5 Ways to Capitalize on Election Season Without Being Political

Each U.S. election is critically necessary to good governance in any respect ranges, be it native, state or nationwide. Nonetheless, there is no denying that our every-four-year presidential elections are notably essential, and that is very true lately when divisiveness and partisanship make it tougher for politicians to cross celebration aisles and work with each other.

Elections are additionally necessary to every business owner. The folks we select to function elected officers — particularly on the nationwide stage — assist form financial coverage and market entry, all of which have a direct and profound impression in your backside line.

It doesn’t matter what political celebration you’re feeling extra intently aligned with, and no matter whether or not you need your enterprise to take an identical stance, you should use election season to realize momentum and drive income or enhance firm tradition — or each!

If you would like to assist your enterprise get a bit of extra energetic this election season, attempt one of many 5 options under.

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1. Construct engagement with inventive content material

Election season is a good time to attempt one thing a bit extra inventive along with your social media and different digital content material. Keep in mind the 2008 Presidential election? That is when AirBnB rolled out two “new” cereals in honor of the 2 fundamental candidates — Obama O’s and Cap’N McCain.

Thankfully, you do not have to go to that form of expense or effort nowadays to make a splash. As an alternative, up your TikTok game and craft some brief, memorable movies to share. If video is not your sturdy swimsuit, memes are an excellent different since they’re equally visible and comparatively easy to place collectively due to as we speak’s graphics software program instruments (Canva even has pre-sized templates prepared in your inventive content material).

Take into consideration content material that responds to the most recent election points and developments. As a author and content material creator myself, that is an space by which I’ve suggested on-line companies throughout previous election seasons. Maybe you may interview native candidates for workplace. Alternatively, make some elaborate and attention-grabbing infographics that assist clarify vital election points, the platforms for particular candidates and the way they differ, or the procedural elements of native voting. You do not have to create a complete new channel or account, both. Schedule out content material rigorously so that you just time it proper amongst your different posts and nonetheless make an impression.

2. Get to work in your group

Elections aren’t nearly successful or urgent a bonus. They’re about citizenship and civics, human rights and group involvement, too. Your organization or group can get involved at this stage as a sponsor of voter registration drives, debate watch events, group service initiatives, workshops, meet-the-candidate occasions and extra.

Take into account getting concerned as a company donor to a political motion committee, or by sponsoring different issue-driven promoting initiatives. Advocate for causes that impression your group, your crew or your enterprise. Aligning your model with a political or social challenge that’s significant to your organization’s values helps you attain customers who share these values.

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3. Assist your staff talk extra successfully about points that concern them

It is no secret that lately, the U.S. has develop into exponentially extra divisive and conflicted, particularly about politics. We should always all be doing our half to assist foster more practical and respectful communication abilities.

So why not begin within the office? I’ve met founders at firms who offer communication workshops for his or her staff that acknowledge the rising hostility in public discourse and use frameworks like roleplaying to assist discover higher alternate options than yelling or calling the opposite celebration names.

And do not forget to lead by example: Present your crew you are critical concerning the topic by attending the workshop your self, and require all high administration to do the identical. Comply with by means of by working collaboratively on a brand new respectful communication coverage in your firm, with the enter of your staff.

4. Make it simpler in your staff to solid their votes

Lengthy wait occasions, hotly contested top-of-ticket races, the “consolidation” of polling locations (so {that a} group has fewer choices for in-person voting for a similar or perhaps a better variety of voters) — all this stuff have put extra strain on present polling locations within the U.S. and make it more and more tough for many individuals to really vote.

As an employer, you’re in a novel place to assist mitigate in opposition to and even take away these obstacles altogether, even if you happen to’d somewhat not get political. Take into account the next strikes:

• Earlier than Election Day, host voting registration drives and encourage staff to reap the benefits of early and mail-in voting procedures accessible in your state, if any.
• Present paid time off for every worker to get to the polls throughout work hours so they will not need to lose wages, pay additional for youngster care or lengthen their work days for hours.
• Provide rideshare or group transit to the polls out of your office or workplace web site.

On the very least, you may ask your staff what would make it simpler for them to vote. Then consider methods to ship that.

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5. Host “Election Day”-themed gross sales or particular occasions

Lastly, think about internet hosting a sale or different commerce-oriented particular occasion throughout election season. Whereas “present us your ‘I Voted’ sticker” giveaways are in all probability not an excellent thought, and may even be illegal, there are many different concepts you may put into play:

• Create themed services or products collections primarily based on non-partisan election ideas, equivalent to “Voice of the Individuals,” “Liberty,” or “Unity.” Show these collections prominently in your retailer or web site and encourage prospects to vote for his or her favourite theme. The successful theme might then be featured in a particular post-election promotion or sale.
• Within the run-up to voting, get prospects to vote on the quantity of the low cost you supply on Election Day.
• Designate an area charity to which you will donate a selected portion of income throughout your election-themed sale.
• Host a results-watching celebration on-site and supply door prizes.

Encouraging others to vote and to take part within the democratic course of is an important a part of being a good corporate citizen, and it is also good enterprise. Get inventive and pursue a number of of those concepts — or one in every of your personal — to assist drive each voters and gross sales. Simply bear in mind to deal with supporting points and the electoral course of usually, versus particular candidates, to keep away from making a politically unwelcoming and poisonous company tradition.