The Limitations of Web Campaigning

This is a good article about the limitations of the web as a campaign tool.

"Just because a campaign is Web-savvy, it isn't going to push them over the edge," said Giovanni Gallucci, a Dallas-based social media expert and new-media consultant. "You hear a lot of hoopla about fundraising doing so much on the Web, and yet look at Ron Paul."

I think what's interesting about that comment is that it rubs both ways: You can make an argument that without the Internet, Ron Paul would never have been the phenomenon he was this election. You can also make the argument that it never mattered, as the Internet was never going to overcome the difficulty in mass marketing Paul's unique approach to politics.

But if you look at the Obama campaign, you can make an argument that their Web campaigning did, in fact, push them over the edge.

Here's the link.

Impact Politics Wins Two AAPC Pollie Awards

South Florida firm receives national awards for work with Congressman Wexler and the Broward Democratic Party

(Santa Monica, CA) Impact Politics, LLC, an emerging South Florida political consulting firm, was awarded two "Pollies" by the bipartisan American Association of Political Consultants at their annual gala in Santa Monica, California. The Pollies are the nation's most prestigious award for political work.

The firm was awarded one of the three Pollies given to the Best Internet Campaign (for its work on Congressman Wexler's campaign advocating Cheney Impeachment Hearings at www.WexlerWantsHearings.com). The company also received one of the two Pollies awarded for Best Local Organization Website (for the Broward Democratic Party website - www.browarddems.com). Pollies are given based on factors including creativity and campaign/ad effectiveness.

"To be recognized by the AAPC - which is comprised of some of the best in the field - is an great honor. We're thankful to the AAPC and to our clients, who have been very proactive and willing to try strategies that have proven successful in the corporate world, but are still relatively new to political campaigns," said Brian Franklin, Impact Politics' founder.

Recent clients that have used (or are using) Impact Politics for communications strategy, advertising, or New Media consulting include Congressman Robert Wexler, the Broward Democratic Party, State Senator Dave Aronberg, State Senator Ted Deutch, State Senator Nan Rich, Chris Chiari (candidate for State House District 91), the National Federation of Public and Private Employees, and others outside of Florida. Earlier in the year, the Chiari campaign site (www.chiari08.com) was awarded Best Candidate Website by the Florida Netroots Caucus.

Franklin started the firm last year after ten years as a marketing consultant, creative director, and copywriter to dozens of advertising agencies, corporations, and non profits.

Mitch Ceasar, Chairman of the Broward County Democratic Party stated, "Any successful campaign by a candidate or party must utilize the Internet and New Media. It is now a political necessity."

New Website for Congressman Robert Wexler

Hi all - we just launched the new site and online campaign for Congressman Robert Wexler. Please check it out, watch the videos, and sign up!

http://www.wexlerforcongress.com/

Best Website Award: www.christianchiari.com

Recently, the Chris Chiari campaign site we put together received the "Best Candidate Website" award from the Florida Netroots Caucus. Thank you to all who voted and to the leadership of the Caucus for making it a fun event.

For the full list of winners, go to:
Florida Progressive Coalition Main / 2007NetrootsAwards browse


Just in case: Political advertisement paid for and approved by Christian Chiari, Democrat for State House District 91.

Sci-Tech Today | ABC News Reaches Out to Facebook Users

This is an interesting article because it highlights the increasing collaboration between "old media" broadcasters and "new media" social networking sites - and how political organizations might benefit. One concern not voiced in the article is whether these add ons and collaborations will be seen as intrusions by the users - who, in Facebook's case - tend to cherish its simplicity/ease of use.

The most visible evidence of the new partnership is on Facebook itself, where ABC News and Facebook have collaborated on their own profile page entitled "US Politics." At the top of the profile page is a button for a "US Politics" application that adds a new section to the individual profile page of Facebook users.

The new section allows Facebook users to "browse politicians" that they support, as long as the politicians have set up a Facebook page. The entry for Hillary Clinton, for instance, lists 53,000 supporters on Facebook, while Barack Obama's page lists more than 164,000.

The "US Politics" section enables users to list the debates in which they've participated. The current question asks "What should the federal government do about same-sex couples that want to be married?"

To promote interest in the new partnership, ABC News and Facebook will jointly sponsor debates among the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates on January 5, just three days before voters cast their ballots in the opening primary.
Impact on Campaigns.

Read the whole thing at:
Sci-Tech Today ABC News Reaches Out to Facebook Users

''Citizen 2.0'' Will Impact 2008 Election, According to New Study From Yahoo!, HCD Research, and Hall and Partners

''Citizen 2.0'' Will Impact 2008 Election, According to New Study From Yahoo!, HCD Research, and Hall and Partners

“More candidates are using the Internet to reach voters, but overall, politicians are spending a tiny portion of their budgets online, just as most corporations were doing several years ago,” said Richard Kosinski, vice president of political advertising for Yahoo!. “We don’t think the 2008 election will turn on which candidate has the best blog or wiki. But we are saying that many campaigns are missing the important opportunity to tap into the great enthusiasm that Citizen 2.0 brings to the political process – and it’s easier than ever to do given the innovations in technology, the rise of social media, and the advancements in online advertising.”

...In identifying behaviors and characteristics of Citizen 2.0, the new research highlights the unique opportunity for candidates to help feed these voters’ insatiable appetite for political information from a variety of sources. Citizen 2.0 likes connecting, sharing opinions, and discussing political views, and is more likely to volunteer time and contribute money to a candidate. Researchers also found that these voters rely on the Internet as their most trusted, and frequently used resource for gathering information, and communicating about politics:

- 87 percent use news Web sites to gather information and learn about politics
- 82 percent use search engines
- 56 percent use candidate Web sites
- 51 percent use blogs and politically-based Web sites
- 40 percent use online political groups"

Good article on Google Adwords

One of the strategies that has worked well for many businesses, including mine, is the use of Google Adwords advertising. Yet, for the most part, politicians have been slow to adopt it. Hopefully that will change soon.

Here is a good article in Newsweek regarding those that are using it successfully. Peter Greenberger from Google, by the way, is a very smart guy and a good resource for those of us in the space.

If you have questions about how to employ Google Adwords strategies into your campaigns, please contact me.

New site for Dave Aronberg is up

Dave Aronberg Website

(Political advertisement paid for and approved by Dave Aronberg, Democrat for State Senate, District 27.)

New Site for the Broward Democratic Party

We went live a few nights ago with the new Broward Democratic Party website. For the full press release, click HERE.

Campaigns Embrace Use of Text Messaging

WSJ Article Here.

I think every candidate in the state should be collecting opt-ins for Text Messaging. While they may or may not use it this cycle, it may also wind up being a great tool in the last weeks of an election, when we really need people in a certain place. Also, particularly for the Young Democrats, it would be a great way to send out meeting reminders.