Printing for political campaigns is reaching a fever pitch between city, state, and national elections that seem to be in flux on an ongoing basis. More candidates are crowding the field, leaving voters with dozens of choices for various positions and little clue about who they are and what their platform is if they are not utilizing a solid print campaign.

In today’s world, it is not enough to simply run for office. Success in the political arena requires a candidate to be easily recognized by likeness, name, and platform. One of the simplest methods of achieving this is to effectively use printing for political campaigns. To be successful, it simply requires the knowledge of what to print, how to print it, and working with a company who understands printing for political campaigns.

How to Use Printing for Political Campaigns

A political campaign that uses printed materials has the advantage of their likeness or message being seen in places they cannot always be in person. Printed campaign materials can also effectively raise awareness at a grass roots level, and it is easy to see why printing for political campaigns is a popular and effective way to get your name and likeness recognized.
The most common printed items frequently used by political campaigns include:

• Flyers and brochures. Flyers come in multiple sizes and may feature either a glossy or matte finish. The same typically applies to brochures, as well as a choice in the number of folds.
• Door hangers. While these pieces are all designed to hang on door handles or knobs, they typically come in multiple sizes which allows the campaign to choose one that best represents their message and logo.
• Staked signs. Particularly for local elections, staked signs are a popular go-to option. These signs are designed to easily be placed in front yards, flower beds, and other landscaping and should be weather resistant.
• Mailers. Campaigns usually send constituents mail messaging via customized letterhead or postcards. From the type of envelopes used to the size of the postcard, there are ways for candidates to customize their message in a way that uniquely attracts the eye of the reader.
• Posters. Campaigns use posters for fundraising events, office signage, and other displays. For this reason, candidates may need to choose different sizes and materials depending on the use and location of the poster.
• Stickers. Even for the smallest printed items like stickers, candidates can choose from multiple sizes and shapes to help them better standout.

How Presentation Can Make or Break Printed Materials for Political Campaigns

Between the information people receive daily (or in many cases hourly) via their social media, news feeds, apps, television commercials and more, it is more difficult than ever to get a campaign message to standout so it will be not just noticed, but also remembered.

As Americans’ inboxes have become inundated with unread emails, their mailboxes have emptied. Which begs the question of if you would rather your political campaign ads compete with the overflowing inbox or the empty mailbox?

While a successful political campaign in the twenty-first century should utilize digital messaging outreach, there is a growing consensus that reverting back to tangible messaging in the form of staked yard signs, mailers, and door hangers could now potentially have a more significant impact.

Getting your campaign message noticed is half of the battle, while getting the audience to remember it constitutes for the remainder. The top five considerations that can make or break printed materials for a political campaign are:

1. Messaging. The cornerstone of a successful print campaign is found in the messaging. Wording should be clear and to the point. Whether printed materials feature a picture, name, slogan, logo, a call to action, or any combination of these, the goal is to ensure the reader can easily match the message with the appropriate individual’s campaign.
2. Material versatility. Talk with your printing company ahead of time about choosing a font and color combination that will transfer well to multiple surfaces such as cotton shirts, copy paper, cardstock, and more. A design that will not transfer well is one that may end up requiring modifications that can play havoc with logo recognition.
3. Font. It may be tempting to use an unusual font for lettering to make your printed materials unique, but it is typically recommended to use simple Serif or Sans Serif fonts instead. The goal is to make printed campaign materials clear and easy to read at a glance.
4. Color. There are a few cardinal rules when it comes to color that successful political campaigns generally employ. One is to limit printed materials to between three and five colors. Using color sparingly keeps the logo front and center instead of disappearing in a sea of color. It can be best to use colors that sharply contrast each other because it increases a logo’s readability.
5. Consistency. After working with a professional printing company to find the right balance of messaging, font, and color, it is critical to be consistent. Not only can this add to message recognition, but it also gives constituents a sense of dependability on a message that never changes.

When used together, these five tips for printing for political campaigns are more effective in being noticed and remembered when voters step up to cast their ballots.

What to Look for in a Printing Company for Your Political Campaign

For maximum effectiveness of printing for political campaigns, candidates should enlist the help of a seasoned and professional printing company. The company’s reputation and work for previous campaigns are excellent indicators of their capabilities.

For a more vibrant and consistent use of color across mediums, it is wise to align with a printer that uses the Pantone Matching System. With more than one thousand colors, a specific numbering system is used to identify each of the colors to ensure the same exact colors are used in every reproduction.

Confirm that the printer offers a wide scope of printing services. This allows a campaign that goes to a printer with a need for only stickers to then expand to signs, banners, and more as those needs arise. To assure consistency and quality of messaging, political campaigns should select a printing company that can act as a one-stop shop for all their printing needs.

Fast turnaround for big printing jobs is also necessary. Candidates often require extra supplies or materials, and it is essential that the printing company can meet those needs.

Printing for political campaigns is one of the best ways to introduce a candidate to mass populations. It could be a voter’s only introduction to the candidate and their platform. Invest in the quality of your campaign printing and make that touch count.