Senator Obama’s 20 month global conversation has already paid off handsomely, making history in many ways. It’s just the start as anyone who works in social media knows. An enormous tribe led by the ultimate leader of the 21st Century is ready to rally to the cause but it won’t be passive.
Through social networks, twitter and e-mail, Obama has built an enviable following, listening to every word typed and spoken, watching videos on YouTube and other sites encompassing an audience previously ignored by other politicians. Bush used lists of voters, telephone numbers and direct mail at an excessive cost.
Obama has now at his fingertips a live database of supporters he can engage and converse with ensuring, if he plays his cards right, a continued success. His political campaign and its overwhelming success has done much for Web 2.0 but the next months will test the real benefit (or not) of opening up the conversation in good times and bad. Once the honeymoon is over, how will this fairy tale pan out? No doubt we will all be watching and listening.
