There's an interesting article in Salon about Barack Obama's marketing machine. With over 5 million people on Obama's e-mail list this is just the start of what political strategists say is one of the most sophisticated voter databases ever built.
Using a combination of the information that supporters are volunteering, data the campaign is digging up on its own and powerful market research tools first developed for corporations, Obama's staff has combined new online organizing with old-school methods of voter outreach to assemble a central database for hitting people with messages tailored as closely as possible to what they're likely to want to hear. It's an ambitious melding of corporate marketing and grassroots organizing that the Obama campaign sees as a key to winning this fall.
It's particularly funny when you consider how so called "Marketing Guru" Mark Penn really screwed up Hillary's campaign efforts. And this is the guy who heads up one of the world's largest PR outfits. But unlike most ad agencies, Burston Marsteller (Penn is the CEO) didn't work on spec, and Hillary still owes him several million. There's a lesson there, somewhere. Not that anyone ever takes notice!
The other thing about him is that he changes his message for whoever he is talking to. He seems as Arianna Huffington pointed out the other day a tendency to stick his finger in the air to see which way the wind is prevailing. She reminded him of DR ML King's words which he would do well to remember:"There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right."
Happy birthday George! Have one on me...hopefully you got the cheque.
George Parker
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