Democrats Abroad uses social media like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and their own website to engage their global community of members, find Americans living abroad who are not aware they can vote from overseas, and help register voters. Their goals are to communicate positive news in a non-controversial way to reach potential new members and voters through sharing content across multiple platforms. They encourage country leaders and volunteers to leverage visual content on initiatives like registering voters with their "Vote from Abroad" banner around the world.

1. Democrats Abroad Social Media 2009/2010EMEA Regional Meeting BerlinFall of the Wall November 2009

2. social media: what is it ?

3. Definitions of Social media on the Web:Social media is content created by people using highly accessible and scalable publishing technologies. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_mediaA category of sites that is based on user participation and user-generated content. They include social networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, social bookmarking sites like Del.icio.us, social news sites like Digg or Reddit, and other sites that are centered on user interaction. searchenginewatch.com/defineAn umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words and pictures. ... www.anvilmediainc.com/search-engine-marketing-glossary.htmlSocial Media are primarily Internet- and mobile-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings. ... sprythink.com/glossary.htmlOnline technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives with each other. www.tvb.org/multiplatform/Multiplatform_Glossary.aspxSocial media are works of user-created video, audio, text or multimedia that are published and shared in a social environment, such as a blog, wiki or video hosting site. www.capilanou.ca/help/active-cms/glossary.html

4. social media: what is it ?a conversationusing multiple ‘social networking platforms’

5. as Wiki says: Examples of social media software applications include:CommunicationBlogs: Blogger, LiveJournal, Open Diary, TypePad, WordPress, Vox, ExpressionEngine, XangaMicro-blogging / Presence applications: Twitter, Plurk, Tumblr, Jaiku, fmylifeSocial networking: Bebo, BigTent, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Orkut, Skyrock, Hi5, Ning, ElggSocial network aggregation: NutshellMail, FriendFeedEvents: Upcoming, Eventful, Meetup.comCollaborationWikis: Wikipedia, PBwiki, wetpaintSocial bookmarking (or social tagging)[5]: Delicious, StumbleUpon, Google Reader, CiteULikeSocial news: Digg, Mixx, Reddit, NowPublicOpinion sites: epinions, YelpMultimediaPhoto sharing: Flickr, Zooomr, Photobucket, SmugMug, PicasaVideo sharing: YouTube, Vimeo, sevenloadLivecasting: Ustream.tv, Justin.tv, Stickam, SkypeAudio and Music Sharing: imeem, The Hype Machine, Last.fm, ccMixterReviews and OpinionsProduct Reviews: epinions.com, MouthShut.comBusiness Reviews: yelp.comCommunity Q&A: Yahoo! Answers, WikiAnswers, Askville, Google AnswersEntertainmentMedia & Entertainment Platforms: Cisco EosVirtual worlds: Second Life, The Sims Online, ForterraGame sharing: Miniclip, KongregateOtherInformation aggregators: Netvibes, Twine (website)

6. so social media can beany thing any where that helps jumpstart a conversation in DA’s case it is anything that lets us reach out :to engage with membersfind the missing millions of Americansand help us register the clueless

7. So social mediaengage with the Democrats Abroad global community of membersfind the missing millions of Americans who do not know how to vote from abroadand help us register the clueless over the easy secure VoteFromAbroad.org wizard

8. of course there is our DA website

9. social media: why use it ? in addition to the website

10. Con leveraged on many platformsthe more contentin more placesthe more chanceswe will find more US Democrats living abroadand get more membersand more voter registrations

11. Some social media best practices: Communicate + CollaborateReach out Post content that will get your members talking to you. Then keep the conversation alive with comments + replies.Keep it Fresh Put up new content regularly. Keep it short. Linked. Digestible.Partner Find other DA groups doing interesting work and promote each other. Share content

12. DA on

13. outreachprimary goal is reaching people we are not reaching otherwise.WE ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YET MEMBERS.So KEEP IT LIGHT and POSITIVE and SIMPLE

14. outreach potential members don’t follow politics as we doSO not place for complicated articles about technical aspects of healthcare reform or troop withdrawals

15. outreachARE the places to post encouraging updates:The Public Option is Still Alive !Healthcare Bill passes in Senate!

16. DA on

17. DA F pagefacebook/demsabroadHas 1000 fans nowLook at kinds of listings that attract many reactions, and those that attract few.Most fan reactions are to POSITIVE news: marriage equality or Washington, DC. Obama family portrait by Annie LiebowitzThink good news over opinion or debate !!!!!

18. Keep it Non ControversialRemember, this is the public face of the Democratic Party.It is not up to us to take sides, for example, on trigger or opt out.It is Great if people want to Comment, or express their own Opinions --- but OUR postings should not take stands that might contradict our President.

19. GoalHere -- and in everything that we do – isTo support the President’s agenda.

20. F pages vs. groupsgroupsLimit # messages to Group now up to 5,000 (from 1,000) Groups intended for interaction between members. If you do do Group do not make it closed (requiring approval). Facebook should not be exclusive members only place.pagesPages in tended to be public face of group or celebrity.Given that our goal is outreach, not interaction for existing members..Page has Favorite Pages option … so we can all point to each other.

21. outreachoutreach outreach outreach

22. DA Brand NarrativeIN a million channel world, the brands that tell the best story break through.Our simple story in 2010

23. Register To Vote From AbroadAny Time Any Place Our Story : Democrats Living Abroad, Still Connected to America,Voting,Making an Impact.(Who we are + what we do.)

24. some platforms where DA uses social media

25. DA on

26. DA photos on

27. DA on

28. DA on

29. there are other potential platforms for DA to leverage contentNeed more people to help us reach out through other platforms using base DA content from our

30. DA Marketing Toolkit

31. DA giveaways

32. DA bookmarks

33. DA flyers

34. DA t-shirts

36. DA email sigs

37. DA social media @ 2010

38. social media: international leadershipWhy DA MattersHow DA Makes a Difference seriesFeaturing International Chair, VC, RVCsOne minute videos on:Community, Lobbying, Registration, History 2008! + What you can do to be featured on Facebook, YouTube, and DA website

39. social media: country leadershipVotefromAbroadGoes to Work (2010)VFA banner as it registers voters worldwide….

40. the vfa banner does traditional work,but is also seen in front of iconic monuments, or uniquely visual places as it finds and registers voters through VotefromAbroad

41. VFA goes to Work 2010WHO? Volunteer Country Committee or Chapter every two weeksWHERE? City 1: ? Berlin City 2: ? Paris City 3: ? Rome City 4: ? London……OR YOUR CITY.... Sign up now !!

53. Pics to Picasa Build our photo libraryBest to be pushed through FacebookBest Banner of two week period to be put on front page of DA websitePossibility to create video jornal or blog about the banner’s adventures

54. Social media: Global MembershipI Vote From Abroad15, 30, 60 second video entries

57. An example ofWhat an I Vote From Abroad Video submission could look like

59. social media: blogger initiativeReach out past our own website Post new and original content about our initiatives and the 2010 content searchGet to finding the missing millionsAnd registration of the clueless

60. social media: last + most important goalAdd our social media info to your email signature….Ask your members to add it to their signatures in 2010

61. Our best methods of outreachJoin us @www.democratsabroad.org

62. Engage with us on www.facebook.com/DemsAbroad

63. http://twitter.com/demsabroad

64. Register to Vote