Thinking about running for office? STOP! Do NOT pass GO. Do NOT collect $200! Reserve your domain name (URL) NOW! This probably needed to be done yesterday. But I guess today will work.
What’s in a Name? Use the KISS method: Keep It Simple, Stupid!
- DOs:
- Reserve the first and last name by which you are best known: billsmith.com or billybobsmith.com, maryjones.com or maryjojones.com.
- If you have a common name, consider variations – bill-smith.com, Maryjo-jones.com, etc.
- Most people naturally default to .com, so that should be your first choice. Also reserve the .org for your name so your opponent cannot reserve it and redirect to their own site! The .net TLD is not necessary unless you literally can’t find anything else with your name or a variation of it. Only governmental entities are allowed to secure .gov TLDs.
- DON’Ts:
- Don’t try to get fancy with the specific position you’re running for: smithforcountycommissioner.com or smith4johnsoncountycommissiondistrict1.com. (See YOLOgo blog for logo and campaign naming conventions.)
- If you are running on your first name (votekelly, kellyforkentucky, still purchase the first/last name domain. Running on a first name is really hard for Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which helps voters find “the right you” on a Google search.
- If you must add something other than your name, use your state, and spell out “for” instead of using the number: Smithforkansas.com NOT smith4kansas.com. Again, the number four isn’t intuitive and you want to remove all barriers to voters finding you.
- Don’t try to get fancy with the specific position you’re running for: smithforcountycommissioner.com or smith4johnsoncountycommissiondistrict1.com. (See YOLOgo blog for logo and campaign naming conventions.)
Lock it in. How do I buy a domain name?
You are likely already using a Google product: Gmail, Drive, G-Suite, Hangouts, etc. I find it easiest to house everything there.
- DOs:
- Visit domains.google.com to search for your preferred domain name. Once you find it, reserve for one year and add domain privacy. This helps keep the spammers at bay, among other security features. Also, adding a reCAPTHCA can alleviate those bot submissions as well. (No one likes those)
- Always keep your name if it is available. $20/year is a small price to pay to ensure nothing bad ends up on the Internets with your name on it.
- DON’T:
- Reserve for more than a year at a time. A lot can happen in a year and you may have to move the domain. The hosting companies (which store your domain) are good at sending you reminders as your expiration date comes near.
- Use GoDaddy – they are notoriously difficult to transfer domains away from! Depending on who your web designer ends up being, it may be easier for them to manage the domain than for you to deal with it. You want this part to be easy. GoDaddy is not.
Pro-Tip: If you know or suspect someone to be running against you, or if you are running against an incumbent, check to see if their first/last domain name and maybe one or two intuitive naming conventions has been reserved. This is a bit tricky, but a “finders keepers” situation. If you reserve the most obvious domain names for them, they will have to find more complicated, less intuitive domains. In this case, be sure to select domain privacy so no one can see who owns the domain(s).
Wonder of Web
Getting your website up and running is another blog entirely (or three). If you remember anything about websites from our time today, remember this: Unless you are in Congress or in a very large city or state legislature, DO NOT SPEND more than $1000 to get a website designed. You just don’t need it. You need three simple pages: about, news (this can be for press releases, newsletter updates, issues, etc.), and contact/donate. Anyone trying to sell you on more either doesn’t know this market, or makes a commission on whatever they are able to sell to you. Any web designer worth their salt can use a template and make it look completely custom with your logo and brand colors.
* As a reminder, this is a campaign expense, so track the expenditure for reporting purposes. If you pay personally, the campaign can reimburse you or you can report it as an in-kind contribution or loan from you.