I’ve been meaning for awhile to write about the Web site shortbaldhonest.com.
It’s the Web site of 2nd Congressional District Republican candidate Greg Sowards. While other candidates have spent tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on expensive television and radio ads to win voters, Sowards has instead spent his money to try to draw people to his unusual Web site.
I write about it, when I haven’t written about other candidates’ Web sites, because of that. It’s noteworthy in the same way other candidates’ TV ads are noteworthy, and I’ve published most of their TV ads on this site.
Sowards’ radio ads and billboards, which are covering the district, are geared toward getting people to remember the unusual and easy-to-remember Web address. The other unusual aspect of Sowards’ site is its animation: He’s standing in the top right corner of the site. Visitors will hear him speak and see him talk every time they click a link.
“Welcome to shortbaldhonest.com. I’m short and to the point on the issues. A lifetime of experience has left me bald. And as you get to know me through this site, you’ll find an honest man who believes that conservative principles are always the answer,” you’ll see and hear Sowards say when you first visit the site.
Sowards’ marketing effort — backed by $325,000 he loaned his campaign — is having some effect. How do I know? One of the links on his site — “Vision for
That means a significant number of people are visiting Sowards’ site and clicking on the link that takes them to the article I wrote. Will that translate into votes? Time will tell.