| Political text message marketing has grown | | | | text messages asking for volunteers or donations. A |
| tremendously since President Obama rolled out a text | | | | new message can be sent out in minutes and |
| marketing campaign during his election run. Now it is | | | | compared to the time and resources it would take to |
| seen as a must have for politicians running for office | | | | call thousands of people to find volunteers or |
| as it is a perfect medium to connect with the | | | | participants, the ease, cost and time savings are |
| younger voting demographic who are not easy to | | | | unmatched. |
| identify through traditional methods such as door | | | | This is a great tool for election day as well to remind |
| knocking and home phone calls. | | | | people throughout the day to get out the vote. |
| A text marketing campaign also does not take an | | | | While normally it is not recommended to send out |
| extra staff member to execute properly or an over | | | | multiple messages, on election day having this tool is |
| priced campaign advisor to tell a campaign how to | | | | an invaluable resource. |
| use it correctly. Mobile marketing for political | | | | Once the election is over you can retain you list and |
| campaigns is about as simple and effective as it can | | | | continue to use it to communicate with your voter |
| get compared to the other strategies used during a | | | | and supporter base. I recently got a text message |
| campaign to reach voters, communicate with them | | | | from Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown directing |
| and get them active in the campaign. | | | | me to submit an essay on one of his websites to tell |
| To begin a political text marketing campaign you | | | | him what the Fourth of July meant to me. In return I |
| must begin to build your SMS opt-in database of | | | | had the chance to win Red Sox tickets and would |
| subscribers. Place call to actions on your website, | | | | get to go to the game with Senator Brown. This is |
| Facebook page, Twitter account and print campaign | | | | an great example of keeping supporters engaged |
| material. Ask people to text your keyword to the | | | | throughout the political cycle and reminding everyone |
| short code 83936. The supporter's cell phone number | | | | about the work the candidate is doing and his |
| is automatically added to the database and a short | | | | support for his constituents. |
| auto-reply message is sent. Auto-reply messages | | | | Political text message marketing has become an |
| thank the subscriber for signing up for the text alert | | | | essential tool in the political realm and one can't |
| list and to look for future campaign updates and | | | | afford anymore not to take advantage of simple |
| pertinent information. | | | | tools like this that will increase participation, voter |
| The list will build in the background on auto-pilot and | | | | support and reach the elusive 18-30 year old |
| the campaign can send weekly updates about | | | | demographic. |
| community meetings, standouts, events, debates and | | | | |