It’s an election year. Which means now is the moment to stop assuming your digital program is “fine” and actually verify that it’s ready.
Most campaign problems don’t come from big strategic mistakes. They come from small, forgotten details that quietly stack up over time. The start of the year is when you still have the space to catch those issues before voters, reporters, or donors run into them first.
Here’s what to check now.
Check Your Social Network Icons and Links
This isn’t about the candidate’s logo. It’s about the logos and links on your website.
If your site still links to Twitter instead of X, or points to an old Facebook page, it signals neglect immediately. These icons are often buried in headers, footers, or mobile menus and rarely revisited once a site launches.
Click every social icon on your website and confirm two things. First, that it points to the correct, active account. Second, that the platform branding is current. It’s a small detail, but it’s one voters notice subconsciously.
Remove Outdated Language Everywhere
Old campaigns have a way of haunting new ones.
References to a former opponent, the last election date, or an outdated campaign phase quietly erode credibility. These often survive in places people forget to check, like donation page copy, email automations, or pinned social posts.
Read your site and automated messages with fresh eyes. If anything anchors you in the past, update or remove it.
Revisit Your Issues Page With Fresh Context
An issues page shouldn’t read like a launch document forever.
If you promised action, voters now expect evidence. Sponsored bills, votes taken, or tangible outcomes matter more than aspirational language. Even partial progress is worth highlighting if it’s specific and concrete.
This page should evolve as your record does. Stale issue language makes a campaign feel static.
Make Sure You Can Access Every Account
This is where most campaigns eventually panic.
Confirm that someone currently on the team can log into every critical system. Website hosting, domains, email platforms, donation tools, and social accounts all need verified access. If anything is tied to a former staffer or vendor, fix it now.
You never lose access when things are calm. You lose it when something breaks.
Test Your Forms Like a Stranger Would
Never assume a form works just because it exists.
Submit your email signup, contact form, and volunteer form yourself. Then trace what happens. Does the data arrive where it should? Does anyone get notified? Does the supporter receive a confirmation?
Broken forms fail silently. They don’t throw errors. They just lose opportunities.
Know What Happens After Someone Signs Up
The moment after signup matters more than most campaigns realize.
When someone joins your list, they’re paying attention. If they receive nothing, or something outdated, that momentum disappears immediately. Your first follow-up should be current, clear, and explain what comes next.
That first interaction sets expectations for the entire relationship.
Conclusion
Election years don’t reward last-minute scrambles. They reward campaigns that quietly clean up their fundamentals early.
Run this check now, while fixes are easy and inexpensive. The best digital campaigns aren’t flashy. They’re solid, current, and ready when it counts.