Vote for Me!** Why Ignoring Social Media Could Be the Biggest Mistake You Ever Made

Caroline Chambers – May 2009

What is Social Media?• Social Media is information content…

intended to facilitate communications, and influence interaction between peers and with public audiences.

• This is typically done via the internet and mobile communications networks. The term most often refers to activities that integrate technology, telecommunications and social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio.

http://www.wikipedia.org

“Social media is people having

conversations online.”

• Blogs• Micro Blogs • Online Chat• RSS• Widgets• Social Networks• Social Bookmarks• Message Boards• Podcasts• Video Sharing Sites• Photo Sharing Sites• Virtual Worlds• Wikis

(…to name just a few!)The conversations are powered by…

Blogging Micro-Blogging Social Networking

Crowdsourcing Content Sharing Web Applications

Key Tools of the Trade

It’s not a fad• Social media has created a

fundamental shift in the way we communicate

• The old communication model was a monologue

Baby Boomer born 1946-1961

Generation X – Born 1961-1981

Generation Y – Born 1982-2000

And say hello to Generation C – The Millennial - Born 2000 onwards

Cash not creditCreatorsControlConnected

Channelled

Creative

Community

“Consumer 2.0”

Communicators

Charted

The new communication model is a dialogue

Which means it IS….

TransparentInclusiveAuthenticVibrantConsumer-driven

NOT…

OrganizedExclusive“On Message”ControlledProduct-driven

So what does that mean – and why should I care?

Obama’s Online Campaign

• 3 million online donors• 6.5m online donations – of $500M, - 6m were less than

$100• 13m addresses captured• 1Billion email sent during campaign• 1m mobile phone numbers• 2m profiles created on MyBarackObama.com –

his own social network• 5m supporters on other social sites, like

Facebook, Myspace, You Tube etc

What Did Obama Use it For?

• Getting the message out• Keeping the message fresh• Sticking to the story• Tracking and staying in touch with

interested visitor• Development of a worthwhile engaging

relationship with those who can support you and your concerns

Fbook

You Tube

Other Local Sites

12,000,000articles

• >100,000,000 video views per day

• 10 hours of video uploaded per minute

• Over 15 million registered accounts

• Almost 40,000 people logged in at any moment• 200,000,000 blogs

• 73% of active online users have read a blog

• 45% have started their own blog

• 39% subscribe to an RSS feed

• Almost 450,000 RSS feeds

67% have joineda social network

Is Everyone Doing It?• On-line shoppers in the UK over

Christmas 2008 spent £4.6 billion*• 273,0000 DVLA car tax discs sold

every week• mySociety.org – 9 million signatures

on petitions• 93% of graduates under 70 are on

line* Source – Cap Gemini E-Retail Sales Data Index

So what's all the fuss about Twitter• 10 million people – visited Twitter

worldwide in Feb 09• Drawing and Tracking Attention• Increase Brand awareness• 2 way process – not advertising

What Can You Use Twitter For?

• Personal Branding• Canvass Voters• Recruit Volunteers• Direct traffic• Read News• Make New Friends• Network for

benefits. • Use it as a To Do

list.

• Notify Your Voters• Take Notes• Event Updates• Find Voters• Provide Live

coverage • Set Up Meetings. • Campaign on Issues• Get the Vote Out –

could replace knocking up?

Just Like Off-Line Campaigning?

• Dress Your Best• Do Your Research On Who You Want To Know• Decide On How Much Time A Week• Break The Ice By Being Personable• Build Rapport But Don’t Over Do It• Be Transparent

• “You Can’t Take It Back”• Be A Giver Not A Taker• Take A Long Term Perspective • Advertise You’re On Twitter• Always Mind Your Manners• Have Goals For Contacts And Conversion

The Mechanics of using Twitter• Go to www.youtube.com• Type “how to use Twitter” into the

search box• Watch the videos• “how to use twitter” results 1 -

20 of about 7,980

Connect With Me

carolinechamber

http://channelchamber.blogspot.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinechambers

Caroline Chambers – Leas Cliff Lift Group