Email marketing was working well to get visitors to my website however Australia has just past new anti spamming legislation which does not make the option of emailing various groups vialbe. I have also had no success getting editorials or a feautre on the TV. If anyone has any connections in Australia please ask them to contact me via email at: [email protected]

Information about the site is as follows:
The www.candidate.com.au website offers the Australian public the opportunity to voice their opinion on local, state and federal government issues, provides candidates contesting an election the opportunity to promote their campaign at a cost effective fee and is designed to minimise the confusion the public faces as the candidate’s pages are in identical format.

The first stage of www.candidate.com.au was launched at the end of May and featured the “Have your Say” component. As to date there have been 3350 visits resulting in 156643 hits. Members from all over Australia have posted 195 opinions. Domain names of www.statemember.com.au, www.localmember.com.au, www.federalmember.com.au, www.lordmayor.com.au, www.mayor.com.au, etc are also linked to the www.candidate.com.au site.

The second stage will include the candidate’s campaign feature and goes live shortly. Feature inclusions are:
•Candidate’s campaign home page will display a summary of their profile, platform and policies. It will also show their email address and a link to individual websites if required. Visitors to the campaign will go directly to the candidate’s home page – they will not be directed to the www.candidate.com.au home page.

•A second page will display their full profile, platform and policies. Should they be a member of a political party a link can also be included to the platform and policies page of the party website. The candidate has full control over this information and can update it at anytime without incurring additional fees.

•A third page will provide the public with forms to submit for Donations/gifts to the campaign, to be a volunteer on the campaign, permission to erect your election signs on their property, view media releases and ‘letters to the editor’ and petitions. Again they have full control over this information.

•The forum that is displayed on their campaign page will be relative to voters in their electorate and is separate from the overall forum of the www.candidate.com.au website.

Inclusions for stage three are the Events and Links features. These features will allow community organisations, businesses, government departments and other interested parties to promote their up and coming functions, meetings, events etc and to add their website links at no charge. Banners for businesses to pay to advertise their products and services will also be available on these pages.