Micro-Target with Twitter

Twitter is an excellent micro-targeting tool if you know how to use it!

By searching local trend on the Twitter desktop site you can see what the trending conversation is in your area. In addition, you can also search tweets in a local geographical area.

Why does this matter?

It matters a great deal! You can easily see what is going on in your area, or any area you choose to view. It also allows you to see who the twitter "influencers" are in your area. Finding them and connecting with them is a great first start to building a solid twitter base for your campaign or business.

Another nice thing about these tools is that they allow you to view the conversation about YOU! Not always does a Tweep use you or your company's @username. You could be missing valuable feedback and comments about. Your product / campaign and not even know it. You can also catch this by doing a simple search for your candidates name or business name. Often times you'll get back results you have never seen before because that @username wasn't included in the tweet.

Later Tweeps!

The Ten Worst Mistakes of Winning Candidates

With thanks and credit to Morton C. Blackwell

Some candidates win but disappoint their supporters and even themselves. They achieve little or nothing of what they hoped to do. Here are incumbents’ worst mistakes:

1 -Hiring staff who don’t personally share their policy agendas. Personnel is policy. Staff who lack enthusiasm for their bosses’ priorities prevent elected officials from doing what they intended to do in office.

2 -Not keeping campaign promises. These days voters have little tolerance for incumbents who break their word.

3 -Not paying attention to the interests of the coalition which elected them. Incumbents lose their allies when they don’t vote right, sponsor key legislation or sign allies’ fundraising letters and aren’t there when their friends need them.

4 -Seeking approval of their enemies, particularly their media enemies. Many incumbents start craving to have everyone love them and no one hate them. But trying to make friends of their enemies makes enemies of their friends.

5 -Failure to handle constituent relations effectively. All politics is personal. Service can be as important to voters as policy. They appreciate prompt, personal service when they contact those elected to serve them.

6 -Succumbing to temptations newly present when one achieves some power. Election to office tests anyone’s strength of character, family ties and personal morality.

7 – Getting greedy for money or higher office.

8 – Becoming arrogant. Many people, constituents who request help and especially the officials’ staff, treat incumbents with deference bordering on obsequiousness. A consequent loss of humility can destroy a politician’s base.

9 – Accommodating opposition incumbents who now are “distinguished colleagues.” Excessive collegiality is a trap for incumbents who really want to accomplish things.

10 – Not helping to nominate and elect allies in their home states and elsewhere. A well-run team takes care of its own. Serious politicians work hard to elect others who share their public policy principles.