It has been almost impossible to avoid talk of the EU Referendum over recent weeks. Newspapers have been dominated by sometimes confusing and often misleading articles discussing either side of the “In” and “Out” campaigns.
Traditionally, direct mail has been a key element of past political campaigns. Until very recently, it has been one of the most effective ways of getting information in front of the right people – however, all that printing definitely comes at a price!
We are now in a new technological era. Social media offers a largely free and powerful platform to rustle up some conversation and even gauge current polls.
But how are MPs using social media for the EU Referendum?
On June 23rd, you will decide if Britain is stronger, safer and better off in a reformed EU. My #EUref statement: https://t.co/sK9kAu567p
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) February 20, 2016
I know we harp on about this all the time but this is definitely no exception – content is king.
With a wealth of information at our fingertips, the way in which we, the public, are influenced into buying or in this case, voting, has been significantly changed by the increasingly sophisticated online world.
Social media has allowed us to become more engaged in the process. We can ask questions, create our own polls and debate with others.
With this in mind, visual content is being created and playing a huge part in stirring the pot and getting some conversation going. Whose opinion would you listen to more – an MP or your best friend?
This is where the strengths and weaknesses of each social channel begin to show. With Facebook and Twitter proving dominant in the campaigns so far – it’s interesting to see how each platform is being utilised differently yet dependently.
Labour will campaign to stay in the EU because as a country as a continent & as a human race we face huge challengeshttps://t.co/9iSw6M4r1r
— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) February 22, 2016
Twitter’s strength is and always will be an instant discussion forum.
Due to the format of each platform – Facebook has become the home of the content, with Twitter then giving it context. Videos and infographics are uploaded to Facebook and then referenced on Twitter in live debate and discussion.
In theory, gauging opinions and polls by monitoring trends on social media should prove to be a far more accurate process, removing a large element of social desirability bias. The same goes for most businesses, so it’s important to engage with your audiences and get some conversation going!
No matter your political persuasion, it’s interesting to see how the “best practice” on social media can be universally applicable – whether that’s B2B sales, B2C or political campaigning.
Find Out More
If you would like to learn more about optimising your online marketing efforts, why not come along to one of our training courses? From Social Media Strategy to Content Creation, Facebook and Twitter for business, we have everything you need to get you on the right track. Book your place online or by calling 01202 684 009 to speak with a friendly member of the team.