Website options for successful field operations....
I have been harping on the importance of field operations all week, and I have also listed three rules that I think any successful volunteer operation has to abide by. Let's see how we can use a campaign website to apply these rules. The rules are:
1.) Involve a volunteer in something bigger than themselves.
2.) Quantify everything.
3.) Hold volunteers accountable
A fourth cardinal rule: follow-up, follow-up, follow-up! Is vital, but that is a campaign management issue and less of a web design one. Anyway, some ideas on how to implement these rules online.
a.) Have a volunteer of the day/week/month posted on the volunteer section of the website (or the front page) acknowledging their accomplishments, maybe including a picture and where they are from.
b.) Assign points for various volunteer activities. 2 points for every hour spent phone banking, 4 points for every volunteer recruited, 10 points for a letter to the editor published etc. Allow people to then keep track of where they stand within precinct/county/state and in the nation. The top ten points leaders could be on the front page of the website.
c.) Copy the fundraising levels of the Bush campaign, Ranger, Pioneer etc, only apply them to volunteer efforts. If you recruit 5 volunteers you are a 'friend of the campaign', 50 and you are a campaign 'star' etc., publish the levels on the website.
d.) Allow each volunteer their own 'home page' with quotas they need to fill and barometers marking their progress. Include events in their hometown and local volunteer opportunities/needs.
e.) Send out e-mail newsletters with 'local volunteer heroes' or some such language, recognizing the accomplishments of individual volunteers.
These ideas will also encourage volunteers to provide more information on themselves when signing up to volunteer. You can even have a check box 'would you like to sign up to be a Kerry Campaign Star (only takes 1 more minute)' and ask the volunteer everything about themselves.
These are just a few ideas, I will try to think of even more, can you?
posted by jd at 7:40 PM
2 Comments:
I think these are great ideas and I’m glad to see that the Bush campaign has such a positive influence on your work!
I think it’s important for the campaign to report the progress of the region as a whole. For example, based on your zip code, the website can report the total number of volunteers recruited in that zip code, that county, and that state. Basically, provide some sense of community progress so that the concept of “everyone can make a difference” is kept alive. This could actually serve to draw attention to areas that need more volunteer assistance. Just be sure to only report that information to registered volunteers.
The rewards need to reach the volunteer on a personal level. After I completed many action items for the Bush campaign, I was able to download a picture of the President with a message of thanks that was addressed to me. I’m fully aware that it was a generic message, but it’s a great gesture. My dad fired up his photo printer and that picture went up on my refrigerator for a few months.
It’s also important to acknowledge your supporters after the campaign. I received a Thank You card in the mail from the President, as well as a Christmas card from both the President and First Lady (don’t worry, this was not taxpayer-funded). Courtesy goes a long way.
10:02 PM
I couldn't agree more. These are great ideas and I hope the Democrats rip them off completely! On a different note, I hope you don't confuse bush's influence over me on campaign strategy with Bush's influence over me on issues!
10:46 PM
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