I gave a speech today as part of a panel on "new" media in politics to a large group of global communicators who work for Fleishman Hillard. I was invited to speak by my good friend Pat Cleary who is helping blaze new trails in the pro-business blogosphere.
My discussion covers the Three M's of Modern Media: Medium, Message, and Money. You can view it here via YouTube:
While reading over old posts, I noticed that much of the time we're repeating similar themes or points. Since many of us are evangelists, here are some topics that frequently come up.
1. The web will never replace traditional campaigns. It shouldn’t take over other functions. The web works best when it facilitates and enhances a campaign’s ability to reach voters.
2. Small donors matter. Remember the long tail.
3. Young people vote. Eliminate the expression, “Youth don’t vote†from your vocabulary and realize that the best place to reach them is the web.
4. It takes more than writing a blog or starting a Facebook group to build an online community.
5. The web is about creating a conversation or dialog not issuing marching orders.
6. There isn’t one formula for creating a successful web campaign. Each campaign or organization needs to find the right mix based on its goals and research.
7. The web doesn’t cost much, but it does require an investment of staff or volunteer time.
8. Transparency is crucial.
9. Remember to reach out to bloggers. Blogger relations are just as important as media relations.
10. Modern media shouldn’t be done in a vacuum. Integrate the web with other departments.
Anyone notice any other points that are worth repeating?
Patrick nailed it when he wrote earlier in this space, "...this is the summer it started to happen."
It is happening. I can feel it. I've heard it from the 150+ conservatives who attended the inaugural Modern Media Strategies Workshop. I see it in the growth statistics of TechRepublican. We see it with the emerging competition to be the counter to ActBlue.
The it we speak of is our Revolution. The Revolution of conservative politics.
The fact of the matter is that this is the summer when modern conservatives and Republicans decided to quit bitching, and decided to "act like a Web 2.0 operation," and simply do something about it. You and I are grabbing the bull by the horns and we're digging in.
And it's happening all over the nation. I receive countless emails and facebook messages from people who tell me that they're taking what they've learned and are evangelizing to their peers, friends, bosses, and elected officials. They're listening to you.
While Republicans and conservatives are starting to turn the corner online, we can't rest now. The fight is just beginning. We need to continue to push onward to win the battle every single day. We need to continue to work together and promote the projects that are making a difference.
The moment we let up or lose an outpost in the Revolution, the battle could be lost.
Take for example the guys over at the Majority Accountability Project (a DAG client). They've been fighting tooth-and-nail to hold the Democratic Majority accountable for their actions. And now the liberals at DailyKos are looking to "expose" them (whatever that means).
The ironic thing about the DailyKos attack is that they didn't even do cursory homework on the MajorityAP before they attacked (like a simple Google search). For example, in the MajorityAP vlog, the project was already "exposed" for what it is. But, no mention of that in the Kos post.
The guys over at the MajorityAP know that the work they're doing is critical to helping level-the-playing field, but it's tough to keep the lights on at a project like MajorityAP when so few understand the dire importance of the project and are willing to financially support it. They risk closing down if the tide doesn't turn.
So if you agree with me that the MajorityAP is a valuable outpost in the Revolution, you should send them a contribution today. Every single penny will help keep their operation running.
Think. Listen. Understand. Participate. Share. Act.
We're in this thing together. Whether they like it or not, we're in it - and we're in it to win it.
Revolution.
When David, Rob, Soren, and I started kicking around an idea for an online training for conservatives, we maybe expected 50 people would show up to an all-day event in a sleepy August in D.C. when the city practically shuts down.
In light of that, the turnout at Heritage today rocked. More than 150 young conservatives showed up, many from out of town, ready to take the fight directly to the left.
More than anything, it was a great meeting of the minds, and my head is just awash in new ideas from all comers. It was also amazed me to see how many people are really following TechRepublican and instinctively buy in to the narrative about technology and the future of the party that we are building collectively. And that's not just online professionals. These are the people who will be running the campaigns and major nonprofits 5, 10, 15 years down the line.
With the success of the Save the Debate coalition, the emerging competition to ActBlue, and real efforts to churn out more online operatives kicking into high gear, I think we'll look back and say that this is the summer it started to happen.
My panel was about the boring, stodgy topic of email campaigns and how to build a mass movement on the Internet. It's something I don't thing gets enough attention with the current laser-like focus on social media (which is definitely emerging). I co-presented with my friend and former colleague Mindy Finn of Romney for President, who followed up with a case study of the campaign's enormously successful Sign Up America! campaign.
My slideshow is below. Consider this a teaser. You'll need to hear me speak for it actually make sense -- or so I hope!
