5 social media tips for Labour and the Conservatives

By , January 14 2010, 10:58 am 3 Comments

Mmonkey First internet election?  Amen.  [Steps onto soapbox] 

People of Britain, demand transparency and make your voices heard – you’ve never had a better opportunity.  Ask the tough questions, demand honest answers.  We vote them in, we vote them out.  It’s up to us now.

Here’s the 5 bits of advice:

- Use the tools that are there and you will see shifts. 

- Transparency is key.  Use real words and lose the spin – your voters do.

- Mudslinging will not be tolerated.  Real-time is your enemy and best friend sadly.

- You have the ultimate case study to learn from (Obama in case anyone is unclear).  Anything less than stellar use is laziness (and a travesty).  

- Build your networks before you need them (that means now).


Disclaimer / lawyer fodder:  All view expressed are my own and not necessarily of either my employer, PR Week, family, hamster or Geri Halliwell.  


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  • http://reputationreputationreputation.blogspot.com/ Jonathan Welsh

    Point number three is the one most current ‘digital’ MPs fail to address. I’ve blogged on the cringe worthy tit for tat tweets of two prominent female Lab and Tory MPs (you know who they are!) and they are considered leaders in the field…let’s have more policy and less mudslinging please.

  • http://www.twitter.com/munkyfonkey Paul Armstrong

    Don’t get me wrong. I am ALL for mudslinging at the correct time and place. Namely monkey cages and playgrounds NOT this House of Commons or campaign trails. Has social media made us expect more or just put up with less? OR am I just a miserable over-expecting millennial?!!

  • http://www.twitter.com/ejcallow Ed Callow

    Jonathan – I agree.
    Although part of the problem I find is that these MPs’ ‘activist networks’ on Twitter et al are actually made up of people who seem to make a living from (or maybe that should be “despite”) their mudslinging capabilities.
    I have seen the most ridiculous bickering between Labour and Tory activists on Twitter, and none of it makes either side look better in my opinion.
    I would like to see an MP speak out and say “Not in my name. Grow up, read up, and let’s start having a proper conversation about the issues.”
    Or maybe I’ve been watching too much of The West Wing lately…