Apparently there is an election coming.
I’m assuming there are going to be more people running for office than Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
But I would have no idea. If it weren’t for my friends and family bickering on Facebook about those two I would probably largely be unaware of that race as well.
You see, it appears I have mostly dipped under the radar of most, if not all, politicians. It appears politicians are largely clueless on how to find me.
I’m not off the grid or something. In fact, if anything, I’m always “on the grid.” I’m plugged in constantly. But so far if I were to vote today I would be walking into the booth knowing absolutely nothing about what I was going to vote for.
Here are some quick tips on where I do hang out:
- I check Facebook four or five times a day.
- My Twitter feed pretty much runs constantly during the weekdays. And I check a few lists I’ve made at night and on the weekends.
- I check the people I’m following on Instagram almost religiously every night before I go to bed.
- I do the same thing with the RSS feeds I monitor in my Google Reader.
- I watch almost all my TV and movies on my PlayStation 3 using Netflix.
- I listen to a lot of music at my desk and in my car using Pandora.
That’s pretty much every channel of media I use on any given day. I might occasionally use others like Pinterest, YouTube, and Google Plus. But, for me, they are not everyday activities like the ones I mentioned above.
All of these places have advertising opportunities, with the exception of Netflix. Netflix, however, is the channel I use the least. Watching something for an hour or more is a luxury I rarely have.
I want to make this point because I am 40 years old. I’m not some kid that isn’t going to vote. I vote every time in every election.
I thought by this presidential election cycle politicians would have completely caught on by now.
Barack Obama undermined Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential election by using social media in a much more savvy way. The grassroots foundation Barack Obama laid using social media changed the tide of everything. No one was able to catch up. I thought it was a lesson that every serious politician would’ve learned from that election. I was wrong. Politicians still are not getting it.
Except for one:
Look, I’m going to vote for Obama. So this is good for my guy. But it still pisses me off. All the money in the world that the special interests supposedly have on the Republican side and they can’t get to me.
This is becoming a competence issue. Everyone other than Barack Obama is miserably failing here. How can it be that all you politicians can’t figure out social media?
Here are 10 tips to help you politicians get moving in social media right now (before it’s too late):
- If you are a local politician friend every single person in your district on Facebook. Find them and friend them.
- If you are a state or national politician I suggest you set up a Facebook page for yourself. But the only way you are going to get into people’s feeds is to buy your way in. You will definitely need a Facebook advertising budget to make this work.
- Then be human on Facebook. Talk about your values, your family, you on the political scene. Don’t bad mouth your opponents. Be positive. But most of all: BE HUMAN! Talk to the people like people.
- Pin pictures of you and your family on Pinterest.
- Post pictures on Instagram (edit them so they are pretty) and then post them on your Facebook wall and on Twitter.
- Every single person you meet while campaigning: ask them for their Twitter account name. Follow them as soon as you get back home.
- Post facts on Twitter (with occasional personal things). But don’t bash anyone. Talk about real political issues. Do NOT talk about how your opponent isn’t Christian or hates America.
- Link to all your social media profiles on your Web site. We need to be able to easily find you in these spaces.
- If you don’t have a Web site get one! WordPress.com, Tumblr or SageRock Places will get you a free (or near free) site in minutes.
- GET BUSY! This doesn’t happen over night. It’s probably too late already. But better late than never. Plus, you’ll have a better foundation for the next election.
- A bonus tip: Hold Google Plus Hangout on Air meetings. It would be an awesome way to connect with all your voters. Do these twice a month until the election.
Mitt Romney is going to have a hell of a time mobilizing his supporters. Obama has a direct line to his supporters. I guarantee he will use his massive social media reach to get out the vote. Watch and see. Romney won’t have that connection.
And for all your Akron Ohio politicians, judges and issues: I just gave you all the places you can find me online. Come and get me. Because here’s a tip: There’s a lot of us that you are completely leaving behind. If you find me you’ll find others.
From SageRock Blog: : 10 Social Media Tips for Politicians http://t.co/zY4QuLbM
It’s pretty unbelievable, I agree. But maybe it will pick up, even in this election cycle. Too bad there’s not some Akron dog catcher or someone whose work you really believe in…you could set him up some social media and use it as a basis for a series of blog posts!
That’s a pretty cool idea. I’m going to look into someone to possibly help.