Politics aside, someone in Barack Obama’s campaign clearly understands viral marketing, social media, and the “groundswell.” And his campaign has just figured out a way to reach an audience and communicate a message to that I think McCain clearly doesn’t understand or underestimates.
This is brilliant.
Obama Plans Novel VP Announcement TXT
Four years ago, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) announced his vice presidential nominee, then Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), at a morning rally in Pittsburgh.
How times change.
Last night, in a cell phone text message that was quickly followed by an e-mail linking back to a new page on his Web site — my.barackobama.com/vp — aides to Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) campaign wrote: “Barack will announce his VP candidate choice through txt message between now & the Conv. Tell everyone to text VP to 62262 to be the first to know! Please forward.”
Note three things: the casual reference to the candidate (“Barack”); the call to “forward” the text (to friends, relatives, etc.); the perceived personal appeal of being “the first to know”; and the timing — the text was sent two weeks before the Democratic National Convention kicks off. That gives plenty of time for the text to be passed around.
It also gives the Obama campaign one more way to differentiate itself technologically from its Republican opponent; Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) doesn’t have a text messaging program.
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Wow, genius!! Times sure have changed. obama is definitely bouncing off the negative campaign ads that peg him as “too” new age by turning his young mind into a positive. we are a generation of technology and new media — and i’m glad he’s embracing that. Do you think the mccain campaign will come up with something to rival it?
Are you going to sign up? My only concern is that it’s going to spam me before and after the nomination text — i wonder how his campaign could best convince america that they’re not going to flood voters inboxes…?
Awesome! This is a really great idea, I wonder if they’re paying for this service? How much is it worth to them? That’s the question – ROI, cost/benefit.
And how does one measure the benefit?
Jenn:
I figure it beats you texting during my sermons…haaa. j/k
I think it’s a smart idea. Creates a whose in/whose out sort of mentality…and those who have the info. will be excited to share with those who don’t, creating quite a buzz I think that McCain can’t generate.
rhett
He does do that well, his campaign had been following me on Twitter for awhile. I’m not even sure John McCain has Twitter.
John McCain’s still a little old school for this I think.
I’m not so sure if this will be effective though. Ultimately it will come down to policies who the American people think is ready to lead.
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