PR Week has a piece comparing the online strategies of the UK’s three main political parties. With a nod or two towards Obama’s use of social media, the article presents a report card on each party, compiled by their panel of experts.
Each party is examined on its approach, key players, leader and the involvement of MPs and grassroots.
The Conservatives are found to have “attracted the most plaudits so far,” while Labour’s “command and control mentality” is said to be hampering their efforts.
The verdict on the Liberal Democrats is that our “overall understanding of social media is impressive” but that grassroots efforts could be strengthened by better design/integration and more effective public engagement. Special mentions are given to Steve Webb and Lynne Featherstone, while it’s thought that more can be made of Nick Clegg and Vince Cable.
Although funding remains a critical issue, [Mark] Pack must be replaced. The decision to split his job into three is structurally sound but may result in less intellectual vision.
The party also has to pay more attention to the basics of functionality and design, and it needs to integrate its tools better. Meanwhile, a focus on local activism should not obscure a continuing requirement to engage with the general public better.
Simply put, the Lib Dems need to be more tenacious and adventurous online.
Is this a fair picture? Are we outward-looking enough with our social media efforts? What should our vision for the future be?
You can read the full PR Week article here.
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3 Comments
This seems an appropriate place to mention that anyone wanting e-campaigning support from the hearts & minds group of the tech board should look here in the member’s forum:
http://bit.ly/13c24G
Helen Duffett is one of the people providing support, as am I.
I think it is a fair picture in terms of the party but obv not of grassroots blogs like this, though the Tories still seem to be out there on both instances..
Furthermore, the press is so Tory friendly and most of the tory bloggers like the bear guy/boy and guido are such pr sluts that they always get noticed, whereas, well, we don’t seem to be at all.
In fact, the Libs seem to be really anti any sort of PR, like it’s beneath them? Somehow it shows a lack of integrity?
Just my two cents whenever I try to mention it to anyone in my local party…
And well the Labour blogs, have lots of supporters within the online creative industries that have taken to blogging and create cool social networking intiatives…
Well given the judging panel included a Tory blogger, a Labour blogger, a Tory supporting PR director, a Labour supporting PR director…(you can see where this is going)
…it’s hardly surprising they think the utterly excreable Nadine Dorries is somehow influential and that Derek Draper (equally excreable btw) soemhow reinvigorated Labour’s online prescence.
The article was superficial, partial and lazy (like most things in PR week). I’d therefore take anything it says with a big pinch of salt.