My Contributions to a Successful Campaign
Posted by Gus Childs on April 6th, 2011
To effectively communicate with the public you need to successfully manage your online identity. That is what I told Chuck Weaver, a local Peoria businessman, after he told me his interest being a Peoria City Council at-large member. He then asked me to do just that.
Chuck and I met at a business competition held by Bradley University. My group – pitching an online alternative to the current music industry – was one of six that had made it into the final round. In the finals we presented our ideas to the handful of judges that would ultimately determine the winner. While we did not win the competition, we won the heart of Chuck.
Chuck told us that when it came to business he didn’t believe in ideas, he believed in people. He believed in our team. He believed in my long time friend Austin Brandt for his skills as a salesman and he believed in me for my knowledge of the Internet. It was this knowledge that he wanted to tap and utilize in his campaign for City Council.
Weaver for Peoria
I began by thoroughly searching Google for information in his name, as well as his existing LinkedIn and Facebook accounts. I prepared a report that explained what I thought he should do with these accounts as well as what I could do to make a better name for him when searched on Google.
I wanted to make him a Web site related to his efforts for city council that citizens would find when searching for more about him on Google. He thought it was a great idea, so I did just that. This Web site allowed visitors to get a better idea of who Chuck was through biographies and various posted media.
More importantly, it allowed them to contact him directly with questions they had about his views regarding the needs of Peoria. He then made it a goal of his to respond to everyone within 24 hours. It also allowed them to fill out their information and let Chuck know of any ways they were willing to volunteer for his campaign, such as allowing a yard sign to be placed in their yard.
Most traffic came from search results
Google Analytics revealed that a majority of visitors to the site came from Google searches, such as “Chuck Weaver Peoria city council”. This confirmed that I accomplished my goal because it served its true purpose: to provide the citizens of Peoria with more information on someone that wanted to represent them. Not only that, but provide them with the ability to contact him after just a few clicks from Google’s home page.
Don’t get me wrong. Direct traffic is never bad, but his supporters that already knew the URL aren’t the hearts he needed to convince. It was those that were uncertain, those that were Googling candidates names, that we wanted to win over.
Chuck ended up with the most votes of all candidates
And he did just that. Last night it was announced that Chuck was one of the 5 of 10 candidates that won an at-large seat on Peoria City Council. Not only that, but he had collected almost 15,000 votes while the closest candidate had 10,000.
My job here was done.
These efforts taught me a lot about working in real world situations. Chuck was a great mentor along the way and every time we met he took the time to teach me another lesson in the infinite world of leadership and business. These are lessons I can take with me and utilize later in life, long after his term on City Council has passed.
This was a victory for both of us.
Posted in Web Design
Who?
I am Gus, an interactive designer with a passion for web design and development.
I am set to graduate from Bradley University in May and hope to hit the ground running. Here you will find my work and an insight to who I am behind the scenes.