The Campaignguy Blog

  Beyond the Buzzwords: Why Politicians Should Avoid Overused Clichés Political speeches and debates are supposed to inspire, educate, and persuade. Too often, however, candidates rely on tired, overused clichés that make their messages sound generic, insincere, or even meaningless. It is lazy.  Instead of engaging voters, these phrases can make a candidate seem unoriginal, disconnected, or worse - like they’re dodging important questions.   If you’re a candidate running for office, or someone who helps write speeches, it’s time to retire the corny banalities and start being genuine. Below are some of the worst offenders used by politicians—and why they should be avoided.   If you need a moment to compose yourself, a few seconds of silence is better that platitudes and fluff.  In fact, silence is an effective tool that captures attention.  I use it myself.  Try it! Overused Political Clichés (and What to Say Instead) 1. “At the end of the day…”...

  The First Steps in Running for Office: What You Must Know Deciding to run for office is a big step, but before you announce your candidacy, there are some critical things you need to do. Whether you’re running for city council, state legislature, or Congress, these first steps will set the foundation for your campaign. 1. Know the Legal Requirements Before anything else, make sure you meet the legal qualifications to run. Check: Age and residency requirements Filing deadlines and paperwork Campaign finance laws (even small campaigns have reporting requirements) Professional qualifications for the position (i.e. judges usually have to have a certain level of legal experience and a license to practice law) Your local election office or Secretary of State’s website is a great place to start. The Campaignguy.com web site has a great resource page that directs you to a listing of Secretary of State web sites by state as well as links to help you get a federal campaig...