Political Campaigns and Technology    by April

in Society / Politics    (submitted 2012-01-30)

Politics and political candidates were once sold door to door. Now, most people will not answer their door. The phone also provided a valuable campaign tool. Today, caller ID on home and cell phones keeps people from answering. Despite this, voters are actually easier to reach using new technologies. With the ever-present nature of the internet, it allows politicians new pathways to get attention. Political campaigns have been forever changed by technology.

Fundraising has changed greatly because of the use of technology. Political fundraising began to change in the 80s when computers became more available. Because voters can donate online, fundraising has changed more dramatically.

Also, political text messages are being sent as campaign marketing. These texts reach younger voters who are reluctant to positively respond to traditional campaign tactics.

The newest standard for political campaigns is the use of viral videos and social networking. Millions of Americans spend numerous hours daily checking social media. The typical American using social media considers it a valid news outlet. The ability to selectively target users on social media makes it a more powerful advertisement source for politicians. Election and campaign news is even appearing on the online outlets for traditional television news sources. Viewers can impact television news covering campaigns through social media interaction.

Campaign volunteer recruiting has also been revolutionized by internet involvement. The impressive communication implications of the internet allow for campaign organizers to instantly gather and organize supporters. Online streaming video has also provided candidates with the ability to make public appearances without actually being present. Campaigns have also changed because of the readily availability of independent partisan and non-partisan blogs and websites. Today's bloggers can actually gain acceptance and importance when it comes to 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. Televised campaign ads are seen as intrusive when viewers simply want to watch a scheduled show. Candidate and campaign information is more appealing when people choose to look at the information. Allowing an internet user to register for email updates or social media feeds ensures that a candidate can stay connected throughout 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. Because the way people interact with the world has changed with the advent of the internet, traditional campaign methods are no longer enough.

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