Social Media and Politics, what’s the deal?

Political campaigns have used social media for a long time. In fact, the U.S. presidential campaign of 1840 used social media in a big way to spread the word about each candidate. And today, social media marketing has become an indispensable part of nearly every political campaigns, voter engagement efforts, and election integrity groups.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran of the political campaign trail or have only recently discovered the power of social media marketing, these four social media marketing strategies can help you succeed.

It’s important to remember that not every strategy will be appropriate for every campaign. However, by exploring the different types of social media platforms, integrating social media into your campaign’s strategy, and understanding common pitfalls to avoid, you can make the most of your social media marketing efforts.

Use Social Media to Build a Strong Digital Network

Social media is all about building a digital network. The more connections you make online, the easier it will be to get your message out to the people you want to hear it. And when it comes to social media networks, Ning is hands-down the king. With excellent tools for managing accounts and posting content, as well as a robust support community, Ning has everything you need to start building a strong online presence.

Another great way to build a strong digital network is to participate in social events. Whether it’s engaging with a live audience during a webinar, hosting an online discussion, or posting on a topic-specific discussion board, social events give you the opportunity to build your network and spread the word about your campaign.

And when it comes to choosing which social media events to participate in, be sure to check out our guide to the best social media events.

Turn Social Media into a Marketing Tool

Social media is a fantastic way to build a large and engaged online community, but it’s not a marketing tool unless you use it that way.

That means taking the time to create engaging content, posting it regularly, and monitoring the online conversation.

Building an online community is important, but building a strong digital network is even more important. Digital networks are powerful marketing and communication tools that can be used to get your content in front of targeted audiences, build relationships with your contacts, and increase brand awareness.

When you use social media to build a digital network. You are tapping into a wealth of knowledge that you can use to inform your marketing strategy. You can leverage this network to do everything from find new supporters to evaluate the viability of prospective voters.

Use Video in Your Social Media Marketing for Political Campaigns

Video is quickly becoming one of the most effective forms of social media marketing for political campaigns. It is able to effectively tell your brand’s story, engage your audience, and build strong relationships with them.

Some of the top social platforms for video include YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, but if you are unfamiliar with which one to choose, check out our guide to the best social media video platforms.

Once you have selected your platform of choice, it’s time to pick a video strategy.

Use the right hashtags

Using the right hashtags is an important part of any social media campaign. In fact, a recent study found that hashtags account for an average of 7-21% of overall social media engagement. The right hashtags can help you expand the reach of your posts and increase their impact. While it is important to use popular hashtags in your niche. It is also crucial to avoid using generic hashtags that could apply to any number of topics.

For example, #trump, #hillary, and #election would all be appropriate and useful hashtags to include in a political campaign. But using them without regard for their specific meaning could result in a lot of unproductive engagement. Including specific hashtags that tie back to your campaign will help you target the right audience and avoid spamming people.

Utilize social sharing tools

A large number of social media users are electing to share content on social media through apps and sites other than Facebook or Twitter. This trend has created its own set of challenges for political campaigns. Voter engagement groups, and election integrity groups working to increase voter turnout. One of the biggest challenges these organizations are facing is providing consistent information and resources to all of their followers.

Keeping all of these audiences properly informed requires a lot of time spent on the computer and mobile device. Which can be difficult to balance with other responsibilities and commitments. One way campaigns are addressing this challenge is by leveraging social sharing tools. These tools provide a way for you to automatically share your posts on popular social media platforms without having to login to each account individually.

While this saves you time, it also allows you to automate one of the most important aspects of social media marketing: engagement.

Respond to What Your Audience Is Talking About

As we’ve discussed, social media and politics go hand in hand. Social media is a powerful way to build a digital network and tap into a community of contacts. However, you must also keep an eye on the conversation happening within your network.

When a hot topic emerges in your community, be ready to respond. In some cases, a simple tweet or comment can start a new conversation among your followers.

Keeping an eye on the conversation happening within your network is key to mastering social media marketing.

Wrapping Up: Social Media and Politics

Social media is an essential part of nearly every political campaign, and it’s easy to see why. Social media provides an excellent opportunity to build a strong digital network. Engage your supporters, and tap into a community of contacts. However, social media is not a marketing tool unless you use it that way. You have to be ready to create engaging content. Monitor the online conversation, and respond to what your audience is talking about.

A great way to begin using social media for your campaign is to explore which platforms are right for you and your audience. Once you have your social media channels organized, it’s time to start posting. The key to social media marketing is consistency. So stick to your schedule and don’t be afraid to mix it up with some low-stakes fun too! To avoid falling into these traps. You must carefully consider the different social media marketing strategies discussed here. And choose the ones that are right for your campaign.

With the right strategy and application – social media and politics can be just the combination your campaign needs to win.