Monday, 11 December 2023

How Social Media Can Enhance Political Campaigns

Political parties throughout the world are discovering that to compete with competing parties, they must invest in digital marketing in addition to traditional means such as television and newspapers. We've seen an increase in UK and US political parties, in particular, employing social media campaigns to beat their opponents in recent years. This blog discusses how three high-profile political marketing campaigns used the internet to successfully promote their nominee.

1. Donald Trump: Making Digital Great Again

Donald Trump's internet campaign is perhaps the most visible example of political digital marketing in recent history. Though it was obviously divisive, no one can argue that the now-President of the United States' campaign was tremendously effective. Many people believe it helped him win the election.

Trump presidential campaign.

Parscale is a crucial figure in Trump's digital marketing effort. Brad Parscale is the CEO of Trump's digital initiatives and the founder of the Giles-Parscale agency. The Trump digital team was located in San Antonio and employed 100 people in positions ranging from copywriters to web developers and data scientists, among others.

Working closely with Trump as a member of his inner circle, Parscale was one of the few people permitted to tweet from Trump's personal Twitter account, @realDonaldTrump.

He had little experience in promoting political candidates prior to Trump, but this apparent deficit allowed him to approach it as if it were a typical B2C digital campaign. “I always wonder why people in politics act like this stuff is so mystical,” Parscale says“It’s the same sh*t we use in commercial, just has fancier names.” With the massive amount of Facebook and email donations, the digital operations division was the Trump campaign’s largest source of funding.

Facebook Trump campaign.

The campaign began with a $2 million investment in Facebook ads. He uploaded the names of Trump supporters first, and found them on Facebook. Then he targeted others who had things in common with them, such as activity or demographics. These “Lookalike Audiences” were key to the campaign’s success. But other types of content, including tens of thousands of different targeted web pages, also played a role. In total, Trump’s digital team generated or created more than 100k+ pieces of unique content.

But Trump still didn’t have enough projected votes to win. Things took a huge turn in the last few weeks of the election, however, bringing him victory. Thanks to some senior members of the President’s team, we now know exactly how he did it - by targeting young women and African Americans with $150 million dollars in Instagram and Facebook advertisements in the weeks preceding the election.

Trump’s team deployed its custom database, codenamed Project Alamo, which featured detailed identity information for 220 million Americans and contained approximately 4,000 to 5,000 individual data points about the online and offline life of each person. (As far as we know, this database continues to exist today). Using this wealth of data, Trump’s team executed a mass digital ad campaign to discourage Hillary Clinton supports from voting across the Facebook Audience Network, Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook data-broker partners. “We have three major voter suppression operations under way,” a senior Trump official explained to reporters from BusinessWeek, “They’re aimed at three groups Clinton needs to win overwhelmingly: idealistic white liberals, young women, and African Americans.”

Some of these ads are said to have been delivered via Facebook “dark posts” — nonpublic paid posts shown only to specific users to exploit religious and racial differences. This is where it gets tricky. Many of these types of ads, like the one shown below, were reportedly created by the Russians to undermine the election and benefit Trump.

 Many ads were reportedly created by the Russians to undermine the election and benefit Trump.

When asked if “fake news” ads won Trump the election, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg initially dismissed the accusations, but later he changed his tune, stating, "After the election, I made a comment that I thought the idea misinformation on Facebook changed the outcome of the election was a crazy idea," Zuckerberg said, referencing a previous denial that Facebook could have influenced voters. "Calling that crazy was dismissive and I regret it. This is too important an issue to be dismissive."

In total, the Trump campaign spent about $70 million a month in advertisements, much more than its Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. And in this case, we believe digital marketing really did make a difference in the extremely close final vote. On Election Day, Democratic turnout was surprisingly weak, particularly among sporadic and first-time voters in key battleground states.

2. UK Labour Party Learns from Its Past Mistakes

The UK’s 2017 General Election was a tight race, but the Labour party had huge wins, gaining 21 seats from its Conservative opponents. Though Jeremy Corbyn didn’t win the Prime Minister’s seat, the party made huge strides by investing in effective digital media campaigns that were all about distributing the right messages as the right times.

Demos research from late 2016 found that 23% of UK adult social media users believe social platforms help them “understand parties’ policy positions” prior to an election, and 26% said social media engagement made them more likely to vote. That’s something Labour took notice of in 2017. While, according to the Electoral Commission, the Conservative Party spent £1.2 million on Facebook advertising ahead of the 2015 General Election, Labour spent seven times less. And it regretted that decision for the next two years.

2017 was a change of pace for the party. It began to invest heavily in social media, now understanding that it’s a vital part of winning a political race. The party even created its own social media targeting tool called Promote, which it used to tailor unique policy messages to individual voters. The system automatically tweaked core policy messages to over a thousand unique variations which were delivered based on a number of factors, including location. In addition, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined Snapchat to document his political journey - the first politician of his pedigree to do so. He was also very active on Twitter and other social networks. Though Corbyn ultimately didn’t win the vote for Prime Minister, he did successfully influence the public to give the Labour party significantly more seats and a 40% share of the vote. He was also extremely popular with the younger demographic.

Labour political campaign on Facebook.

The Labour party as a whole focused on sharing positive messages about party leaders and policies, a sharp departure from its negative criticisms of the “Tories” during the 2015 general election.

Labour party website used urgency tactics during the campaign.

Its website had a temporary homepage in the weeks up the election, with the number of days until the election highlighted and the urgency messaging clearly outlined. These types of tactics are often used successfully in digital marketing campaigns for retail/eCommerce sites, and they worked well here, as well.

In addition to its website, Labour focused much of its energy on increasing its reach on social media. According to Croud.com, “In the six weeks after the announcement of the 2017 General Election, ‘We Are Social’ revealed that the Labour Party increased its following by 61% across Social Media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The Conservatives’ social media following rose by just 6% in the same period.” The party used positive messaging, celebrity endorsements, and ads to encourage young voters to go to the polls. A record 622,000 individuals registered to vote in the final 24 hours of the registration period, many of whom were young voters.

Grassroots Labour party organization Momentum spent only £2,000 on Facebook advertising, in contrast to the Conservatives’ £1m but resulted in significantly more success because the ads were highly targeted and positive in nature, while the Tory party stayed quite negative and failed to engage its audience.

3. Leo Varadkar Takes a Firm Stance on Tough Issues

Leo Varadkar, an Irish Fine Gael politician, was elected as Ireland’s Taoiseach, Minister for Defence and Leader of Fine Gael in June 2017. A key part of his success was down to digital marketing, especially in the form of online videos. Check out one of his campaign videos, here, and see a still image of the video below:

Mr. Varadkar believes that social media will play a “key part of the modernization of Government communications,” and has used it to great effect since becoming Taoiseach.

Varadkar’s website is easy to use and contains all of the information needed to make a decision about a political candidate, including an About section that details his political stances, links for voter registration, and a Newsletter sign-up so individuals can stay informed.

Leo Varadkar's website.

He was also extremely active on social media during the campaign, particularly on Facebook and Twitter, where he used the hashtag #CampaignforLeo. The hashtag was often accompanied by videos that featured high-profile individuals giving their testimonies about why they were supporting Varadkar.

As Philip Ryan for The Irish Independent explains:

“In fact, the entire Varadkar campaign has been a masterclass in political campaigning. Everything from the early groundwork with the parliamentary party to their campaign video has been miles ahead of Coveney's team in terms of organization and presentation.”

Post-election, the Taoiseach is known to post weekly videos outlining his progress in office on Facebook. On his Twitter, he intersperses these political updates with glimpses into his personal life.

Overall, politicians of all parties across the globe now understand the value of social media in speaking directly to voters and heavily impacting the results of their campaigns. Paid social media advertisements provide extensive targeting opportunities with tailored messages for hundreds of different audiences.

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Sunday, 17 September 2023

What is a Google Map citation?

What is a Google Map citation?

Google Map Citation: Actually, a Google Map citation is only a reference to your company name (and, if applicable, address and phone number) on another website. A citation can include a mention of your company by name in a business directory like Yelp, Foursquare, or Yahoo Local. A link to your website does not have to be present in local citations.

Data Reliability
It's crucial to consistently use the same phone number, address, and business name throughout all directories and citations (i.e., references to your name, address, and phone number) because doing so will increase the visibility of your map listing in local map searches.

Ranking Elements
Citations are used to boost the ranking of your Google+ Local map listing by providing Google with reliable sources of information about your company. This allows Google to confirm that your company is real, that what you have said about it is true, and that it exists.

What it does
When Google learns more about your business from other websites and directories, it is better able to trust the information you have provided about it. As a result, Google is more likely to show your business listing when someone searches for the kinds of goods or services you offer.

You must create a Google+ Local Business Page for your company, claim it, and optimize it by adding your company name and contact information to directories and other websites in order to benefit from local citations.


Citation formats

Here is a list of citation styles, which is not all-inclusive:

  • Directory of businesses (Yellow Pages, Yelp, Kudzu, etc.)
  • Directories for a certain industry, market, or sector (Trip Advisor, Connecting Dance)
  • Websites for regional publications and newspapers
  • Locally focused blogs, such as LeftLion, are excellent for information on the nightlife in your area (bars, clubs, restaurants, or other places).
  • Prominent local websites (especially if they are associated with your industry)
  • Social profiles on FourSquare, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube


Hope that was useful.

Monday, 11 September 2023

Importance of Digital Marketing Services

Importance of Digital Marketing Services 

Digital marketing services play a crucial role in today's business landscape, and their importance has only grown in recent years. Here are some key reasons why digital marketing services are essential: 


Importance of Digital Marketing Services
Importance of Digital Marketing Services



1. Online Presence: In an increasingly digital world, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses of all sizes. Digital marketing helps businesses establish and maintain their presence on various online platforms, including websites, social media, search engines, and more. 

2. Targeted Reach: Digital marketing allows businesses to reach their target audience more precisely than traditional marketing methods. Through tools like audience segmentation and targeting, businesses can deliver their message to the right people at the right time, increasing the chances of conversion. 

3. Cost-Effective: Compared to traditional advertising channels like TV or print, digital marketing is often more cost-effective. Businesses can allocate their budgets more efficiently and measure the return on investment (ROI) more accurately. 

4. Data-Driven Decision Making: Digital marketing provides a wealth of data and analytics that allow businesses to measure the performance of their campaigns in real-time. This data can be used to make informed decisions, optimize marketing strategies, and improve overall results. 

5. Brand Awareness: Digital marketing helps businesses build and enhance their brand awareness. Through consistent messaging and creative content, companies can engage with their target audience and strengthen brand recognition. 

6. Customer Engagement: Social media, email marketing, and other digital channels enable businesses to engage with customers on a more personal level. This two-way communication fosters relationships and customer loyalty. 

7. Global Reach: With digital marketing, businesses can reach a global audience without the constraints of geographical boundaries. This is especially important for companies looking to expand their market beyond their local area. 

8. Adaptability: Digital marketing is highly adaptable and can quickly respond to market changes and trends. This flexibility allows businesses to pivot their strategies as needed and stay competitive in a fast-paced digital environment. 

9. Competitive Advantage: Many businesses are already leveraging digital marketing to their advantage. To remain competitive, it's crucial for companies to invest in digital marketing services to keep up with or surpass their competitors. 

10. Measurable Results: Unlike traditional marketing, where it can be challenging to measure the impact of an advertising campaign, digital marketing provides precise metrics. This allows businesses to track the performance of their campaigns and make adjustments to improve results. 

11. Improved Conversion Rates: Digital marketing techniques, such as search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising (PPC), and conversion rate optimization (CRO), are designed to increase conversion rates and drive more leads or sales. 

12. 24/7 Availability: Digital marketing efforts, such as websites and social media profiles, are accessible 24/7, allowing potential customers to learn about a business and make inquiries at their convenience. In summary, digital marketing services are essential for businesses to thrive in the modern digital landscape. They provide the means to establish a strong online presence, reach a targeted audience, measure performance, and adapt to changing market conditions, all while offering cost-effective marketing solutions.

If you don't have the competitive knowledge and skills, no need to worry. You can always get in touch with RamIT Solutions (Google Official Partner in India) for affordable digital marketing services.

Tuesday, 8 August 2023

SEO trends of 2023 to adapt in your search and social content

 SEO trends of 2023 to adapt in your search and social content:-


🔷Mobile-first SEO: If your content is not mobile-friendly, you're not even in the game.

🔷Voice search optimization: Talk to me, baby. Use natural language keywords and phrases in your content, and make sure your website is easy to understand when spoken aloud.

🔷 Social SEO: Social media is becoming an increasingly important part of SEO, as more and more people are using social media to find information and products.

( E.A.T. :- Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness works on every social platform )

🔷Technical SEO: Things like website speed, mobile friendliness, and the use of structured data can all have a big impact on your SEO performance.

🔷AI-powered SEO: AI is here to stay. Learn to customise and humanise it.


👉👉Save this post. Read it a few times and start aligning your efforts for the future.

💠💠DM me if you want me to help you craft a digital strategy that's future ready.

#digitalmarketing #SEO #contentmarketing #seotrends #aicontent #aiseo