On Political Campaign

By Cesar Rutske


Once upon a time, a political campaign worker could knock on a person's door to discuss their candidate. Today, this is blocked by signs deterring solicitation. Another option was calling prospective voters. Now caller ID warns people not to answer. However, technology has also brought new ways of connecting to voters. With the ever-present nature of the internet, it allows politicians new pathways to get attention. It has revolutionized political campaigns

Unlike most national and state-wide campaigns, local political campaigns are less about posturing and putting on performances, but are focused more on interacting and communicating directly with those who are to vote and become your constituents. The most important thing you can do is to let your potential constituents know you are one of them, that you understand what they are going through, which you can do by going to county fairs, sporting events, church functions, and anywhere else masses of people get together. When you do things like visit your neighbors, door by door, or make personal phone calls, you reinforce the idea that you are a part of the community, that you are experiencing some of the same situations and share many of the same values as them. It will be to your advantage if people see you not so much as a politician, but, rather, as a neighbor or friend in whom they can trust and count on to help make their lives better.

Also, political text messages are being sent as campaign marketing. Texts are seen as an ideal method to connect with the youth vote.

Videos that go viral and well placed social networking is the new standard for campaigns. Millions of Americans spend numerous hours daily checking social media. Many social media users now believe their feeds to be news sources. A benefit of social media over more traditional advertising is that it can be targeted much more efficiently. Traditional television news sources are also covering campaigns more thoroughly online. The news channels frequently rely on social networking media to interact with their viewers about specific politicians and issues.

Campaign volunteer recruiting has also been revolutionized by internet involvement. Supporters around the nation can be contacted and organized in a moment with the help of the internet. Hopeful politicians can use the internet's streaming video technology to reach many voters who cannot make public appearances. Independent blogs and websites also have an impressive impact on political campaigns. While these sites were once scorned as inconsequential, they are now considered as actual campaign coverage. There are even how-to articles available for politicians and the politically inclined covering how to use blog hosting sites to create politically centered blogs.

The internet is a vital campaign asset because it is actively being used by the audience instead of passively. Where as people actively choose to find internet material on a candidate, they frequently feel assaulted by the information when it is presented in TV and radio format. Catching internet audiences allows for more active searching for candidate and campaign information. Connecting with an internet user via mailing list or social media feed allows them to stay connected for the duration of the campaign. No other media allows for this sort of connection.

A bright politician understand that it is imperative to utilize social media and technology to be successful in a campaign. Today's voters do not interact with the world the way they once did; this includes getting information on their prospective politicians.




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