The Next Presential Election to be fought online…and globally (Why Social Media matters)
Yes Alfred, Maryam’s right, this is going to make a difference.
There’s a few reasons why the presidential candidates must use the web to engage. My real focus is on how corporations, executives, and employees use the web to reach out to customers, it’s not that much different from politicians reaching the public.
I do notice a few differences, but the reasons why to join the conversations are all the same:
1) The Internet is top used medium in North American Workplace: Most adults have internet access at work, and can communicate there
2) TV is still the top medium at home in North America (for adults), but the internet is closing in fast.
3) Generation X and Y (The ‘unreachable’ generation) is online and not reachable from email or TV or newspaper. They use social sites, IM, blogs, and text messaging to communicate.
4) People are going to argue, debate, listen and make decisions using online tools. Many will make decisions based upon what their peers are saying.
5) From a Global Point of View: The conversation is global, the voice from other countries will be heard, they will influence American voters. I don’t think any presidential candidate has given this a great deal of thought. I’ve seen quite a bit of planet earth, in the last year I’ve been to 8-10 countries other than the United States. I want the most powerful man in the world to represent not only our nation but the rest of the world.
6) Using the Internet, everyone has a voice and it can easily be found and heard
7) From the Politicians point of view: Using the web can be a cost effective way to get into the conversation.
From the Politicians point of view: Dealing directly with the masses and bypassing the press using Social Media may be a risk reduced way to make sure your message is un-altered and represented correctly.
9) Authenticity is going to be so so important. Those that blow this may have their credibility wiped away. Credibility may be even more important that the actual message.
10) The most important reason: I plan to make my decisions for the next presidential elect using the web as a tool to research and understand. I will then defend my stance to my friends and family and others.
It’s interesting and refreshing for me to turn my Corporate Web Strategy lens onto the Political Web Strategy scene, I’ll probably do this from time to time, as I seek analyze the Presidential Web Strategy campaign.
Oh, and who will be the Republican Candidate? Anyone know? I want to start seeing what they’ve done online.
Related Update, One Hour Later:
Heh, this is pretty funny, the web team at the Edwards camp accidentally turned on the new homepage announcing his run for president a day early. This concludes it was an accident for any who think the timing was in bad taste.
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looks like Giuliani and Mass. gov Romney are in the race now, but others that people are looking to are McCain, Huckabee, and Lamar Alexander.
i thought what you said about global representation is interesting - i agree that we need someone with a global understanding, empathy, and the desire to spread the actual values (as opposed to those touted by the administration) of freedom and equality, but did you really mean you want a president that represents the globe? as much as i want our country to do more to engage positively with the rest of the world, i want our president to look out for us first and foremost.
Jim, we agree.
Yes, USA comes first to the president of the USA.
Being the most powerful man in the world comes with other responsiblities that suggest that what he/we do in USA impacts the rest of the world.
[…] This is interesting to me, as I stated the next Presidential campaign will be fought online globally. My analysis on how Edwards reaches out by using Social Media. […]
Jeremiah,
I agree with about 95% of what you said here, but I have one disagreement. Perhaps represent was the wrong choice of word here…
I don’t presume to speak for the rest of the world, but living here in Europe, I don’t want your president to represent me.
I’d like him (or her) to work with my elected leaders and work to strengthen and improve other international institutions, rather than undermine them. He-she may be the most powerful person in the world, but omnipotent, not.
[…] 7) Real World and Virtual World are Tied What happens in real life echos online. We’re seeing that more and more as politicians, CEOs and organization involve bloggers, podcasters, and other influentials to real life events. The role of Online/Offline Community Relations is becoming more and more important. I’ve dissected how Microsoft hosts blogger dinners. Train your orginsiation to tie both strategies together. Read my post on Web Strategy: Overlaying Social Media for your Corporate Events […]
[…] June 8th, 2007 The rise of social media sites has got some people wondering about how politics might/will play an important role in future elections. Some even think that the election will be online. Either way, what’s going to happen? Can these really exist on one platform? […]