

A voter may not scroll through months of Facebook or Instagram posts to piece together your platform. They may also be unable to view everything if they don’t have an account on that platform.

Your social media should bring people to your campaign website, where they can learn more, donate, volunteer, and join your email list.

What makes a campaign website effective?

The best campaign websites are clear, credible, and easy to use.

A campaign website doesn’t need complicated animations, long blocks of text, or every detail of the candidate’s life. It needs strong photographs, readable content, consistent campaign branding, and a clear message.

It should also work well on a phone. Many voters will first visit the website after clicking a link in a text message, email, social media post, or digital advertisement.

Most importantly, the website should sound like the candidate. Voters can usually tell when campaign language is vague, exaggerated, or written to avoid saying anything meaningful.

For a deeper look at the role a website plays in a local race, read Why Local Candidates Need a Campaign Website Before They Start Asking for Votes.

What does the candidate need to provide?

At minimum, a candidate should be prepared to provide:

• The campaign logo, if one already exists

• Candidate photographs

• A biography

• The office being sought

• A campaign slogan or central message

• Information about the candidate’s priorities

• Social media links

• Contact information

• A donation link, if applicable

• The legally required campaign disclaimer

Candidates who prepare these materials before the website project begins will usually have a faster and smoother development process.

Not sure what should be prepared before your announcement? Download the free Pre-Announcement Campaign Checklist before you begin.

How much does a campaign website cost?

Scarlet Strategies offers custom one-page campaign websites starting at $1,000.

The starting website package is designed to give local candidates a professional online presence with the essential information voters need. Additional pages are available for campaigns that need a larger website.

We believe candidates should understand the likely cost before starting a conversation. Clear pricing makes it easier to build a realistic campaign budget and decide which services are most important.

View the Custom Campaign Website package to learn more about what’s included.

Should a candidate purchase a website before speaking with Scarlet Strategies?

Candidates are welcome to contact Scarlet Strategies before purchasing. In fact, a short conversation is often helpful.

We can discuss the office you’re seeking, where you are in the campaign process, what content you already have, and whether a one-page website will meet your needs. If your campaign requires additional pages or special features, we can identify that before the project begins.

Once the scope is clear, campaigns that prefer to pay by credit card can purchase the website package online.

Can Scarlet Strategies also design the campaign’s other materials?

Yes. A campaign is stronger when its website, lawn signs, palm cards, door hangers, mail pieces, social graphics, and other materials look like they belong together.

Scarlet Strategies provides campaign material design and printing support for candidates who need one item or a coordinated set of campaign materials. Candidates aren’t required to sign a long-term consulting contract to use these services.

Learn more about professional campaign design and printing for local candidates.

What should a candidate do before getting started?

First, make sure you’re ready to build the public face of your campaign. Your message, biography, photographs, priorities, and basic campaign plan should be taking shape before website development begins.

Scarlet Strategies’ free Pre-Announcement Campaign Checklist will help you review the important pieces before you announce, file, or begin spending campaign funds.

When you’re ready to establish a professional online presence, request a custom campaign website from Scarlet Strategies or contact us to discuss what your campaign needs.