Because the politics of yesterday just won't work today
We Meet Your Campaign Needs
SMR Strategies is a general campaign services and consulting firm. We are able to assist with many of the needs of your campaign, whether it is by providing one or all of the services listed below. We are also able to manage the day to day operations of your campaign. Finally, if you need assistance but do not see the service listed below, please be sure to ask if we are able to help of refer you to someone that can!
Campaign Event Planning
A major aspect of any campaign are the events held to reach out to voters, announce important policy positions or potential news stories, rally supporters, and fundraise. Often, these events take a large amount of time to organize–time too valuable to be spent by the candidate or campaign organizers.
We will help you identify the appropriate sort of event to hold, location and venue, date, audience, and work through all logistical needs of the event. From start to finish we can help you organize a small press conference to a large scale fundraiser and everything in between.
Campaign Plan Development
Before running for office or beginning a campaign, a clear path to success must be charted out. We will do the research and fine tune a plan to fit the needs of your campaign. While not an end all final product, the Campaign Plan will assist the campaign in its earliest planning stages, in the creation of goals, and the way to reach these goals.
E-mail Outreach
A cost effective and efficient way to reach out to voters is by keeping a well maintained e-mail list. Sending regular e-mail blast messages to the entire group, or to targeted subgroups, allows the campaign to regularly drive their message to the voting population that has opted-in, fundraise, publicize events, assist the field campaign, announce important or breaking news, and to keep the candidate on the minds of voters.
We can help you set up a professional account through your web site or via a third party e-mail client. We can also help you organize and manage lists, draft and edit e-mail messages, create e-mail templates, and offer advice on crafting effective e-mail messages that will be well received by voters.
Field Strategy Development and Execution
One of the most important aspects of any successful campaign is a strong field strategy. A strong field strategy will estimate the number of votes needed to win and then determine the necessary tactics that will be used to gather these votes over a specific timeline. Votes will come from a number of different sources, and resources will be allocated to obtaining votes from these specific groups using a range of methods.
We can help you with every aspect of running a successful field campaign beginning with determining the votes needed to win threshold, purchasing voter lists, creating walk packs, volunteer recruitment and training, and many other aspects of a far reaching field program.
Graphic Design
Every great campaign has a branding theme that is used consistently throughout its run. The audience is attracted to the pattern in their identity package of a logo and letterhead, yard signs, stickers and buttons, literature pieces and print material, online interfaces, social media sites, t-shirts, and other media types. Working with the message of your campaign, our experienced graphic designer will create cohesive and engaging materials to make your brand stand out and memorable to voters.
Media Outreach Planning
There is an old saying in politics that notes “If the media didn't cover it then it didn't happen.” Every campaign needs an effective strategy for reaching out to the media. Building relationships with the appropriate members of the media and getting coverage from them is extremely important in building a strong campaign that will always have a leg up on the opposition.
We will work with you to determine your media needs and the best way to reach out to the varying types of media available. From issuing press releases, creating media guides, to organizing a press filing center at your event, we are there to make sure you get the coverage you deserve.
Message Development
Barack Obama would not have made it to the White House without a clear, concise, and memorable message. A message needs to resonate with the needs and desires of your voters. Your message will serve as the overall theme behind your campaign and will coincide with the formation of policy. It will act as the driving force behind the campaign and allow voters to understand your candidacy or issue in an efficient manner. We will work with you to develop a message that will work with your voters and help you implement across all spectrums of your campaign.
Platform Development
Voters think about a number of issues when casting their ballot in the polling booth. What they mark on their ballot is determined by which candidate can best prove they understand the needs of the constituency and take the proper action to meet these needs. We will work with you to craft your platform based on your strengths, statistical data, and the needs of your constituents.
Social Media Design
The Social Media revolution began in 2004 with Howard Dean's presidential campaign. It introduced voters to the internet as a new and important medium in campaign organizing. Further, with the explosion of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, among others, the need for a strong Social Media presence cannot be exaggerated enough.
A strong Social Media presence will help you reach out to a variety of voters and target specific demographics in ways unforeseen prior to this eruption of web technologies. Your Social Media efforts will offer the campaign another outlet to communicate its’ message and reach out to potential voters. We will be able to organize a timely New Media rollout and implementation plan that focuses on targeting specific demographics your campaign will need to receive votes from, update content, and stay ahead of the competition all while tying in these efforts with the overall goals of the campaign.
Web Site Design
For many voters, the campaign's web site is often the first experience voters have with the campaign and is a source of information during the duration of the campaign. A clean design portrays a professionally run campaign. Our experienced web developer can work with you to determine your web site needs and build a site appropriate for portraying your message.
Youth Outreach
“What Obama Has Going For Him:
…Still, what probably did McCain in is the fact that 98 percent (!) of the state's eligible population is registered, a reflection of both the state's longtime status as a battleground and the yeoman efforts of Obama volunteers. I am told that in East Lansing, for instance, the Obama campaign registered more than 10,000 Michigan State University students, roughly the size of that school's freshman class. In the face of those kinds of numbers, the McCain campaign wasn't about to win a ground skirmish, and not long after the bailout they bailed.”
Formerly disregarded as unreliable, the youth demographic (voters aged 18-30) has grown in importance and has become a key segment of the base of progressive candidates and issues. This voting bloc is not one that can be ignored any longer.
While these voters are important to attract to your campaign, they are the most difficult to target. That being said, we can provide you with the proven tactics to locate these voters, attract them to your campaign, and use their enthusiasm to your campaign’s advantage.
Special Projects
Above, we listed many of the most important aspects of any successful campaign. That being said, the needs of campaigns change daily and often without much warning. We are there for you when a random task needs to be completed on a short schedule. Please inquire with us to see if we are able to take on a project so you don't have to!
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