Red flags that say “my nephew built this website at 2AM”
Because your platform shouldn't be harder to navigate than your opponent's ethics record. 🤓
Your website is your digital handshake. If it looks confusing, outdated, or slapped together at midnight, people won’t take you seriously.
Here are the most common red flags we see (and how to fix them before launch).
🚩 Red Flag #1: No photo of the candidate on the homepage
What it says:
"I’m running for office and making it weird by not showing my face."
What to do instead:
Use a real, recent photo. Not a stock image. Not a selfie in your car. A simple, friendly headshot works. People vote for people, not mystery icons.
🚩 Red Flag #2: Menu has 14 tabs
What it says:
"I have a lot to say and no idea how to organize it."
What to do instead:
Narrow it down. You need:
Home
About
Issues
Donate
Contact/Volunteer
That’s it. If you feel bold, add News or Events later. But for now? Keep it clean.
🚩 Red Flag #3: Donate button goes nowhere
What it says:
“I welcome your support, but only if you can find it.”
What to do instead:
Link straight to ActBlue. Test it on mobile. If someone has to go hunting for a donate button, they’re going to quit before they give.
🚩 Red Flag #4: Bio reads like a résumé
What it says:
"I copied this from LinkedIn and tried to make it sound political."
What to do instead:
Start with your why. Keep it short. Make it human. Cut the bullet points and save the award list for your mom’s fridge.
🚩 Red Flag #5: Blank pages or “Coming Soon” placeholders
What it says:
"I’m serious about this campaign but not serious enough to finish the site."
What to do instead:
Use a splash page. One photo, one sentence, one call to action. Done. A basic page that works is better than a fancy one that doesn’t exist.
🚩 Red Flag #6: Not mobile-friendly
What it says:
“This site looks amazing… on my laptop from 2012.”
What to do instead:
Preview your site on your phone. Scroll. Tap. Donate. Sign up. Make sure it works where your voters are — which is on their phones.
Need a site that skips the red flags?
We got you.
Built-in mobile responsiveness and campaign integrations
DIY or Done-For-You options
