A social media analysis of the DNC and RNC Conventions: Who would I vote for?
As the Olympics come to a close we are on the threshold of two vital events in the election of our next President -- the national conventions of the Democratic and Republican parties.
In just four days, the DNC Convention opens up with much pomp and circumstance in Colorado at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Here's their logo, which I was able to download from their website:
In preparation for my convention watching I decided to take a pre-look at the two sites to find out how I can stay connected with social media.
One has a page that shows all the different ways you can connect (with links) including: Blogging, Ustream.tv, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn and Digg. I can get banners for my website, and wallpaper for my computer. On the site I can sign up to to be a "digital delegate" and get updates via email so I'm "in the know". I can subscribe to the blog, news releases, general news of note, videos and convention updates with RSS. It's easy to navigate and follow and quite usable overall.
The other site has a blog that I can subscribe to and is using YouTube (actually had a contest using YouTube), and FlickR. I can sign up for an email newsletter. And well...that's it. As far as I can tell with a quick visit -- the amount of time a normal person would take to nose around a site like this to find things. It's a little challenging to navigate, the type is really small (I know...I'm old) and I'm not sure I have found everything that is available.
So which do I think is the better social media site?
Well as of right now, the RNC gets my vote. They have all the links to the different sites. The site is easy to navigate and they are providing me with many different ways to connect. The RSS feeds from the media page are particularly nice as is the banner code which I can add to my site. I really like the "Digital Delegate" feature. I know it's not much more than an email alert system, but the name and the focus on being part of the convention even if you can't be there is sweet.
The DNC has the FlickR thing going on, but they aren't linking me out to much of anything and aren't using any social presence (like Twitter or Plurk) to keep me up to date. Odd coming from the party of the candidate who plans on alerting us to the VP nomination via email. Hmmm....however, the YouTube contest was very good and the winner was picked well -- betcha a lot of people will want HIS contact info (grin). (note, on the home page the contest is still going on...but on the blog they have announced the winner.)
Ok...I like this video so much I'm gonna embed it here:
Both the DNC and RNC have focused a great deal more on Bloggers -- what a difference four years make, eh? Now there are "Blogger Credentialing" processes and at the RNC there is even a distinction between Bloggers affiliated with Traditional Media Outlets and Independent Bloggers.
So what more could they all do?
Start by setting up a formal Twitter Stream such as #RNC08 or #DNC08 and get people to know it is there and to use it as they watch. Point them to Twitter search so they can follow the tweets as they come in. Make sure that there are some big names that are using twitter.
Point me to the bloggers. Who is blogging? Give me a synopsis so I can find them easily and tell me why you selected them. Make it easy for me to read and more importantly connect with them. Give me information on the main blog that I can't get on TV or anywhere else. Right now you are unveiling images of the locations and concentrating on videos from supporters. Give me some behind the scenes -- tell me whats coming up, who is talking to who, and post exclusive entries from the "stars" like our own Sen. Pat Leahy!
For video compress the speeches into highlight reels that get dumped to YouTube quickly, and then highlight them on your site and your RSS so I can see the synopsis and highlights. Remember I'm busy and I'm going to check things out throughout the day. I might not be able to watch the Prime Time. Give me some preview sneak peaks at the main candidate speeches as they practice -- that would be fun for sure.
Broadcast your twitter stream at the bottom of the big screen that everyone watches...now that would be fun!
Overall...take some risks. Remember you'll go off script a little (maybe a lot) with social media, but the rewards for engagement of voters who use a mix of traditional and non-traditional media may net big payoffs come November.
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