Campaign Fever Pitch
Whether you loved him, hated him or were completely indifferent, there is no denying that Ted Kennedy left an indelible impression on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States of America at large.
As a prominent figure in both the Senate and the Democratic party, Ted was a man that fought for the little people who have no voice. He rallied against the haves and provided for the have-nots in a manner that defied his lot in life. He was passionate, stubborn and effective.
The race to find his replacement is underway and campaigning has entered the digital age. Based on the success stories of Howard Dean and President Obama, strategists now realize that social media is the most effective way to build an online community of grass-roots supporters. These sites give voters a place to hang out and be visible amongst one another – to feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves. It is campaigning 101 in the digital age to stay connected with voters through Facebook and Twitter.
But what else are savvy strategists doing to gain an advantage over the other candidates, who are all utilizing Facebook and Twitter in the exact same way? And what does having a presence on Facebook and Twitter really gain a candidate, when the people that “fan” them are clearly already in their camp? How does it help win the crucial undecided vote?
Shortbord enables candidates to mobilize their fans to “campaign” for them across all of the websites they surf. Whether it’s in the sports section of boston.com when a supporter is commenting on the Patriots injury list, or on politico.com when a supporter is debating health care reform, they are prominently displaying their endorsement of their chosen candidate.
Everywhere supporters go on the social web, Shortbord displays their candidate’s logo for all to see. This is powerful, effective and innovative grass-roots campaigning (not to mention an empowering experience for voters!).
At Shortbord, we know it’s hard to keep pace with how the digital age changes the tools available to campaign strategists. But to us, technology is simply a means to an end. Instead of mobilizing your supporters to stand outside in the cold New England weather handing out signs and buttons, mobilize them digitally. Your supporters will have far greater reach and influence over the outcome of the campaign through the millions of page views they generate from digital interactions than they will through yelling at passing cars and waving signs.
Do the math and be green. Instead of burning campaign donations to make thousands of signs and placards (like they did in the 50’s), look towards a cheaper and more effective future. Less cost, infinitely more impact. Mobilize your digital street teams to win this election.
