Door Knocking: Hand Shake and a Howdy

Do you want to add value to your campaign run? Of course you do. Do you want voters to know that you can connect with them and care enough to meet with them face-to-face? Well, you'd better. There is an easy way to accomplish all of this…lace up your sneakers.

Make sure to plan a route in your surrounding neighborhoods that will allow you to see the most people over a weekend, or two.

Who's Doing the Walking

The candidate should be the one to make the rounds. This is the personal touch that you need to project. Unless there is something that physically prevents you from walking, your face should show up at the door steps. This puts a face with a name. This shows that you are willing to put in the time to seek approval (votes) from potential voters.

If you can't hit the streets, send family members. These people are close to you and share a connection and passion for what you are trying to accomplish by being elected. Make sure the representatives are well-prepped and have a clear plan when meeting with voters.

Don't Show Up Empty-handed

There are a few things you will want to bring with you when you make your rounds. You don't want to leave potential voters with nothing to remember you by. Your handout should be an informational piece such as a brochure, palm card or post card. A good presentation would be a clear plastic literature bag with a brochure and a useful "goody"-notepad, pen, magnet, button, etc.

Another good option is a door hanger. This piece incorporates a palm card and business card into one item. If nobody answers the door, leave this on their door knob.

Leave with a Sense of Accomplishment

Your ending hand shake should leave you feeling like you accomplished something by meeting with each voter. This could mean you added a yard sign location. Or, you successfully fielded important issue questions from the voter. At a minimum, the household knows who you are and what you stand for. The voter should be able to contact you if they have questions or if they want to learn more about you.

It would do no good if you left and they immediately forgot who they had just spoken with. Make your meeting count. Spend the needed time with each person to make your mark.

Wade Baffa is the CEO of CampaignPros, a company that specializes in campaign signs and political signs. He has been in the print promotional field for 8 years and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in English/Journalism from Western Illinois University in 2000. He has a philosophy that business practice should be built around solid relationships between company and customer.