Your campaign website is often the first impression voters have of your candidacy. It's where undecided voters go to learn about your positions, where supporters find ways to help, and where donors decide whether to contribute. A well-designed website can propel your campaign forward; a poorly designed one can actively cost you votes.
After analyzing hundreds of political campaign websites, we've identified the most damaging campaign website mistakes that candidates make—and more importantly, how to fix them. Whether you're launching a new campaign or improving an existing site, avoiding these errors will help you present a professional image and convert visitors into supporters.
Mistake #1: Burying or Hiding the Donate Button
One of the most costly mistakes campaigns make is hiding their donation mechanism. If supporters can't easily find how to contribute, they won't—and you'll lose critical fundraising dollars.
How This Mistake Happens
- Donate button blends into the design with muted colors
- Donation link buried in navigation menus or footer
- Multiple clicks required to reach the donation page
- Donation page is slow or doesn't work on mobile devices
- Too many form fields creating friction in the giving process
Real-World Impact
Consider this scenario: A voter watches you speak at a town hall and feels inspired to contribute. They pull out their phone, find your website, and... can't figure out how to donate. They get distracted, put their phone away, and that donation never happens. This scenario plays out thousands of times during competitive campaigns.
How to Fix It
- Make the donate button prominent: Use a contrasting color that stands out from your design. Red, green, or orange buttons on neutral backgrounds typically perform well.
- Place it where visitors look: The top right corner of your navigation is prime real estate. Keep it visible as users scroll (sticky navigation).
- Include multiple CTAs: Add donate buttons throughout your site—on your homepage, at the end of issue pages, in your bio section.
- Optimize your donation page: Minimize form fields, offer preset amounts, and ensure mobile functionality. Test the full donation process regularly.
- Add urgency when appropriate: During key campaign moments, update language to reflect time-sensitive fundraising goals.
Mistake #2: Neglecting Mobile Users
More than 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. If your campaign website doesn't work well on phones and tablets, you're alienating the majority of your potential audience. Learn more in our guide to mobile-first campaign websites.
How This Mistake Happens
- Using website templates not designed for mobile
- Text too small to read without zooming
- Buttons too small or too close together to tap accurately
- Images and videos that don't resize properly
- Forms that are difficult to complete on touchscreens
- Slow loading times on cellular connections
Real-World Impact
Imagine a potential supporter clicking a link from your Facebook post on their phone. Your site takes 10 seconds to load, the text is tiny, and when they try to tap the volunteer sign-up button, they accidentally hit something else. They leave frustrated—and that negative experience colors their perception of your entire campaign.
How to Fix It
- Use responsive design: Choose a website platform that automatically adapts to different screen sizes. This is non-negotiable in modern web design.
- Test on actual devices: Don't just use browser tools—test your site on real phones and tablets regularly.
- Prioritize touch-friendly design: Buttons should be at least 44x44 pixels. Leave enough space between clickable elements.
- Optimize images: Compress images for faster loading without sacrificing quality. Large, unoptimized images are the #1 cause of slow mobile sites.
- Simplify forms: Ask only for essential information on mobile. Use appropriate input types (email, phone, number) to trigger the right keyboard.
- Check Google's Mobile-Friendly Test: This free tool identifies specific mobile usability issues with your site.
Mistake #3: Vague or Generic Messaging
Nothing kills voter interest faster than a website full of meaningless platitudes. Generic messaging makes you forgettable and gives voters no reason to choose you over your opponent.
How This Mistake Happens
- Using cliched political language ("fighting for families," "bringing change")
- Copying messaging from other campaigns without personalization
- Focusing on biography without connecting it to voter concerns
- Discussing issues in abstract terms without specific proposals
- Not differentiating yourself from your opponent
Real-World Impact
Voters are bombarded with political messaging. If your website reads like every other politician's site, you'll fade into the background noise. Worse, generic messaging suggests you either don't have substantive ideas or aren't willing to share them—neither conclusion helps your campaign.
How to Fix It
- Lead with specifics: Instead of "I'll fight for better schools," try "I'll work to reduce class sizes to 20 students and increase teacher pay by 10%."
- Tell your unique story: What in your background makes you uniquely qualified? What personal experiences drive your candidacy?
- Address local concerns directly: Reference specific challenges in your district. Show that you understand what voters are experiencing.
- Use concrete examples: When discussing your experience, share specific accomplishments with measurable results.
- Write in your voice: Your website should sound like you, not like a committee wrote it. Authentic voice builds trust.
- Differentiate yourself: If you don't explain how you're different from your opponent, voters won't figure it out themselves.
Mistake #4: Outdated Content and Neglected Maintenance
An outdated campaign website signals that your campaign is disorganized, underfunded, or no longer active. Nothing erodes credibility faster than stale content.
How This Mistake Happens
- Events listed that have already passed
- News section not updated in months
- Broken links throughout the site
- Outdated photos from previous campaign cycles
- Issues that don't reflect current events or priorities
- Endorsements without dates, making them appear stale
Real-World Impact
A voter visits your site two weeks before Election Day and sees that your last news update was from three months ago. Your events page still lists a rally from last month. They wonder: Is this candidate even still running? Are they taking this race seriously? An outdated website creates doubt about your entire campaign operation.
How to Fix It
- Establish an update schedule: Assign someone to update the website at least weekly, more frequently as Election Day approaches.
- Remove time-sensitive content promptly: Past events should be archived or removed immediately.
- Add timestamps strategically: Use "Updated [date]" notations on issues pages to show currency. But don't add dates to evergreen content that will age poorly.
- Regular link audits: Check for broken links monthly. Tools like Broken Link Checker can automate this process.
- Plan content in advance: Create a content calendar with planned updates, endorsement announcements, and issue releases.
- Have evergreen backup content: When you don't have fresh news, share endorsement highlights, supporter testimonials, or issue deep-dives.
Mistake #5: Missing or Hidden Contact Information
When voters, journalists, or potential supporters can't reach your campaign, you miss opportunities that won't come again. Making contact difficult frustrates the people most motivated to engage with you.
How This Mistake Happens
- No contact page, or one that's hard to find
- Only a contact form with no direct email or phone
- Contact forms that don't work or never get answered
- Social media links that lead to inactive accounts
- No physical address for campaign headquarters
- Missing press/media contact information
Real-World Impact
A reporter wants to include you in a story about local candidates. They visit your website but can only find a contact form. They submit a request but need a response within two hours to meet their deadline. When your campaign doesn't respond in time, you miss a valuable media opportunity. This same scenario plays out with potential major donors, organizational endorsements, and volunteer groups.
How to Fix It
- Provide multiple contact options: Include email, phone (even if it's a campaign-specific number), and a contact form.
- Create a dedicated press contact: Journalists need quick responses. Provide a direct email and phone number for media inquiries.
- Make contact information visible: Don't hide it in the footer. Include a prominent "Contact" link in your main navigation.
- Monitor and respond quickly: Check form submissions multiple times daily. Aim to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours, faster for press.
- Test your forms regularly: Submit test inquiries to ensure messages are being received and routed properly.
- Keep social links current: Only link to social accounts you actively maintain. Dead social accounts hurt more than no links at all.
Bonus Mistakes to Avoid
Beyond the top five, watch out for these additional errors:
Poor Photography
Blurry, poorly lit, or unprofessional photos undermine your credibility. Invest in quality campaign photography—it's one of the best returns on your campaign spending.
Missing Legal Compliance
Every campaign website needs proper disclaimers, especially "Paid for by" notices. Missing compliance information can result in legal issues and signals carelessness to informed voters. See our FEC disclaimer requirements guide for details.
Auto-Playing Media
Nothing drives visitors away faster than unexpected audio or video. If you include video, let visitors choose to play it.
Too Much Text
Walls of text intimidate readers. Break content into scannable sections with headers, bullet points, and images. Visitors should be able to quickly find what they're looking for.
Slow Loading Speed
Every second of load time increases abandonment. Optimize images, use reliable hosting, and minimize unnecessary scripts and plugins.
How to Audit Your Campaign Website
Use this quick checklist to evaluate your current site (for a comprehensive pre-launch guide, see our launch checklist):
- First impressions: Have someone unfamiliar with your campaign visit your site. Can they quickly understand who you are, what you're running for, and how to support you?
- Mobile test: Pull up your site on a phone. Is everything readable and functional without zooming or excessive scrolling?
- Donation flow: Time how long it takes to find your donate button and complete a test donation. Is it under 60 seconds?
- Content audit: Is all information current? Are past events removed? Are endorsements up to date?
- Contact test: Submit a test inquiry through your contact form. Does it reach the right person quickly?
- Speed test: Use Google PageSpeed Insights to check your loading time. Aim for scores above 80.
- Link check: Click every link on your site. Do they all work and go to the right destination?
Fixing Mistakes Quickly with the Right Platform
Many campaign website mistakes stem from using the wrong tools. General website builders weren't designed for political campaigns, leading to compliance issues, poor donation integration, and designs that don't prioritize what campaigns need.
Campaign-specific platforms like CandidateSites are built to avoid these common mistakes from the start. With templates designed for political candidates, built-in donation processing, mobile-responsive designs, and easy content management, you can focus on campaigning instead of troubleshooting your website.
Taking Action Today
Every day your website has problems is a day you're potentially losing supporters, donations, and votes. The good news is that most campaign website mistakes are fixable with focused effort:
- This week: Audit your site using the checklist above. Identify your most critical issues.
- Next week: Fix your donate button visibility and test your mobile experience.
- Ongoing: Establish regular update schedules and monitoring processes.
Your campaign website should be one of your strongest assets—a 24/7 ambassador for your candidacy that works while you're knocking on doors, attending events, and connecting with voters in person. Don't let avoidable mistakes undermine your hard work.
Ready to build a campaign website that avoids these common mistakes? CandidateSites provides professional, mobile-optimized templates with built-in best practices for political campaigns. Launch a website you're proud of and get back to focusing on what matters most: connecting with voters and winning your race.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest mistake candidates make with their campaign website?
The biggest mistake is hiding or burying the donate button. When supporters can't easily find how to contribute, you lose critical fundraising dollars. Your donate button should use a contrasting color, appear in the top navigation, and remain visible as users scroll. Include donation CTAs throughout your site, not just on one page.
How do I know if my campaign website works well on mobile?
Test your site on actual phones and tablets, not just browser emulators. Check that text is readable without zooming, buttons are large enough to tap accurately (at least 44x44 pixels), forms are easy to complete, and pages load quickly on cellular connections. Use Google's free Mobile-Friendly Test tool to identify specific issues.
How often should I update my campaign website?
Update your campaign website at least weekly, and more frequently as Election Day approaches. Remove past events immediately, add new endorsements and news regularly, and keep issues content current. An outdated website signals a disorganized campaign and erodes voter confidence in your candidacy.
What contact information should my campaign website include?
Include multiple contact options: email, phone number, contact form, and social media links. Create a dedicated press contact for media inquiries with direct email and phone. Make contact information visible in your main navigation, not hidden in the footer. Test contact forms regularly to ensure messages reach the right person.
How can I make my campaign website messaging more effective?
Replace generic political platitudes with specific proposals and measurable goals. Tell your unique story and personal experiences that drive your candidacy. Reference specific local challenges and how you'll address them. Use concrete examples with measurable results. Write in your authentic voice rather than sounding like a committee wrote it.