NEW | RULES
The rules of grassroots orgainzation has changed.
Grassroots has become netroots - the process of turning online activity into real world action. It’s using the web to organize your volunteers and get your voters to the polls on Election Day. It’s also a way to solicit funds and increase campaign donations.
Netroots complements and organizes more traditional campaign activities such as building grassroots networks, fundraising, and get-out-the-vote efforts. Your campaign can create interlinked networks of supporters and reach out to volunteers and activists using e-campaigning techniques. Netroots also creates a means to influence mainstream media (MSM) with online volunteers.
Where New Media is using the web to advocate your message using online techniques, Netroots is using the web to organize the support you should already have.
USING THE WEB TO BUILD & ORGANIZE YOUR GRASSROOTS ARMY
One of the most difficult aspects of campaigning is reaching out beyond your circle of friends to recruit volunteers to help go door-to-door, make phone calls, and write letters to the editor. Netroots enables people you didn’t even know where out there to become active members of your grassroots and online team.
The web also gives you a simple way to constantly communicate with your grassroots team and keep them organized. No more phone trees. With a simple click and in 30 short seconds, you can tell thousands of supporters where phones banks are being organized, signs are being placed, letters to editors are being sent, and fundraisers are being held.
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
Campaigns use social networking sites for the same reason they go to parades. It’s where the people are. That’s why candidates at every level are now getting their own social networking groups on websites like Facebook and MySpace with some as large as 300,000. Youth across the nation are using these social networking sites to stay in touch with friends…the same youth that have always been the most loyal and active volunteers. There’s no reason to recreate the wheel, just use what your volunteers are using.
Just a simple click of the mouse and you can send out messages to thousands of supporters. These sites also allow you to show your voters a more personal side. One of the worst images your voters can have is that you are a politician, but these sites gives you an opportunity to share information like your favorite books, movies, music artists, activities, and other information that will help forge a connection with voters who share similar interests.
FUNDRAISING
Donors are online. They are uber-informed politicos who know what’s going on. Online activities give you the opportunity to reach out to donors and persuade them to: 1) give 2) give again.
The internet also gives you a unique way of organizing fundraising events, sending fundraising letters, and requesting those last minute emergency funds. It’s also the leading source of small dollar donations - the way to get money out of those who wouldn’t usually donate. Millionaires aren’t the only one’s to donate. Even a passionate college kid will give $25 to a candidate.
Netroots is still in it infancy and many campaigns, including your opponents, are overlooking this valuable tool. Taking advantage of these networks can give you that extra energy needed for victory.
