On this historic day and in keeping with the general theme of our site, I am going to tell you that Obama won the election using the power of the internet.  But not just using the internet, but using it well!

“Obama’s Internet campaign changes politics.” -The New York Times

Words can’t describe how excited and proud I am today.  Now I could gush some more, sing the man praises and shout out to the world how wonderful it is to hear full sentences woven together to form paragraphs that lead to a clear conclusion, but I digress…


So whether you’re a fan or not that into him, you have to give the guy props for using the internet, specifically Web 2.0 technology.

• He hired Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes in early 2007.
• Back in April of ‘08 he had over 500,000 unique visits on his site, to Hillary’s 350,00, to McCain’s 38,000.  Plus people stayed on his site 3x longer to watch his videos.
• 3 million election day “get the vote out” phone calls were made via internet.
• He created a 13 million name email list
• Raising $500 million dollars (the average donation being $80.)

Here are some major reasons why Obama lead a more successful internet campaign then his opponents.

• All the  information on his home page is more accessible and searchable
• Fundraising gives people choices and is highly visible
• He has at least 12 social network sites vs Clinton’s 4  (And I suspect he marketed them to their full potential)
• He uses more forms of media more frequently (Especially video)
• In videos he personally addresses his audience.  Much more engaging than Clinton’s more documentary-like videos
• As for McCain, his campaign site is down but if his current senatorial site is any indication, it’s some photos and text only.
• You can receive notifications via your mobile phone
• There’s a linked site that helps others find each other to get more involved, find events to go to, etc.

He even has a now very recognizable logo!

In the Pew Research Survey on Obama supporters:

• 62% will ask others to support his policies
• 25% will campaign online (social marketing sites/blogs)
• 46% expect continued communication with the President through email, social networking, and text messaging.

If we could have this kind of customer loyalty!


Through multi media avenues (tv, podcasts, radio, internet, etc) Obama has reached and personally engaged a nation like no other president.  It’s Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats” that kept a nation riveted to their radios.  Or the Kennedy/ Nixon debates which heralded the role of television in politics.  Well done Mr. President!   I expect to be hearing from you…well, everyday!

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