The 2008 Presidential Election was a turning point in the way the internet and Poliical Websites were used for political purposes. The internet and Websites went from a fundraising and email list building tool, to a persuasive targeted messaging system with video integration complimenting a direct call for action. It is clear that political advertisers are far behind commercial advertisers when it comes to adopting online advertising. The underlying issue is they don’t know how to buy online. They also don’t understand the unique targeting capabilities or the technologies, and old habits are hard to change.
In today’s political environment a strategic online campaign presence can make a huge difference in the results of elections. An online campaign used in conjunction with grassroots campaigns and traditional campaign strategies can make the difference between being elected, or not. Technology is growing and changing in spite of, and perhaps because of, the economic downturn we are currently experiencing. During the last “tech bubble” Google was created. Some experts are predicting that Google will be the next Microsoft and Facebook will be the next Google. Technology will continue to impact the way we target and communicate with voters. It is critical to invest in consultants who are knowledgeable and that stay abreast of the latest and greatest ways to communicate with voters. It is virtually guaranteed that during the next campaign cycle the technology and tactics will be different.