The Importance of Campaign Materials for a General Election
The Importance of Campaign Materials for a General Election
A General Election has been called for Thursday 4 July 2024.
Are you involved with raising the profile of a political party or local councillor? Or are you organising a political campaign event for the upcoming General Election?
You may want to consider ways to make your political party stand out. Ask yourself, how is your party already received and how can you leverage that to benefit the goals of the party’s campaign?
Good branding ties everything together and transmits the whole messaging of the campaign in as efficient way as possible. From traditional campaign materials like political campaign signs, campaign leaflets, lecterns and exhibition panels to newer materials including party websites, email lists and social media, there is one thing all these media have in common: identifiable branding.
In this blog we’ll take a closer look at the ways local political candidates can stand out in a general election through the use of political signage, party appearance and cohesive branding.
What is Campaigning?
Political campaigning is where political parties and their candidates try to persuade members of the public to vote for them, normally by talking about their policies and publishing manifestos in the weeks before polling day.
During the run up to elections the efforts of political campaigns may be more noticeable, and you may notice an increased presence of campaign materials in your local area, but political campaigning generally takes place all year round.
Different Types of Campaigning
Political parties are essentially brands and their aim is to increase brand visibility and dominate the market. One very important consideration is whether to make the campaign hard-hitting or soft and appealing, but this will depend on the campaign’s aims and targets.
The most successful campaigns include both a strategically planned path with comprehensive and cohesive campaign resources, and the ability to take advantage of key opportunities along the way.
Different Types of Campaign Materials
There are several types of campaign materials and election materials that can be used to reinforce campaign visibility, impact and messages including both old and new methods.
Old methods such as demonstrations and campaign events may utilise all-important campaign resources such as campaign placards, campaign signs, political banners and other branded materials to create visual campaign events that attract attention. These instantly identify with people and the media can pick up the designs. Other traditional methods include handing out business cards and campaign leaflets so people can get in touch to find out more as well as posters, newsletters, car or lorry stickers and news articles.
Newer campaigning materials have increasingly adopted the use of communication technologies to mobilise public support. These types of materials include electronic petitions, party websites, text messages, email lists and campaign videos which can be shared on all forms of social media. But from business cards and campaign signs to social media posts, creating a familiar style across all campaign assets is crucial for creating authenticity and creating trust with your audience.
The appearance of a political party or a campaign is the first thing that people see when they interact with it as a brand. Aside from refining a short, sharp political message, branding is probably the most important thing to consider when drawing up a campaign plan. Political campaigns can therefore benefit from thoughtful and cohesive use of their visual identity across all types of campaigning materials, helping make their name and message stand out amongst potential voters.
So, what makes up a party’s visual identity? Well, the answer is logos, typography, colours and symbols.
A strong brand logo can come to symbolise everything about the political party in one quick-to-understand image. It can then be repeated on all types of campaign materials such as posters, poster frames, leaflet dispensers, lecterns, exhibition panels, social media, merchandise and even on the ballot paper itself.
Additionally, a smart choice of font and colour can do a lot of the work for you visually before voters even read or watch anything from your campaign. Quality display product suppliers like Wonderwall Products make is possible to shop displays, signage and lecterns to match your party’s unique colour, making it simple to create a cohesive brand image across all your campaign resources. Made to the highest UK industry standards, Wonderwall Products supply a wide range of poster display and signage products which are suited to a range of indoor and outdoor uses including campaign events.
Campaign Materials Law and Requirements
Campaign materials and election materials are subject to several requirements under electoral law. Restrictions under electoral law are that printed and digital election material must:
· Not make false statements about the personal character or conduct of any candidate
· Not resemble a poll card
· Not contain comments that are defamatory
· Not publish or distribute threatening, abusive or insulting material that is intended or likely to stir up racial hatred
Summary
The best election signs and campaign materials leverage coherent branding as this ties everything together and transmits the whole messaging of the party. For leaflet dispensers, poster displays, panel displays and many other thoughtfully designed products to aid your political campaign, Wonderwall Products have got you covered. Our products are sturdy yet very light and easy to set up so are perfect for transporting to events. Take a look at our fantastic range of products for yourself or get in touch with our team who will happily answer any questions you may have.