7th Way Ohio Political Candidates Can ROCK Their Social Media

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In early 2011, I asked the question, “Do Ohio Elected Officials Kick Social Media Butt?”  I extended an open invitation to all Ohio political candidates on the ballot for the November 2011 election - and again for the May Primary - to submit a guest post to help citizens become aware of their platform.  That original post inspired a series of informational posts.  This is the seventh in the series on how Ohio Political Candidates can ROCK Their Social Media.

For those finding this post first, here are the first six ways:

• Your Blog is Your Social Media HQ.
• Groovy Graphics, Baby!
• Your Essential Social Networks.
• It’s Not Broadcasting!
• Draft to Win.
• Challenge the Electile Dysfunction.

So, what’s the 7th way Ohio political candidates can ROCK their social media?

A) Enlist & empower social media-ites.

That would include:

• A social media consultant.
• People in your circle seasoned and active on social networks.

At least have a chat with a social media consultant. This person can help direct you to the social networks most beneficial to your social media campaign and other online efforts.  That includes channels of advertising.

A social media consultant can also make recommendations on how volunteers can be helping you reach your constituents through social media.

If they are community-minded the social media consultant may be willing to donate some of their time -- Potentially to train your volunteers.  Keep in mind your social media consultant is a professional...just like you.

Being active on social media means having a presence on more than one social network.  Typically, this person will have more than a handful of connections, and not have a lot of questions on the functions of interacting with others online.

These folks are great assets because they already enjoy social media and can help spread your message to your constituents.  Individuals in this category understand the value of email marketing platforms and can easily navigate online to most relevant information.

Note: Social media has made today's audience digitally savvy.  They like eye candy! In fact, they've come to expect it - Especially those 40 and younger.  If any part of your digital plan includes physically cutting paper with scissors, and glueing things together on a master sheet to scan and email in a file attachment, you have not enlisted the proper candidates from the two groups listed above.  Grab your digital Geritol and keep searching!

B) Read this article.

Do it.  Here's the direct link:

(Get your reading glasses back out - I'll wait).

Done?  Whattaya think??

I'm going to add a few thoughts.  Only a few -- because I really want you to read that online article.

An article quote:

"You have to take your message to the places where people are consuming content and spending their time," said Romney's online director, Zac Moffatt. "We have to recognize that people have choices and you have to reach them where they are, and on their terms."

Woohooo, Zac Moffatt! Thank you for reinforcing the point so many social media consultants have been trying to get society leadership to latch onto for too long!!

(He forgot to add that social media results are trackable so you can gauge success of expenditures, but that's okay).  :)

A statement overheard from a Republican leader:

"I don't believe in Facebook."

Really?? I laughed for at least a day over that one.  While formulating this bold conclusion:

That person will believe themselves into irrelevancy.

Here's the infographic to prove it:

Surprised?

Well, grab your mobile phone and keep up -- The current number of active Facebook users is now probably around 650 Million...some say higher.  And I'm willing to bet that the 28% that check their Facebook from their smart phone before getting out of bed is closer to 35% by next year!

The complete Infographic from Online Schools is worth a look too - don't miss it.

Back to our Republican leader friend above......

Shhhh: What he's really saying is that he's afraid of social media because he doesn't know all the answers.  Which is okay, because no one does!

I'm willing to be proven wrong, but I'll bet that even The Pope has some social networking presence.  (We'll find out objectively - I posted a question to Quora just this morning).

Brass Taxes:

President Obama won his 2008 campaign with the social media edge.  He did.

This series of articles has brought questions from Ohio political candidates my way, and I've been offering this statement:

"Social media becomes about social influence.  And social influence accrues like interest in a bank - It's an investment in the future."

Questions:

If President Obama engaged his following in 2008, and has kept them engaged all this time, what do you imagine his social influence is?  How much interest has he accrued??

Already those campaigning for seats in 2012 are realizing the value and engaging in social media.  What does that tell you?

Conclusion:

We can continue to be afraid, or we can jump in and engage the constituents that can still be swayed.

Your social media consultant can help you strap on your social media guitar...and ROCK it!!

Your Takeaway:

Enlist.  Empower.  Engage.

Now.

Any questions?

Please put them in the comment box below: