A Twitter of the people, by the people, for the people…
Alas, politics is a much-altered game to that played by Abraham Lincoln.
Some rules remain. The road to party rule still relies on a manifesto that is relevant (of the people), borne out of meaningful contact with voters (by the people) and that will make a difference (for the people).
Others have changed. PR is now as powerful as policy on the campaign trail and political careers live or die by the effectiveness of communications strategies.
In an aim to stay relevant and to connect with individuals who have the potential to influence others, politicians have turned to Twitter.
Barack Obama has revealed that Twitter will feature as a significant part of his 2012 re-election campaign. He’ll even personally send some of the tweets, signing off with his initials “-BO” to distinguish them from those of his Obama for America Staff team.
No newcomer to social media, Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign is credited with being the first campaign to truly leverage the power of the web. Facebook, YouTube, blogs and discussion boards were cornerstones of the Obama campaign and using perceived modern mediums didn’t hurt Obama’s public perception as the young, in-touch candidate that would guide America into a brave new world, technologically if nowhere else.
But, using Twitter as an online soap box comes with a stark health warning for politicians. Twitter’s proposition is viral communication. Done right, and your message is disseminated again and again to like-minded individuals and constructive debate ensues. Done wrong, and there’s nowhere to hide your mistakes.
For more on ‘How Not to Use Twitter in Politics’ see Forbes’ article on Ed Miliband’s recent casualty of a Twitter campaign at forbes.com
Politicians should proceed with caution when it comes to social media. But proceed they must as another Lincoln soundbite resonates: “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
Liquid Graphic, doing right for its clients on Twitter.
Five reasons to get besotted with blogs
Blogs and marketers are good friends. At Liquid Graphic, we’re often asked to explain why blogs are such an important online marketing tool. Here’s why:
1. SEO
In order of importance, search engine optimisation (SEO) is the reason blogs are so valuable. Search engines look for informed, relevant and varying content and – where they find it – they reward it by moving it up the rankings. Blogs are the best and most cost-effective way to achieve the search engines’ criteria.
2. An authoritative voice
Blogs give you the opportunity to communicate the full features and benefits of your product, brand or service. You have the stage to write from the point of view as the expert, to commentate on your market and to provide context to market changes.
3. Re-release that press release
Blogs crave fresh content but this content doesn’t have to be unique to your brand, it can go straight ‘through the line’. Get more ROI (return on investment) from press releases, above the line advertising and below the line promotions by posting blogs about them.
4. Direct dialogue…
…with your clients or end-consumers. Whether you’re B2B or B2C, blogs are a simple and effective way to create a meaningful dialogue with your target audience.
5. Value for money
For those akin to crude boardroom banter, blogs provide “more bang for your buck”. Blogs yield impressive results within SEO and can help you build a relationship with your customer, all at a comparatively low cost within your marketing budget.
Blogs, keep them interesting, keep them regular, keep them informed…and laugh your way up the search engine rankings.
To talk to us about what’s involved in setting up and running a blog site as part of your online marketing strategy or SEO strategy, contact Liquid Graphic today.
What the blog?!?
Still finding yourself musing what all the fuss is about blogging? You’re not alone.
These days it’s difficult to get through the day without some reference to a blog. Blogs have snuck into our lives and infiltrated our media consumption and our interpretation of events going on around us.
Case and point: Mumsnet. When the site was first designed, I bet the architects had no idea what a powerful and influential forum it would become. So much so, that a recent post on the site stole news headlines and dominated Prime Minister’s question time. Blogs therefore have the potential to empower the author, and to be employed as political weaponry.
Away from politics, blogs are the new superhero in the world of SEO. Google, Bing and other leading search engines constantly scan for regular content updates, often relegating sites in their rankings if content is stagnant.
Whereas Liquid Graphic used to solely focus on graphic design, website design and the like, more and more Liquid clients have realised the benefits of building a blog site that achieves the regular content updates the search engines crave, without the expense of constant website updates.
Blogs eh….not such a silly idea after all.
Click here to check out the new ECCO shoes blog site designed by Liquid Graphic and launched this week.
