As we get closer to the presidential election, social media is playing a huge role in the process this year. I remember back when George W. Bush was running for president and there was a row of bloggers at the convention. I had no idea what a blogger was! Oh, how times have changed.
Blogs and social media have come light years ahead since
then. Obama crashed Reddit with his impromptu AMA (ask me anything) interview
with the world. He also made a big splash on Google+ with a hangout where
regular citizens had the opportunity to have online face time with our
commander in chief. (The video is still available for viewing.) Obama is all over social media proving
to his supporters that he is hip and computer savvy.
Mitt Romney is no slouch himself when it comes to social
media. He’s all over Twitter with many tweets daily about his campaign. Romney
also has 6.5 million Facebook followers, and that is no small feat. He, like
many other politicians, is trying to attract voters via social sites.
National candidates are not the only ones taking advantage
of this method of promotion. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Local candidates all over the
country are making promises, badmouthing their opponents and promoting their
fundraising events on every social site they can find.
The power of this promotional tool called social media is
growing and changing daily. The best part of social media is allowing public figures to connect
with as many individuals as possible, give opportunities to followers that were
never available in past elections. Fans, supporters and opponents all feel a closer personal connection when they can respond to the candidate. Back in the day, it was a big deal when Bill
Clinton showed his human side and went on late night television playing his
saxophone. Now, it’s Google+ hangouts, Twitter Q&As, You Tube messages and
so much more.
Everyone who has a business should take a lesson from the
politicians. Check out what they are doing on social media. You should be doing
the same things to reach as many people as possible. Take your message to the
people and grow your business.
