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Politics and Social Media - Is All Publicity Good Publicity?

Posted by Carole Mahoney on 10/15/10 11:55 AM

In all fairness and self-disclosure, I am a registered Independent. I have not made my final decision on who I will vote for governor here in Maine (the man I wanted for the job didn't win the primary- he knows who he is). I am not, nor will I ever claim to be, a political analyst.

I admit, I don't start paying close attention to the banter until about 2 weeks before the election. This way the skeletons are out of the closet, everyone has thrown their mud and I am not tossed with each change of the wind and latest political ad.

I have my doubts about even writing this post, but it got under my skin, which I am sure was the intention. My hope is that it will start a discussion of social media etiquette and intention and not political view points.

So when Erick Bennett posted a link on my personal Facebook wall for his political Internet show, my first reaction was to delete it as I would normally do with any unsolicited post from someone I don't know and am not connected to directly. I am not entirely sure why I decided to engage Erick by responding at 12:30 at night, but I think it has something to with the fact that he is a "staff member whose role is new media and social networking strategy" for the LePage campaign.


Here is the conversation, word for word for all to see:

Me:

 
Thanks for sharing Erick- I assume that since you are willing to share unsolicited on my personal wall having no relationship to me, you are also willing to hear some constructive criticism as LePage's social media go to guy. Video is a great way to get content out on social media. But keep your audience's tolerance in mind, especially if you are calling it the pulse of Maine. Most of us can't stand the 1 sided 30 second spots on tv or radio, we are much less willing to watch an 8 minute video of 1 sided banter. just a suggestion.
Erick: Thank you Carole. What did you think of the content.
Me:
I think you miss my point- your content can be the gospel, but it's the format and delivery that will determine if it is believed. Personally, because I do not know you- I am as likely to believe you as I am to believe Mitchell's ads. Also,... the thing that annoys me about political ads is that they are built on a premise that people will believe what you feed them, regardless of truth. Unfortunately that can be true, but I think (hope) the majority of Mainers are a bit more skeptical. I will be doing my own fact checking before I vote, and that's what I will encourage friends and family to do as well. My last comment on this, I was impressed with LePage's primary win because it was a grassroots effort- he would be wise to continue that momentum and not spend time refuting baseless ads. Talk about what the message is, not what it isn't, or the message will get lost.
Erick: This is not a political ad, it is about the political ads. This is about public policy, data and the law.

This is also about what is true or not.

I would be interested to see if you are able to find anything I say that is not true.
Me:

Dude- If I don't want to spend the 8 minutes to watch it, why would you think challenging me to spend more time to refute it is going to work? Everything you say may be true, the point here is how you are delivering it. Social media, viral social media, is built on one person TRUSTING another's word to be true. I don't know you, so I don't trust you, so whether or not what you say is true doesn't matter- 'cause I don't know you. The fact that you posted this on my personal wall, without knowing me, and wanting me to share it with those that trust me, makes me even less likely to trust you. There's a book for you that might explain this concept better than I. www.trustagent.com it's available as an audio book.

Oh, and thanks for the content of my next blog post.

Erick: Hi Carole, I look at it as having a friendly conversation and asking a harmless question.

I just find it interesting that before you can say something is true or not or something can be trusted or not the inability to even look at the evidence in question.

Please post a link to your blog, I would very much like to check it out.

On my show I talk to and interview lawmakers from Liberals to Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans and Greens.

I have always found it is best to keep an open mind and listen to everything that people say.

Thank you for the interesting conversation.
Me: www.minternetmarketing.com/blog
Erick: Great work! I will bookmark it.
Me: You ok with me using your name in the blog post?
Erick: Sure, and make sure you mention the website www.mainewebnews.com

My show is The Pulse of Maine
Me: I will in all fairness for info, but I am not endorsing.
Erick: I know exactly what will you will, it is all good, all publicity is good publicity.
Me: And so lies the title of the post.

Now my point to Erick is not to dispute the validity of his content, my point is that if he wants it to be received and shared and trusted, then posting it to a stranger's personal wall, without knowing anything about them or taking the time to learn or even asking permission, is probably not the best way to go. Now if someone who knew me shared the link with me with a personal note, I would be more inclined to take the 8 minutes in the middle of the night to watch it, maybe even share it. (But I guess I am already doing that now aren't I? No, that fact has not escaped me- but I am going for a higher purpose here.) As Chris Brogan is infamous for saying, it is like walking up to someone in a bar, handing them your business card and asking them to give you $1000 to invest in their whatever. Don't try to make out with me at the first introduction.

But I'm willing to take the PR risk and let you decide if I am off the mark on this one. Is all publicity good publicity as Erick claims (think about Jet Blue and Taco Bell employees)? How could this have been handled better? If his strategy was to make this show viral, has he accomplished that or just annoyed the constituency and muddled the message?

Go for it, post what you're thinking. You know you want to. I did!

Topics: social media