DataForDonkeys.com :: Messages, Mail, Microtargeting & More

Targeted Direct Mail

Data for Donkeys (DfD) offers Democrats and non-partisans, targeted, top-quality, high-impact Direct Mail that will effectively get your message to the voters. DfD consultants will work with the candidate and the committee, and use any polling, voter history and demographic information to ensure that your Direct Mail has the effect it should have—moving voters into your column, come Election Day.

DfD will design and manage your mail from the initial concept to the actual mailing of the piece.

More About DfD's Direct Mail Services >>

Voter Targeting

DfD brings voter targeting to a higher level. By combining voter history and demographics, DfD is better able to identify voters and likely supporters, as well as those who wouldn't dream of giving you their vote!

DfD consultants have more than fifty years of campaign experience in literally hundreds of campaigns. From School Committee and City Council to US Congress and Statewide campaigns, DfD consultants have been involved in them all. No matter the importance or size of a campaign, DfD knows that data is king in any and every campaign. To win, a campaign must know where its vote is before it can adequately persuade the voter to turnout on Election Day.

More About Voter Targeting >>

Voter Data & Files

At Data for Donkeys, we believe that data is the king of the campaign tools. Good data is invaluable and being able to read, analyze and execute a plan is often the difference between winning and losing campaigns.

Data for Donkeys Voter Files are designed for 21st Century Campaigning. With turnout often stagnant and communication becoming cheaper, it is now desirable to target your voters in as many ways as possible.

More About DfD's Voter Files >>

Language & Message Development

Data for Donkeys' consultants are experts in message development and the use of language in political campaigns. Message is a critical part of any campaign and DfD will work with candidate to hone and fine-tune the campaign's message, as well as ensuring that the campaign—as an entirety -continues to stay on message in all communication.

Using our targeting and demographic models, our consultants will ensure that your message is crafted to appeal to the blocs of voters who will put you over the top on Election Day. We know that it is not enough to have a campaign message that merely articulates your positions—your message must be delivered in a manner that moves voters to your side and away from your opponent. At DfD, we are continually researching the latest studies on voters and voting behavior. Your message will be developed in a manner that is not only consistent with your beliefs and principles—but in a way that is more likely to appeal to the undecided voter.

More About Message Development >>

Web Sites

Data for Donkeys (DfD) offers Democrats & non-partisans first-rate web sites for their campaigns. DfD web sites not only look the part, they also help spread your campaign message, manage your vote and help raise money for your campaign.

DfD has an exclusive relationship with darkstarcrashes of Somerville, webmasters with more than fifteen years of experience in web site design—and hands-on familiarity in the political and campaign field.

DfD will consult with the candidate and committee and use any polling, targeting and GOTV information available to determine the message that your web site should have. After consulting with the campaign and candidate, DfD will send the campaign a specific proposal for their web site. DfD will host, design and make major agreed changes on the site for the term of the contract (usually until Election Day.)

More About DfD's Web Design >>

General Consulting

Have DfD consultants advise you on every aspect of your campaign. Our consultants have decades of experience in literally hundreds of campaigns in the US and Europe. From city council to statewide runs, we can help you with all aspects of your campaign, including:

Polling
Automated Calls
Press Relations
Fundraising
...and more!

Selected Clients

State Representative Thomas P Conroy (D—Wayland)
State Representative Paul J Donato (D—Medford)
State Representative Jay R Kaufman (D—Lexington)
US Senate Candidate Ed O'Reilly (D—Gloucester)
Somerville Alderman Robert C Trane (D—Somerville)
Candidate for Alderman-at-Large Tony Lafuente (D—Somerville)
Somerville Democratic City Committee

Read DfD's Case Studies >>

About DfD

Data for Donkeys is based in Somerville, Massachusetts with a satellite office in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Our Consultants are ready to help you with every aspect of your campaign.

Please contact us at:

fot@datafordonkeys.com or call 617-275-1192 in the United States;

justin@datafordonkeys.com or call 087-967-2960 in Republic of Ireland.

Direct Mail Services

Editorial Content—DfD brings experience from hundreds of campaigns to your quest for office. From City Council, to the State Legislature to Statewide Offices, our consultants bring with them the hands-on experience that comes from the rough and tumble of campaigns. Using demographic and voter data, DfD consultants will ensure that your mail delivers your message to voters in the most effective manner.
Design & Pre-Production—DfD has an exclusive partnership with Pixelslam—a cutting-edge design and print production company based in Woburn, Mass. With more than 20 years of print management experience and a hands-on familiarity with political mail, DfD and Pixelslam will ensure that your Direct Mail will stand out from the opposition, and that your message will reach the voters.
Printing—Your Direct Mail will be printed by a reputable, in-state union print house. Our stable of printers are large, high volume, commercial print shops that have been selected because of their experience in the political printing arena.
Photography—DfD retains its own photographer and can arrange a photo shoot with the candidate in the District for use in your Direct Mail. Our photographer is a veteran of political photography and will process and re-touch all images to ensure a first-rate printed piece. DfD will provide the campaign with a CD containing all images for future use.
Mail House—DfD uses leading mail-houses in Massachusetts to ensure that your Direct Mail is delivered to voters on your timeframe. Because of the high-volume of business we have with these mail-houses, DfD is able to offer highly competitive prices to our clients.
Delivery—Delivery of completed mail to client is available at an additional cost.
Quotes—DfD will be happy to provide you with a quote for any job in a timely manner.

View Mail Options >>

Better Targeting, Better Turnout

DfD uses experts in demographics, voter history and voter targeting to help identify the cities, towns, precincts and neighborhoods where your message will be warmly received. DfD will work with the campaign to drive-up your campaign numbers in these areas, increasing your margin when the votes are counted on Election Night.

At DfD, we know that no two elections are the same.

Sure, there are elections that seem similar—like-minded candidates, same events and similar scandals. But the big difference between each election is simple - the electorate and their behavior. Each election brings a different set of voters to the polls—and for different reasons.

There is nothing—not money, not policy, not coalitions—that is more important in an election than turnout.

Before any campaign plans are set, a campaign must know (to the best of its estimates) who will vote, how many will vote and where they will vote from. They need to know the percentage of voters who won't even consider their candidate and the number who may be persuaded to mark a ballot for your candidate.

Data for Donkeys is proud of its track record on voter turnout. DfD professionals study voter history and demographic data to carefully estimate the turnout in distinct areas. DfD Targeting will also garner the level of interest in the campaign and study past voter history. DfD consultants will merge all this information and identify your hot spots, in terms of votes and voters. Not only will DfD give your campaign an accurate figure for turnout—but it will work with your committee to ensure that you are targeting only the voters that are ready for your message. Do not waste your time, energy and money encouraging your opponents' vote to turnout. Your goal is simple—high turnout in your areas of strength and low turnout in your opponents' strength areas.

Voter Files

DfD Voter Files contain voting history from all elections over—at least—the past decade as well as the most current census listings. Added is as much information as possible from both your district and your constituents. DfD works with each campaign to customize its database and we encourage being flooded with whatever snippets of voter information you already have.

User-friendly drop-down boxes allow easy queries, reports or database views to easily create walk lists, labels and any other lists that you may require for your campaign.

A voter-lookup feature allows you to easily add voter information to each voter and save it in your database. The database also contains demographic information on your district and identifies all political contributors in your district.

Let us demonstrate this product to you—it is campaign central!

DfD Databases take several weeks to build. Each database is customized to your campaign's need. As the database gets built, DfD works with the campaign to ensure that they are happy with its progress and familiar with its use.

Your voter file will be crucial as a GOTV tool, providing checker's lists, walk lists and phone lists for the campaign and to ensure that—on Election Day—your identified supporters actually turn out and vote.

Let DfD customize your database to your needs and the character of your city or district. Unlike other voter files, the DfD file is yours to keep and can be updated annually by DfD consultants.

View A Mock Voter File >>

Message As Narrative

At DfD, we sit down with the candidate and develop a narrative for the ensuing campaign. We do this by comprehensive study of the candidate's life history and values. We will come up with a message that illustrates to voters your core values and the issues that you care about—and we will craft them into a message that will appeal to voter's emotions as well as their consciousness.

We also study your opponent(s) and communicate a message that will help define your rival in a way that will benefit your campaign and ensure that the race is run in a manner that is advantageous to your campaign. After your own narrative, the way that you define your opponents to the press and the voters is the most crucial aspect of message in a campaign.

DfD consultants will continue to refine this message as the campaign progresses and in response to events during the race and attempts by the opposition to redefine your candidacy.

DfD Web Sites offer the following features:

Web Design: DfD will work with our webmaster and candidate to ensure that your web site will look terrific. Looks count on the internet—make sure that web users dally on your site.
Editorial Content: DfD will work with the candidate to ensure that the candidate's message is forefront to the site. Through video, photo and text, DfD web consultants are well aware that promoting your winning message is the most important aspect of any communications—including the world -wide web.
Interactive: Collect voter information from constituents and supporters. DfD will customize your site, so that visitors to your site will be able to sign-up for email alerts, as well as volunteer for your campaign and identify themselves as supporters.
Contributions: DfD uses Authorize.net and Powerpay, leaders in online web processing for contribution purposes. Credit card fees are among the best available on the web. Your web site can take campaign contributions from all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express & Discover Card.
Video: DfD works exclusively with Innovative Visions of Boston to produce high-quality 'video spots' to play prominently on your site. Not unlike televisions commercials, these video spots are great for introducing yourself to voters. They are also invaluable during a campaign to refute any negative assertions by opponents or third parties.
Hosting: DfD works exclusively with Cirtex to host your site. Cirtex provide the know-how of years in the internet business. They are reliable and fast. Your account will also provide you with email addresses for you, your staff and your volunteers.

View the Design Portfolio >>

Case Study: Donato For State Representative

State Representative Paul J Donato (D—Medford)

Case Study Coming Soon...

High Impact, Affordable Direct Mail

DfD, in partnership with Pixelslam, design all types of Direct Mail. From Palm Cards to Large Brochures, here are some samples of the type of mailings that we typically offer. If you do not see your desired format, contact us. We will be happy to offer you a free quote on any mailing—no job is too big or too small!

Palm Card—First Impressions count. Have the experts put together a Palm Card that helps make a favorable introduction to voters as well as providing them with your contact information and preliminary information from your campaign.

Palm Card Folded—Similar to a traditional Palm Card, but visually a step-up. Catch the voter's attention as you introduce your candidacy.

Oversize Postcard 8.5 x 11—This is DfD's favorite Direct Mail format. Large enough to make a big impact, but small enough to keep cost low, the Oversize Postcard is also best for targeted mailings.

4 Page brochure 8.5 x 11 Folded—The standard four page brochure is a great way to introduce you or your ideas to voters. The format makes it easy to handle and leaves room for plenty of biographical and message details.

4 Page brochure 14 x 11 Folded&mdash;A larger version of the 8.5 x 11 folded brochure, this designs guarantees maximum impact and is highly effective as a closing argument and GOTV piece.

Door Knocker—Ensure that your time going door-to-door is not wasted. Leave a professional Door Knocker piece for voters who are not at home. Allow them become familiar with your message—and remind them that you took the time to visit their door personally.

11 X 17 Tri-Fold Perforated Card—Without a doubt, one of the most effective ways to start your campaign. The design of this mail allows the candidate to seek voter input on a range of key ideas and helps build a volunteer base. It also leaves lots of space to carry your message to voters.

View Direct Mail Samples >>