The Left's Viral Marketing Strategy, Take 2 (Vanity)

[mnehring]

As an update to my article, Viral Marketing in the Political Game, I discovered recently that this is no longer the secret hidden away in strategy rooms or marketing firms.

A progressive liberal organization, New Politics has telegraphed the left's marketing strategy publically and with detail. They have four main categories as part of their 'New Tools' campaign.

1. Buy Cable- Basically, buy as many media outlets as possible, or to quote them- "Our most important recommendation – help us challenge those who will spend hundreds of millions of television dollars this year to buy much more cable."
2. Use Search- Although not expressly stated, the point of this is to manipulate search data to have your 'message' appear first.
3. Engage the Blogs- Goes without saying, this is viral marketing at it's purest form. "Dedicate someone in your organization to blog or consistently get your message out to the blogs, particularly local, home-grown blogs, which act as conduits to many active constituencies."
4. Speak Spanish- "Spanish is the preferred language for nearly half of all Hispanic voters. Learning how to bring progressive values and ideas to this fast-growing group—using Spanish—is essential to reach an audience open to hearing from us...."

As I've stated before, I have no problem whatsoever with 'viral marketing' as a theory, but when it is used to spread lies and rumors strictly for political game- such as the rumor of an upcoming draft in the 2004 election, that must be counteracted.

How can the Right combat this?

1. First, realize this is happening and publicize this as much as possible. I suggest linking responses that you suspect are virally driven back to this article on New Politics' website so anyone reading can judge for themselves if this is 'viral' or genuine.
2. Second, don't let any attack go unchallenged. If there is a false rumor being spread- such as 'cutting VA funding' immediately respond with the FACTS (and facts only). For a while, the VA actually posted a letter on their home page disputing the 'rumor mill'. Anytime someone brings up the 'fact' that VA funding is being cut, point them to the real 'fact' on the issue.
3. Third, educate yourself. Knowing ALL sides of an issue is important. It is easy to just stick with knowing our side's POV, but you also must know what those who challenge us believe on an issue.
4. Finally, realize what is at stake. It is easy to get frustrated when the Right doesn't do all we want in the manner we want. Many have threatened to stay home and not vote over issues such as spending, immigration security, or other 'wedge issues'. Every vote that stays home is a vote given to the left. For every issue you feel is a 'wedge', ask yourself, what would happen on this issue if the left were in control?

[mnehring]

Source: Abaraxas Blog

[mnehring]

ping

[ClaireSolt]

Mark Foley's dem opponent is sueing for libel. I don't think the suit will go anywhere because he is a public figure, but I do theink we should find a way to penalize liars. It is such a pain to try and ferret out the truth.

[bmwcyle]

Activism/Chapters not

[mnehring]

That's cool, I figured it fell under the Web Activism sub, but that was a matter of opinion.

[FreeKeys]

Very interesting. What do you think about the idea of our having our own "email trees" sending out stuff like this in (hopefully) ever-widening circles?