Cross-posted from e.politics
Originally posted on November 3, 2011
Do recent changes to Google and Facebook affect political and marketing communicators? Potentially a lot, so let’s take the sites in turn. First Google, which announced today that it’s making major changes to its search algorithms to update its main search index more frequently. Also, results pages for many queries will feature more recent content (including breaking news) over information that might have grown stale.
Overall, this change in emphasis is potentially really useful for users, particularly if Google can follow through on the idea of separating searches for evergreen content (“learning from Obama online campaign PDF“) from those for ephemeral content and recent news (“Herman Cain harassment suit“). One implication for political communicators: this emphasis on the new and the now gives us even more reason to jump on news stories quickly, since Google’s main search function should have a better chance of highlighting relevant recent content. Crank up those blogs and rapid response machines, kids: catch a news wave, and your words might spread far and wide. (more…)
Posted by: Guest Contributor
By Iverson Gandy
Cross-posted from the Adfero Group blog
With the quick popularity of Google+ (G+), many social media gurus are proclaiming the slow but sure downfall of Facebook. To that, I say one thing: not going to happen. Here’s why:
1. Too little, too late
In a very rare and embarrassing moment (and for what feels like the first time), Google made a really big deal about a really bad product. Google Buzz was a complete failure on multiple fronts. From privacy lawsuits to simply bad aesthetics, Google’s seemingly invincible persona suffered a breach in its armor with a subpar product that was clearly a reactive idea in contrast to their usual forward-thinking, proactive approach – and people noticed. The best team in the league showed a weakness, other teams capitalized on it, and now they’re playing catch up, with Facebook remaining the “face” (pun intended) and authority on social networking. (more…)
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
New Rules for Online Politics Could Be On the Horizon (TechPresident)
Google, Facebook, and Twitter are gearing up to capitalize on ad revenues from political campaigns in 2012; however, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) may put some rules in place to regulate political ads on the internet.
Single Voice Sinks Coast Guard’s Rule (Roll Call)
The Coast Guard recently reversed a rule on life jacket use solely because of a letter it received from a concerned citizen (who, incidentally, is not a lobbyist.)
Posted by: Guest Contributor
by Patrick Hynes
Cross-posted from The Daily Caller
Despite the successful and headline-grabbing launch of Google+, only 13 members of the U.S. Senate and 15 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have established profiles on the new social networking site, far fewer than the number from each chamber who are active on Facebook and Twitter.
Google+ launched in July to much fanfare and within three weeks had attracted 20 million users in the U.S. Some technology pundits have labeled it a “Facebook killer.”
Congress’s slow adoption of Google+ comes as a surprise because the new social networking platform contains at least one unique function the others do not: It allows users to segregate relationships into “Circles,” meaning members of Congress can isolate constituents from other followers. Heavy social networking “spam” from non-constituents is a significant frustration for members and their social media staffs.
“Just the other day, someone posted on our Facebook wall that she wished my boss was her senator,” a Hill press secretary told me.
A recent study by the Congressional Management Foundation reports that members of Congress and key staff have embraced social media as a tool to communicate with constituents. But privately, many also complain they receive too much pre-packaged “Astroturf” in the form of canned Tweets and Facebook wall postings. In many cases, these communications come from people far away from the members’ districts or from undetermined locations. Google+ Circles allow members of Congress to target their communications directly to people in the states or districts they represent, while ignoring communications directed at them from people outside their states or districts. (more…)
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
From All Sides, Online Pushes to Scrap the Deal (TechPresident)
Advocacy organizations from across the ideological spectrum are urging action online as the debt ceiling debate enters its final stage.
10 tips to help you get the most out of Google+ (Ragan)
Learn more about the new social networking site and its many features.
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
NJ Gov Christie Pushes Agenda in Campaign-Style Videos (ClickZ)
While online videos are frequently used by political candidates, it’s rare for an elected official not facing an immediate electoral challenge to utilize this tool. But Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is taking a new approach and using online video to complement his broader communications strategy.
Google+: ‘Don’t fight it’ (PR Daily)
Still searching for answers on why you should join the new social network? This two-and-a-half minute video provides (some of) the answers.
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
Three Cents on Google+ for PR Agencies/ Corporate Communicators who don’t have time to toy around (TheBuzzBin)
Be sure you learn the key terms and tools for engagement on the site, but there’s no need to abandon Twitter or Facebook.
Do Facebook and Twitter Followers Reflect a President’s Popularity? (TechPresident)
Numbers alone don’t tell the full story — they require context and analysis.
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
Keep Your Social Media Strategy Simple
(Business 2 Community)
By getting involved in too many social media platforms, you run the risk of not fully engaging your audiences.
The war of the social networks (The Washington Post)
Learn how they differ, what they offer, and the impact they are currently making.
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
Ruling Spurs Effort to Form Digital Public Library
(The New York Times)
New York has derailed Google’s bold plan to build the world’s largest digital library and bookstore.
A Wiki Takes Aim at Obama (The New York Times)
Many companies and organizations, have seized on the Wikipedia model to encourage their members to build up information collaboratively.
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
Google Responds to the Japan Earthquake With an Online Crisis Center (Mashable)
Google has reacted to the earthquake that hit Japan on Friday with a tool that helps find a person or provide information on missing persons.
Political Campaigns Go Viral (Wall Street Journal)
Smart campaigns will devote a good deal less money to running TV ads and a good deal more to using the Internet to organize, persuade, motivate and raise funds.
