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Have you ever stopped to consider how you use the internet? (Guest post by @AndyKinsey from 'Labour Online')
The internet is a source of vast swathes of information and data, from the BBC News website to social media like Facebook and Twitter.
In 2008, Barack Obama used this mass of information to help him win his presidential election campaign. He used social media and engineer his victory by taking advantage of big data. He looked at everything from location to interests and beyond, together he gained a profile of individuals, groups and localities, this enabled him to campaign both from the grass roots and from afar.
Since his victory, the Labour Party has began making moves towards becoming more “connected” but we feel this hasn’t gone far enough. Yes, we’ve got the amazing work of Movement 4 Change for ground campaigns, but what about tackling grass roots online?
In the Pew internet study during his the election campaign in over 18% of USA internet users talked about Obama’s campaign, over 45% of these watched at least one of his YouTube videos and a huge 83% of these survey participants of those were aged 18 to 24 and 60% of this age group took part in Obamas social media campaign.
These are staggering figures – let’s put them into today world. There are now more users than ever online in the UK, there are now more users than ever using and interacting with social media. However you look at it, most of those users will be aged 18 to 35 in the UK. Further than this, many users of social media are under voting age, but can still take part in your social media campaign.
So with this information in mind, what can we do as a party to Get Online and Get Back to Power?
1. We start today building social media profiles.?Every member of the party, every party area, every cllr and mp needs an account on twitter AND facebook.
2. Build websites that look good and have great content?Websites can be used to pass information around, blog about news and more importantly collect information about constituents (as well as keep them updated)
3. Plan for the next elections?Yes plural! Today is the time to start looking at the big data we already have and how we can best use that to our advantage in campaigns.
If we, the Labour Party, can pull together we can move past our defeat in 2010 and learn from the lessons of a great campaign of Barack Obama. We can utilise everything we know from contact creator and social media, we can collect information today for use tomorrow and we can win forthcoming elections.
Today, we must start building, because if we don’t they will and we must be at the forefront of technology if we want to win the next elections.
About the Author:
Andy Kinsey is the founder of Labour Online an initiative to ‘Get Labour Online’ with great web design and social media campaigns.
Twitter: @AndyKinsey
Links of interest:
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/6–The-Internets-Role-in-Campaign-2008.aspx
Blog recommendations for http://shibleyrahman.com
Although the blog is left-leaning, I enjoy reading it, because it gives a fair and balanced perspective, which isn’t the case with many aligned blogs.
Walaa Idris, popular Conservative Blogger, speaker and political activist
http://www.walaaidris.com/blog/
Dr Shibley Rahman’s blog and website are one that I read on a daily basis. His non-partisan and open-minded thinking appeal to the less tribal of political followers, and always make for thoughtful discussion.
Spidey, popular Liberal Democrat Blogger, political activist and Executive Committee memner for West Woking Liberal Democrats.
http://www.spiderplantland.co.uk/
I can’t recommend his website highly enough. Dr Shibley Rahman brings a dazzling intellect to political debate. If you want knee-jerk, tribal reactions, go elsewhere! Shibley’s opinions are always balanced, never clouded and definitely worth reading.
Sue Marsh, the ‘Diary of a Benefit Scrounger’ blog
http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com
Razor-sharp thinking and the only Labour blog I read – Shibley’s a gem among rocks!
(Also @LiamRhodes, popular Conservatives tweeter)
Liam Rhodes, popular Conservative Blogger, CoAmber Valley Conservatives
http://www.onenationtory.com/
The site is great and the content even better. Shibley does a great job and this site is a testament to his hard work!
Andy Kinsey, Creative Director, Andy Kinsey Designs
(Also @andykinsey, popular Labour tweeter)
http://www.andykinsey.me/
In moments of lucidity, Shibley Rahman breaks through barriers of subjects normally considered taboo such as dementia, alcoholism and a unique but welcome brand of Labour party politics…worthy of your bookmark.
“Rightly Wry, Satirically RIGHT” Conservative Blogger
(Also @Parlez_me_nTory, popular Conservatives tweeter)
http://www.wicksie.com/
Shibley’s blog is excellent, providing interesting insightful opinions and some alternative views, a good read.
Jimmy Chen, Ethnic Minorities Officer in Colchester CLP
I very much like the blog exactly as it is. I find it immensely readable, and altho’ we’re both ‘Lefties’, I enjoy your sometimes alternative slant on the movement. Gives me food for thought!
@yorkierose, popular Labour tweeter