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

Key Tools of the Trade
Blogging Micro-Blogging Social Networking
Crowdsourcing Content Sharing Web Applications

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
Communicators
Creators Cash not credit
Connected Control
Creative
“Consumer 2.0”
Channelled
Community
Charted

The new communication model is a dialogue

Which means it IS…. NOT…
Transparent Organized
Inclusive Exclusive
Authentic “On Message”
Vibrant Controlled
Consumer-driven Product-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

• Over 15 million
registered
12,000,000
accounts
articles
• Almost 40,000
people logged in
at any moment
• 200,000,000 blogs
• >100,000,000 video
• 73% of active online
views per day
users have read a
• 10 hours of video
blog
uploaded per minute
• 45% have started
their own blog
• 39% subscribe
67% have joined to an RSS feed
a social network • Almost 450,000
RSS feeds

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 • Notify Your Voters
• Canvass Voters • Take Notes
• Recruit Volunteers • Event Updates
• Direct traffic • Find Voters
• Read News • Provide Live coverage
• Make New Friends • Set Up Meetings.
• Campaign on Issues
• Network for benefits.
• Get the Vote Out –
• Use it as a To Do list. could replace knocking
up?

Just Like Off-Line Campaigning?
• Dress Your Best • “You Can’t Take It
• Do Your Research On Back”
Who You Want To • Be A Giver Not A Taker
Know • Take A Long Term
• Decide On How Much Perspective
Time A Week • Advertise You’re On
• Break The Ice By Being Twitter
Personable • Always Mind Your
• Build Rapport But Don’t Manners
Over Do It • Have Goals For
• Be Transparent 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://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinechambers
http://channelchamber.blogspot.com/
Caroline Chambers – Leas Cliff Lift Group