Social Media: Government is "Getting It"

By Beth J. Bates, New Media Special Correspondent

I'll be honest. I try not to let my politics mingle with my business. I don't always agree with the what politicians say or do, but I do pay attention to how they convey their messages. Social media has created a fascinating new way for politicians and government agencies to deliver information to the public… and it's working.

The Obama campaign changed the way candidates distribute their messages and raise money. Today BarackObama.com, President Obama's "fan site," continues to use social media marketing to get their message out… well…everywhere. There is a continual stream of information being pushed out through the blog and a link to Obama on every social network known to man. They also use video to great effect on the homepage to drive their message. And they make it very easy to make a donation.

On Inauguration Day, another important but overlooked changing of the guard took place in the nation's capital. At 12:00PM EST, the White House website transitioned from the Bush administration to the Obama administration. Since then, the website has used a compelling combination of video, blogging and social networking to help inform the public about legislation, world events and government news. For me, the most interesting concept is the White House on Twitter, where White House news is distributed to its followers.

While the President is leading the way, Republicans are putting forth an impressive effort with GOP.gov. The GOP website conveys its message through a variety of videos, both on the homepage and YouTube. Like the White House, the GOP publishes podcasts on iTunes to spread their news in yet another dynamic format.

It's been a long time coming, but I'm excited to see government finally embrace social media. Over the years, politicians and government agencies were reluctant to trust new information media such as Facebook and Twitter. But now, with social media gaining in popularity and citizen journalism at an all-time high, it can no longer be ignored.

Beth J. Bates consults with Hinge on social media tool selection and strategy and helps its clients find effective ways to leverage these new mediums to meet business goals.